Chapter 1
"It's about time soldier." The general saluted and he did the same.
"Glad to see you too Eugene."
General Eugene Hanowitz. A short, old man who spent the majority of his life in the Anavian military, formerly known as the Human territories. As stubby as he make look, he has the utmost of authority in the nation, having a stern face that coincided with his strict policies. Luckily for Cain, he has known him for most of his military career, so he hasn't given him much trouble for the most part. Eugene has a love-hate relationship with most of the others in service. Either he doesn't like you, in which he will devote to making your life miserable until you meet his expectations, or he would treat you like a close friend where you will get to know his more sarcastic side. As they passed through the corridors of the main barracks, they received salutes from passersby, and the general would occasionally yell at those who were standing around being unproductive. His voice was very distinct and had a slight raspy sound to it, sort of like a piece of fine sandpaper rubbing on metal, but it also had a charismatic touch to it which came naturally with his title. He debriefed Cain on the upcoming mission. Cain knew of its importance, but the old man's solemn tone made him realize that it was beyond his foresight.
"As you may know, by the end of the day we will be assembling the most deadly team that Mekkan has ever seen."
This was something that was not unknown to him.
"All four national embassies have agreed to make you the leader."
Cain remained speechless for a moment, unsure of why they would choose him. Hanowitz found his silence humorous and laughed as they made it to the airway terminals.
"I knew that's how you would react! It's a good thing I told you this now because, as annoying as it is, the council will expect some sort of speech from you. And I know how you tend to slip up when put on the spot like that."
Cain grinned and acquired his friend's sarcasm. "I don't know what you're talking about. Okay maybe I have a little trouble, but it's nothing I can't handle. I just have one question. Why me?"
"Because you're the best damn soldier on the planet Cain. And I agree one hundred percent with that decision. You're a part of R.E.D. for a reason. You've got the necessary skills to kill and you have the ability to lead. Emphasis on the latter."
Cain shrugged. "I guess you're right."
"You know I'm right!"
Both of them reached the ground level and paced towards the tarmac of the runway, where a sing decent sized hangar rested, away from the others. The loud screeches of jet engines blared as three fighters took off vertically in unison, soon to become dots on the horizon as they throttled forward. As they peered the corner, the general's private plane came into view. It was sleek in design and contained the most advanced defenses ranging from stealth and active cloak for quick getaways, to countermeasures to deter enemy fire. The inside held all of the luxuries as you would expect for a man of his rank. Swiveled chairs that conformed to your body, a mini bar for drinks when the time was right, a television imbedded in the overhang to relay visual information of ground troops, and of course the famous red telephone for the most dire situations. The side door to the fuselage closed and the plane taxied onto the runway. The pilot was given permission for takeoff and he set the engines to full blast leading to a smooth and quick climb to cruising altitude.
"Mana capacitors active and cruising altitude achieved. You can walk freely about the cabin now." The pilot said over the intercom. Eugene turned his chair to the soldier who sat across from him.
"So, what do you think?" He stroked his beard, waiting for a humorous remark.
Cain looked around the cabin, taking a second look at its fancies. Perhaps it was a bit too much for his liking.
"It's a little too fancy for me. I like things that are more simpler." He took a drink from a water bottle that was conveniently placed in a holder next to the chair. "I'm sure you like it though. Coming back from a long day on the job. It must be refreshing."
Eugene crossed his legs and chuckled. "To be honest I don't like it one bit. But I'd be an idiot if I didn't accept accommodations such as this."
Cain looked out the window to see the jet fighter from earlier only a few hundred feet away. "Now that's what I call an accommodation." He pointed. The general leaned to look out the window and saw the plane he was pointing to.
"Budget spending at its finest." He remarked.
"Indeed."
As the plane was nearing its destination, the general handed him a dossier of the first member they were going to pick up. Cain sifted through the folder which contained various documents, such as military career and personal life, all the things he needed to see who exactly was joining him. Oddly enough there was no portrait of this person. The general noticed him looking for that specific item and chimed in.
"You're not gonna find a photo of her Cain. It's part of Erusian policy, as mysterious as it sounds." Cain looked over her profile as the general made a synopsis of it.
"Her name is Sara'Zoe Hachur, a Superus Magus of the Erusian Empire. She is one of, if not the most powerful mages that they have to offer. I'd be careful about the way you address her Cain. Their people consider a Superus to be chosen by the gods to protect their land and they treat them as such, so don't disrespect her or anyone on the embassy."
"You know me Hanowitz. I actually think before I speak." Cain continued to read her profile.
Hanowitz continued. "There really isn't much else known about her personal life. She spent most of it traversing the continent, honing her abilities and going where the trouble is."
Cain took another sip. "Don't you find it weird that they're offering her to us? It sounds like her people really need someone like her to stick around."
"Hell, I wouldn't know. Try asking them when we get there. But for now, sit back and relax while we still have the time. I've heard that Erusia is a beautiful place."
The jet began its descent through the low clouds towards the airstrip in the outskirts of Fulvitrum. It was impossible to see through them until it reached a low enough altitude and before them was a beautiful sight; the city of glass in all of its glory. Both passengers remained speechless as they stared at the bright blue skyscrapers that playfully refracted the sunlight to give them a brilliant sheen. As the city rolled closer into their view, they saw a mountain range in the distance that some of the city rested itself on. Cain turned to the old man who gave an, 'I told you so', look in return.
Soon enough they landed at the airport and departed to a VTOL aircraft that awaited nearby. Cain asked where the embassy was located and the general stated that it was near the queen's palace in the mountains. The VTOL ascended to a height just above the tips of the buildings, safe from colliding into them. They passed them close enough to see faint blurs of people through the transparent glass. It was obvious that they had no sense of privacy and it came as a surprise to him; he has never seen such an open society. The thought of others peeking at your business only made him realize how much he would hate living here. Cain looked down towards the city avenues where he noticed the lack of any sort of transportation and more so, pavement. The ground was just its bare roots; grass. rocks and whatever were left after the world was created. A bright flash of light hooked his attention a few blocks over. He saw what looked like erusians coming out of teleportation right next to a strange glowing node and immediately questioned Hanowitz.
"From what I know, it's some sort of conduit that the erusians can tap into. It takes them to different areas of the city as well as other parts of the continent."
Cain looked up to get a better visual of the city as a whole and was amazed to see the flashes darting every which way. It was something that was beyond their comprehension and it told them how advanced their civilization has become. It made him wonder why they wouldn't share this technology. Perhaps they were afraid of misuse? Or maybe they still weren't ready to connect with the world or vise versa?
The craft landed on a flat area near the palace since there was no designated landing zone. The magnificent view of the city from the mountain garnered his attention, but only for so long. The two of them were greeted by awaiting guards who, surprisingly, appeared to be unarmed and lightly armored. They all boasted similarities that further shrouded them in mystery. For one, they were all barefoot, something that was not too common in the other lands, especially the Basatins. They looked strikingly similar to humans and he noted strange light blue stripes that ran up their necks, onto various parts of their faces. The arrangements weren't random; they were symmetric and each of them possessed a unique pattern. One of the guards stepped forward, presumably the head, and asked them of their affairs.
"Outsiders. What brings you here to the palace of Queen Zaraya?"
Hanowitz tipped his cap and waved his hand at the patch on his suit. "Do I have to point it out to you?"
The guard scrunched his eyes as he looked at the decorative piece. It took him a moment to figure out that these were the two to visit the embassy today.
"Ah yes. General Hanowitz. Stryker of red special forces. You're a bit early, but that is never a bad thing. Please follow."
They trailed the guards in front of them with the sight of the palace capturing their gazes. It was made of the same blue glass as the other buildings, but unlike its pointy brethren, the palace assumed a more smooth and rounded structure. Cain reminded himself of Hanowitz' smart ass welcoming call and nudged him in his side and whispered.
"Hey, I thought you said to show respect?"
"I said for the embassy and Miss Sara'Zoe. Besides, I can't stand being called an outsider. I'm a general for god's sake."
Taken into the palace, they took their first glances at the inside of erusian architecture and were not disappointed at what they saw. The interior was made entirely of transparent stones varying from the exterior green, to white rectangular patterns on the floor. Cain's armor and his cohort's shoes drowned out the sounds of the quiet footsteps of their escort. The hallways held tables with aging artifacts and portraits who were assumed to be of royalty or high social status and also erusians who were intrigued by the presence of foreigners. They stared at them, not in an awkward manner, but of one which was almost inviting. Rounding a corner, they stopped in front of a large double wooden door. The head guard told them to wait until the embassy called for them when they were ready. And at that, they departed and left the two of them to wait for who knows how long.
After a few shifts of the collar and a last check for any scuffs, the door was opened for them by the doorman and three erusians in cloaks stood behind a wide desk, waiting for their entry.
Hanowoitz spoke softly before they approached. "Oh and before I forget, some erusians are capable of reading people's minds at will, so try not to think of anything that's questionable. I'm sure they'll respect your privacy since you and I are outsiders, but if they have a reason to, they will."
"Don't worry, I'll give them the good old Stryker charm."
"That a boy."
Two seats awaited for them on the near side of the desk and they made their way until the they were just on the opposite side of them. The three erusians bowed their heads in unison and they followed suite. The female in the center introduced herself and the other males with a soft voice.
"General Hanowitz and Mr. Stryker of R.E.D.. My name is Chancellor Santanos and these are the other members of our cabinet, Mr. Tinil and Mr. Chenkis. It's refreshing to see some new faces. Welcome to the capital of Erusia."
"We are honored Chancellor." Cain spoke. "I never imagined this place to be so beautiful."
Santanos flexed her wrist as she happily received the complement. "Oh Stryker, we try our hardest to maintain our cities at their finest, but enough sweet talk. Lets get down to business, shall we?"
She motioned for them to take a seat and they did so without haste. The three cabinet members did the same and awaited for one of them to speak.
Hanowitz crossed his legs and folded his hands. "The dossier I received told me that Sara'Zoe is a very capable mage, but it mentions nothing about her life before she became a Superus. I'd like to know more about her."
She tilted her head, amused by his lack of knowledge of the high mages. "You misunderstand General. A Superus Magus is born with that title. It isn't handed out to them at a later point in life. After he or she is discovered to be chosen by the gods, they are sent on a retreat to become closer to them; to practice magics that any other erusian would never even imagine of learning. This process can take many years, General, and Sara'Zoe has moved on well beyond that time. Now she is a servant to the deities that watch over us, becoming their actions, striking down those who wish to cause harm. She has no past. This is something that she has been doing for the course of her entire life."
Hanowitz nodded his head slowly, satisfied with what he had to hear. Cain remembered the question he wanted to ask back on the jet and quickly spat it out before he forgot.
"If she's as strong as you say, then why are you handing her over? Don't you need someone like her to stay to watch over your people?"
Tinil answered him. "Sara'Zoe isn't the only Superus that exists; there are two others besides her. Although she is the wisest and most powerful among them, we feel that she is being put into good hands."
"Thank you." Hanowitz said as Cain looked over to him.
"She will make an excellent addition to the team." The Chancellor placed her hands on the desk. "And will compliment your strengths and protect you of your weaknesses."
"And I will do the same for her." Cain remarked.
She chuckled. "Yes, of course."
Chenkis leaned over and whispered something inaudible into the Chancellor's ear, which kept the two humans interested into what they're planning. To their surprise, she stood up and gestured all to do the same.
"Gentlemen. I think it's time for you to get acquainted with your new squad mate."
The door to their right opened, and in stepped the woman they were looking for. Just like the guards, she had pale white skin and wore little armor. Golden grieves protected her shins and the tops of her bare feet and armor of the same color covered her forearms. Otherwise, there was only white cloth that fit snug to her body with oval cutouts along her waist, showing off her curvy figure and skin. Familiar, symmetrical blue stripes streaked from the collar of her shirt up to her neck, which then split into two more stripes which ended beneath her valiant green eyes and the sides of her head which disappeared underneath a thin golden headband etched with curious markings that covered her forehead. Long, black hair trailed behind her as she made elegant strides towards them.
Cain realized that his jaw dropped, struck by her beauty, and he quickly closed it in hopes that she didn't notice. He kept his mind clear of any rash thoughts knowing that she would be capable of seeing into it, but it became harder for him as she got closer. Now face to face, she was a lot taller than he expected, gaining at least an inch or two on him. None of them spoke a word. Cain stared at her face; he remembered it from somewhere. And then it hit him. He felt his heart jump.
She's from –
The Chancellor pretended to cough, breaking the silence. "Gentlemen. This is – "
She waved her hand at Satanos, who quickly closed her mouth. She spoke with aggression, but a slight hint of gentleness cowered behind it. "I can speak for myself, Chancellor." She slowly placed her arm at her side without taking her eyes off of Cain, as if he boasted her inquisitiveness. "My name is Sara'Zoe Hachur. It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Stryker, General Hanowitz."
Instinctively, Cain offered his hand to her and she gladly slipped in her fingers, pleased by the sense of courtesy as he gently squeezed them. Hanowitz did the same and shown politeness that the soldier rarely ever sees.
"Likewise Miss. Hachur."
"I'm happy to see politeness from foreigners." She looked back to Cain. "But please, such hospitality isn't necessary. I am a part your team now, Stryker, and I wish to be treated as you would treat those that serve under you." She fell on her knees in front of him, placing the palms of her hands together. "I am your servant."
Cain raised a brow and took a step back. This wasn't exactly how he thought this was going to go about. Satanos saw his reaction and explained the meaning behind her action.
"No need to worry, Stryker. Her services extend to you now and a prayer for a blessing from the gods is analogous to signing a contract from where you come from. She is wishing for no harm to come to any of you."
"And this blessing will extend to the others as our team grows." She said as she got up off the ground and turned to face cabinet. "I am ready to depart now."
"Very well then." Said the Chancellor. "Good luck at the council meeting tomorrow and may the gods be with you." The cabinet bowed their heads as the three of them left for the next target on their list.
The plane ride was as quiet as ever. Each of them sat in their own seats as they all minded their own business, except for Cain who looked at the erusian. It was strange, she was very talkative only a few moments ago, and there she was just staring out of the window, sitting in the most upright posture.
"You don't look so comfortable. Everything okay?" He asked. She moved her head slowly and locked eyes with him.
"Yes. I am not used to luxuries such as this. As a person of my status, nature is all that I need."
"Well, we share something in common then."
"Is that so?"
He nodded. "I lived my life only needing the simple things. In the military, I learned to never take stuff like that for granted."
"I'm glad they taught you that. From what I heard, the people outside of Erusia rely on tools and machines to get through everyday life. It sounds so...unethical."
He chuckled. "Tell me more about your society. No one has really ever taken the time to settle in and understand your kind." As soon as he finished speaking he felt something hit him in the back of the head and looked on the floor to see an empty plastic bottle.
"Another time you two. We're almost at our next location, the United Keidran Emirates. The embassy is meeting us at their main military base. You know the drill Cain." Hanowitz handed him another folder. This time it was a wolf named Jargo Finch. But this was no ordinary wolf. He was a cyborg. According to his profile, he was part of a tactical operation that sabotaged supply chains of an infamous terrorist organization known as the White Hand. The mission was successful until a roadside bomb destroyed their escape vehicle, mauling his body to pieces. And ever since, he has been living in an armored shell that he created. Information about his identity was eventually leaked from a double agent and the organization got their revenge by executing his family, children included.
"Gods, he has no family and he has to rely on machines in order to live." She whispered and gently rubbed her hand on the portrait of his face.
"He even had the will to design his suit. That's like building your own coffin." Cain said, continuing to read on.
"And that's why we need someone like him." Hanowitz said. "He's an engineering genius and possesses an iron will. A soldiers best attribute."
"Lets hope he still has a fighting spirit." Cain remarked as he felt tingles in his side from the plane's rapid descent, approaching a secluded military base in the forest, in the middle of what was the old wolf territory.
The base was a lot bigger than they thought; the planes made it look deceptively small. Keidran of all kinds can be seen walking around, with some jogging, doing tasks that soldiers normally do. Ever since the Keidran territories united, they have become the largest and fastest growing nation, utilizing the traits of all keidran kind. Looking into the hangars, they see a few wolves and foxes doing maintenance on a huge bomber. It was something that was inconceivable many years ago. A wolf and a fox working together. Those were only false dreams.
Tigers could be seen patrolling in an armored car with a heavy machine gun mounted on top, as it crossed over the tarmac towards a fortified electric fence past the hangars. Cain glimpsed at Sara'Zoe, whose face was accompanied by a uncomfortable twitch. The feeling of asphalt beneath her feet was felt unnatural, and it was something that she knew she had to get used to. Two guards armed with assault rifles along with a wolf dressed in formal officer attire awaited them by the doors that led inside a three story building. As they met, the officer shook their hands and welcomed them.
"Excellent timing. The members of the embassy have just arrived. Please follow me."
As with any large base, the inside of it was bustling with officers and soldiers who were scuffling about, holding papers and shouting names. It was a scene that Cain was all too familiar with. It almost felt like home. They took an elevator to the third floor and exited to a hallway which was lined with offices for those higher up in the military chain.
"The meeting will take place in the meeting room at the end of the hallway." The officer spoke. "You'll be happy to know, General Hanowitz, that General Klinchoff will be attending."
The name didn't ring a bell to the two of them, but the old man's face said otherwise as the slightest smirk crept upon it. Cain wasn't sure what to make of it. Was he an old friend of his? Or perhaps a rival? In about the next ten seconds they were going to find out. The officer entered first, followed by Hanowitz and the rest. The people inside who were sitting saw the group enter and immediately rose from their seats to greet them. Shock struck everyone as the old man walked to a bulky, gold button-downed, fancy looking wolf and shook his hand while welcoming him in the most controversial way.
"Nice to see you, you wet dog." A sense of laughter in his voice. The weathered wolf perked his ears and answered in the same fashion.
"Glad to see you make it, prune bag."
All others couldn't believe what just transpired. The tiger who stood at the far end of the table shook his head and cleared his throat.
"Gentlemen! If you haven't noticed, you are in the presence of the Kiedran Emirates embassy! Please save you incivility for later."
Hanowitz, who looked upset from the tiger's interjection, leaned in and whispered his last words before sitting down at the table.
"We'll catch up later."
The rest seated themselves at the long table, waiting for one of the keidran to speak. A fox adjusted his tie and introduced himself along with his three accomplices. He held a curious stare as he set his eyes on the erusian. It was obvious he, and possibly the other members of the embassy, has never seen one before.
"I'm happy to see that everyone has arrived safely. Us four are representatives of each Keidran country." He looked over to her once more. "And I presume this is Miss Sara'Zoe; such a beautiful sight." She bowed her head from the compliment. "Mr. Stryker. It is an honor." He did the same. "As you can see, Sergeant Finch hasn't arrived just yet. He's...how should I say...preoccupied at the moment."
The wolf representative spoke. "In the mean time we can discuss exactly what Jargo has to offer."
"Yes." A dog intervened. "Jargo is an interesting character. From what you read in his dossier, he is one of our top tiered engineers. He has a keen eye for detail; he was involved in Project Shadow Wing; he is capable of bypassing security systems and of course, you know about the suit."
"Speaking of which" Cain said. "How do we know he's combat ready? If I were him, I'd be traumatized from what happened."
The tiger spoke up. "We understand your concern, Stryker, but Jargo has seen active service after the incident, and he's performing just as good as before, if not better. You won't be disappointed and you'll find his skills accustomed to your needs."
Sara'Zoe looked the tiger in the eyes. "I don't doubt his combative capability, but I'm more interested in his past relationship with his family. No one should have to go through that pain."
"It's sad that he had to suffer," Klinchoff answered for her. "but he is a gentle man, especially with his family. He raised two sons to learn about the technological field and he did everything he could to ensure that they wouldn't join the military."
"Why is that?" Cain asked.
"I don't know." He shrugged. "Maybe he doesn't want them to be in the line of fire."
"That sounds a little selfish of him. His children should be allowed to decide for themselves." Sara'Zoe said.
"I wouldn't call it selfish." Klinchoff eyed the erusian. "He wanted his sons to live normal lives, free from the burden of taking someones life, and I wouldn't blame him. It changes you. Most of the time for the worst."
They continued to delve into his life before the incident and how he treated his wife like gold whenever he was on leave. Unbeknownst to them, a behemoth strolled down the hallway towards them, with heavy footsteps, until he stood at the entrance to the meeting room. Klinchoff and the four reps halted their conversation to look up to the mechanical beast, making the others question to why they have stopped. The three of them turned to see a giant in red and black metal armor. The only thing that distinguished himself as a wolf was his head that protruded out of the suit, but even then, his face wasn't entirely organic as he stared with an unnatural gleaming red eye while the other appeared to be a normal blue. The armor looked thick and sturdy and his metal legs took the shape of keidran feet. He panned about the room, looking at each person individually, waiting for someone to speak up. When he realized they weren't going to talk, he did so himself.
"What." He looked around one last time, leaning against the door frame . "Was it something I did?"
Klinchoff smiled and stood, inviting him to come in. "Jargo! Fashionably late as always."
"Sorry about that." He walked into the room as the others got up. "I was just finishing up an interrogation."
"How'd it go?"
"Eh. The poor lad wouldn't bite, so I made sure he got a mouth full of cold, steel tabletop."
The fox smiled. "It is good to see you Jargo."
He nodded in reply and looked at the human and then at the erusian. "Is this them?"
The embassy nodded in unison and Jargo approached the human, extending his metal casing of an arm. "Cain Stryker I presume? I've heard a lot about you. That was some damn fine work that you did during Operation Archer."
It took a moment for Cain to realize that he was offering a handshake since he was to busy being surprised at how tall the wolf was. Eventually, he saw his opened claws and shook it with a tight grip. The wolf then walked over to the other side and smiled gently at the erusian and bowed his head.
"It is true what they say about your kind. Such grace and elegance. I'd never thought I'd get the chance to see one. And now that I did, I can say that I've looked into the heavens."
"That's kind of you to say but please, don't flatter me." She stared into his eyes and saw the remnants of a shattered soul. "We are here to help you."
"No, we are here for each other. I don't need sympathy."
Sar'Zoe remained quiet, impressed by his ability to control his emotions. The wolf then made his way to Hanowitz and shook his hand.
"It's a pleasure, General."
"Likewise."
The tiger smiled as he saw that everyone was getting along. "I don't want to keep you all waiting. So, we'll let you depart by saying this; Remember Jargo, you are representing our nation. Do us proud."
The wolf saluted them and left one final statement before turning to leave with the others back to the jet.
"Just let me know if the guy talks."
It was a similar scene from when they departed with Sara'Zoe. Each of them sat alone, with the wolf examining the cabin, admiring its lavish appearance.
"You've got a nice thing going on here, General." Jargo commented.
"As much as I hate it, I have to live with it." Hanowitz lit up a smoke.
"Come on. I'd kill for something like this while on duty." The wolf leaned back into the chair, enjoying the luxury while he had the time. The erusian kept to herself, while Cain thought of a way to bring up the subject about his deceased family without hurting his feelings. He knew that the wolf was masking his sorrow and he wanted to express his condolences. But how? Maybe being brunt is the only option here.
"Jargo." The wolf sat back into his normal position. "I'm sorry about your loss. I don't understand how you can be so level-headed about it. If I were you, I'd want revenge."
The wolf chuckled. "Cain, there were many, many times where depression has crept on me. But I've learned to ignore it." He laughed softly again. "And revenge? You have no idea what kind of measures I've taken to try and find the bastards that did this. Remember the interrogation I mentioned earlier? Yeah, that was one of the members of the White Hand; the ones who took everything from me. And now he no bones on which to even crawl back." He scrunched forward and leaned himself on his knees and slowly shook his head. "If you guys never showed up, I would have probably killed him. It felt so good to finally have an attempt at getting answers, and I was just so...so frustrated when he wouldn't talk." He sighed and sat back up. "I won't be able to live again until I find those reponsible."
Cain got up and put his hand on his shoulder. "I will make it my duty to find these people, and we'll bring them to justice."
"That's not good enough. They deserve to die." Jargo clenched his fist.
"You'll be just as savage as they are, killing them in cold blood." Sara'Zoe interjected.
The wolf looked her down with cold eyes. "Why should they deserve to live when it's obvious they take life for granted? They don't care who dies or who gets in their way! As long as they spread their message!"
"That's still not the right way of going about it. Everyone has the right to trial. If the world solved its problems by – "
"In your opinion." The wolf interrupted her, gesturing with his hand. "Terrorists, aren't worthy of a second chance, especially the White Hand." His voice lowered and drowned out. "They should all just drop dead."
Sara'Zoe rolled her eyes and turned away, seeing as it was pointless arguing with him.
"Hey, Hey." Cain attempted to soothe him. "Like I said, I promise we'll find whoever did this."
The wolf sighed, closed his eyes and nodded. "Thanks, Stryker. I hope we do."
Hanowitz got up from his seat and walked to the the fridge and whipped out a bottle of vodka. He poured some into a small glass, mixed it with tonic and handed it to the wolf.
"This should calm your nerves."
Jargo said his thanks and downed it in one go. "Is this 80 proof?" He smacked his lips as the general shook his head. "It'll do for now."
It was turning into evening as the sky shifted to a majestic orange hue that reflected off of the deep blue of the Grand Ocean. The quiet hums of the engines was all that could be heard as they sat in quietness, waiting to reach their final destination. Cain noticed a pattern emerging with the old man's behavior; he would always wait until the last moment to show the next dossier. But why? Does he enjoy the thrill of spur of the moment action? No, he was thinking too hard. He knows Hanowitz. He's a lazy bastard and a procrastinator at best. He'll always piece up some crazy plan at the last second, and by the luck of the gods do they work, for the most part. Maybe that's why he was chosen to become a general; a master plan always bottled up in him somewhere. Cain's train of thought was interrupted as the general smacked and rubbed his hands together, excited that they were nearing completion.
"Alright! Final stop folks. The Basatin Federation." He handed a folder to Cain who then distributed some files to the others.
"This guy should be the most interesting one yet. He's an ex military man; goes by the name of Sebastian Dagas, aka the Shadow Knight." Hanowitz quoted the profile from memory.
"Says here he was one of their best snipers, and then went vigilante after being fed up with big brother." Jargo flipped through the pages.
"A vigilante?" Cain spoke in her direction. "Sounds similar to what you do Sara'Zoe."
"Not quite." She kept her focus on the paper. "Unlike them, we abide ourselves to law." She then crossed her legs and hummed curiously. "It seems the Basatin government didn't like the idea of an elite sniper loose on the streets."
Cain perked his head up. "What do you mean?"
"He's being held in confinement as we speak." She licked her fingertips and flipped to the next page.
"Great, so now we have to plan a jailbreak?" Jargo crossed his arms.
"Not so fast." Hanowitz raised his hand. "The government has him under control until we take him off their hands. He's been locked up for quite some time; I think its been about...three or four months now. We will be meeting with the lieutenants to discuss his release."
"Oh boy." Jargo huffed. "Talking with them is like trying to hold a conversation with a brick wall." He grazed his chin with his fingers. "Come to think of it, I think I'd rather do the latter."
Cain shrugged his shoulders. "It can't be that bad. The Basatins have become a lot more open with relations compared to a while back."
"True, but their stubbornness hasn't improved much. So what else do we know about him?"
"Lets see." Sara'Zoe scanned the page. "His stealthiness and expertise in explosives has kept the police force at bay, until he was captured two years later after he resigned from the military. He has no immediate family; no wife or children. He has lived a life of solitude."
"I hope he doesn't mind working alongside us, then." Cain peered over her shoulder to read the document.
The erusian looked up to him. "It will most likely take some time for him to get used to having teammates, seeing as how he worked alone."
The plane began to rock from turbulence and the cabin dimmed as they passed through a low thundercloud. The pilot notified that they were approaching the isles and asked for them to buckle up, just in case things get a bit more hairier. The cabin lit up for a split second as bolts of lighting streaked through the clouds, striking whatever laid below them. The clouds opened up as the jet lowered towards a private runway near the castle and the city at the base of the mountain glowed yellow from the lights veering from the buildings, contrasting from the darkness caused by the gray skies. Modernization has struck well on the isles. The city below contain many tall commercial buildings aligned in a perfect grid to allow the most effective flow of traffic. It made sense though, since the basatins were always known for their innovation in architecture and civil engineering. The only remnants of the days of olde were the castle that sat along the mountains, frozen in time, and the giant statues at the opening of the main port, welcoming those who wish to visit their great nation. Rain splattered against the windows as the plane eased up on its speed and landed on the small airstrip.
The jet's engines began to die down as all four of them scattered off of the tarmac to avoid being soaked in the rain. Several escorts awaited them by a nearby enclosed, stone corridor that connected with the castle. The guards instantly recognized them and guided them towards the innards of the ancient behemoth. Inside, they admired the cleanliness and preservation of the abode, especially the marble floor which looked like it hasn't aged. Many portraits of previous kings and those of the current hierarchy flooded the walls of the foyer and they noticed that the castle was entirely empty, save a few guards here and there. They were led down a large hallway to their right with tall, heavy doors that opened up to the main courtroom.
"The counsel awaits you." One of the guards waved them onward.
Red carpet guided them center stage where five lieutenants sat on their pedestals, looking down on them as they approached. Off to their right they saw two armed soldiers clenching the arms of a blindfolded and cuffed basatin, dressed in a dull blue prisoners uniform. It was difficult to see his physique, but it was safe to assume that he was toned to an extent because of the natural nimbleness of a sniper, but compared to other basatins he was considered to be scrawny. The lieutenant directly in front of them spoke as they settled in.
"Welcome. Welcome to the Basatin Isles. I am Lieutenant Alabaster the eighth, leader of counsel before you." He motioned his hand towards the bound basatin. "As you can see, we have our package waiting for pickup."
"I am not your property." The basatin mumbled.
"What was that?!" Alabaster snarled. "You were not given permission to speak! I suggest you stay quiet or else I'll redact your release and throw you back in the cells!"
"I think I'd rather be executed than rot inside prison."
"Is that so?" Alabaster crossed his arms.
A sense of anger was in the captive's voice. "You've taken over five months of life; time which is unrecoverable. And for what? Doing what the government has failed to do? Protecting the citizens from the true villains that is this, so-called military dictatorship? You bring shame to our ancestors. I am the voice of my people and my death will justify my actions and open their eyes to reality." He then held the most amused smirk. "So yes, I'd prefer execution, but I'm not going down without a fight first."
A loud clink emanated from where Sebastian was standing as his handcuffs struck the floor. One of the soldiers who held his arms loosened his grip while he was distracted by the noise, giving Sebastian the chance he needed to rip his arm free. Quickly, he grabbed the soldier's holstered pistol and smacked his unprotected temple with the butt of the gun, knocking him out cold. The second soldier let go of Sebastian's other arm to ready his assault rifle, a mistake that he will regret. The soldier aimed the rifle at him, but it was knocked out his grip with a swing of Sebastian's arm. Seeing as how his body was wide open, he charged in and threw a rib shattering punch which caused the soldier to bend over in pain, which then gave the basatin the opportunity uppercut him in the jaw, knocking him flat on on the floor. He then removed his blindfold, grabbed a duffel bag located on a table next to him and dumped out its contents. A strange looking belt was among the items and he grabbed it and pressed a button and faded into invisibility. Alabaster, shocked to see his captive subdue his holders, yelled at the top of his lungs for reinforcements.
"Guards! Guards! He is on the loose! Use any force necessary to prevent his escape!"
Dozens of troops entered the room, guns drawn, with at least four guarding the only way out of the court. Cain and the others stood there, not knowing if they should intervene. He looked over to Hanowitz who only shook his head, signifying that they should let the basatins deal with it. The soldiers frantically scanned the room, while the members of the counsel jolted from their seats, frightened for their lives. Alabaster gripped his pistol and yelled out to the escapee.
"There's no use trying to escape! The only exit to this room is blocked off and – " The lieutenant froze as he felt an arm wrap around his chest and the coldness of a barrel against his head. Sebastian de-cloaked behind him and instantly all of the soldiers took aim at him.
"I may not be able to run, but at least I'll be taking you out with me. The revolution starts here." He pressed the gun harder against Alabaster's skull.
Cain reached his arm out and pleaded with the basatin. "Sebastian, no! Don't do this!"
The basatin looked down at the human while holding his hostage firmly. He knew who he was as soon as he set eyes on him. "This has nothing to do with you Cain! I must set an example. To save this place from further humiliation."
"We can make this work! Nobody has to die!"
Sara'Zoe took a step forward and reinforced Cain's statement. "Listen to him Sebastian! There is no point in killing him. It won't achieve anything."
He placed his finger on the trigger. "You don't know that. My actions here will dictate the future."
"Another stubborn fool." She muttered, realizing that words were no longer relevant and that action was the only way of saving them both. Her right hand glowed a bright blue until a small orb formed and fit perfectly into her palm. She wound her arm back and flung it forward, causing the ball to stretch and form a whip-like entity. The whip cut through the air with a loud whoosh, wrapping itself around Sebastian's gun and ripping it out of his hands. She then thrust her other arm with an open palm and unleashed an invisible force that knocked the basatin off his feet, pinning him to wall behind him. Sebastian wide eyed the erusian. The rate at which she unleashed those spells was incredible and it gave him almost no time to react. Looking at his predicament, Sebastian knew that there was no way out of this now.
Hanowitz spoke up before the counsel did anything rash. "We can still end this peacefully. Perhaps a deal?"
"A deal?" Alabaster spat. "This lunatic nearly killed me! He must be put to death!"
"How about this?" Cain crossed his arms. "We take him off your hands; you never have to see him again; and he will remain under my watch."
The lieutenant rubbed his goatee and pondered. "Hmm. It benefits all of us and it saves tax payers money." He looked back towards the human. "Stryker you are blunt, yet convincing. I will agree to your terms under one condition." He then turned to the pinned basatin. "If he ever returns to the isles, I will do whatever it takes to see him put down."
"Understood." He then looked at the erusian. "Sara'Zoe. You can bring him down now."
She did as commanded and retracted her arm which caused Sebastian to float over, safely landing on the ground in front of them.
"Could I at least get my stuff back?"
He was answered when Sara'Zoe made the same motion, as before, with her arm, flinging the duffel bag along with the pile of stuff and hitting him in the side, nearly causing him to fall over.
"Whoops. I overestimated." She smirked.
Sebastian growled at her and gathered his belongs, hastily stuffing them into the bag. He placed the bag over his shoulder, never turning to face the counsel, and nodded his head at Cain, signaling that he was ready to go.
Aboard the plane, the rain refused to cease as the storm engulfed a majority of the Grand Ocean. Sebastian took refuge in the lavatories to change into something he was more familiar with. Hanowitz waited for his return before he debriefed for the next course of action. The jet rocked violently as they got deeper into the low pressure system; they wondered how the basatin was making out, but they soon found out when they heard grumbling and a few curse words through the door.
Hanowitz laughed at the events that transpired back at the castle. "Heh, usually I'm the one doing the negotiating."
"Is everything a joke to you?" Sara'Zoe asked before taking a sip of herbal tea.
"Of course not, Sara'Zoe. There are points in time where its time to get serious, but for the most part I like to relax and just think about how silly the past can be sometimes. I usually get a good laugh about it."
"You know," Jargo pointed at the general. "I like ya Eugene. It's a shame that most officials are too busy being hardasses."
Cain, who was listening in on their conversation, spotted Sebastian leaving the bathroom, slamming the door in frustration. The basatin changed into his typical attire which gave himself a hitman look. He wore an unzipped, short-sleeved, black duster over a light brown leather vest which holstered a few magazines in its pockets and appeared to hold five inch rounds; a size typically used for anti material rifles. A hefty brown belt secured his black cargo pants with pads that wrapped around his knees and a brown glove was worn on his right hand. And of course, with all basatins, his feet were properly covered with white bandages. He took a cigar out of one of his vest pockets and felt around for something else. He grunted before muttering, "Must of dropped it." and asked Hanowitz if he had a light after giving up his search. The general reached into a cupboard and tossed him a lighter, which Sebastian caught and lit his cigar. He took a few satisfying puffs before settling into a seat, gazing at the erusian. She felt his stare and turned to lock with his brown eyes. She was unsure what he wanted. Was he angry because of her interference? The long silence made her feel uneasy.
"Thanks." He finally spoke.
"For what?" She asked in a surprised tone.
He patted his cigar to break off its burnt end. "I almost threw my life away. Such a stupid thing for me to do. I knew you came for me, but I was blinded by my own hopes of ending their tyranny." White smoke flew from his nose. "One day I will expose them for the corrupt bigots they are."
Cain slouched over and rested himself on his arms. "So what exactly is the government doing that's pissing you off so much?"
"A lot more than the people realize. The crime rate is the highest its ever been in decades; taxes are over the top; government spending is going to areas unknown, and all of this is just going right over the their heads. I had to do something. So that's when I decided to take matters into my own hands and abused my military experience and clearance to track where the money was going and to put down the kingpins of the big criminal organizations."
Jargo chuckled. "So you were like some behind the scenes superhero, kind of like the ones I used to watch on tv as a kid."
He shrugged. "I suppose. Although my popularity did grow to the point where I was given the title, the 'Shadow Knight.' And that's where it all eventually caught up to me. Being renowned the way I was, the government sent its best agents to find me. Took them a hell of a long time, but there are only so many places to hide on that cramped home of an island."
Cain shifted his attention to the general. "So, Eugene. The team is assembled. I assume the council is the next step?"
"Bingo." He pointed at him. "We will be staying in a nearby complex until the council meeting tomorrow morning."
A couple hours have passed and the night sky started to make its presence. The half moon rose high above the horizon being caressed by mixtures of fiery red and a soothing blue; two extremes that met to create an amazing swirl of color. Sara'Zoe sat in silence as she basked in its serenity, while the others dozed off to pass the time. Eventually, they woke up from the bumpiness of the landing and found themselves in Ibon City, home of the council, located on the UKE and human border in the northeast. Very little sightseeing was done. The group was weary from their travels and headed directly to one of the hotels on the strip, where soft beds waited for them.
Morning quickly came and they wasted no time getting in the armored limo that taxied outside the building. The vehicle veered in and out of traffic as they took note of how prevalent the military presence was here, but it wasn't too far fetched; this is a universal government establishment after all. Soon, the structure that housed the council came into view. It stood tall and proud, constructed by all four races only several years ago. It was a sign of a new future. A future of unity. The limo pulled up to the large, white structure and the five of them got out only to be greeted by two lines of soldiers mixed inter-racially, forming a path up the steps for them to walk down. They stood strong and proud without moving a muscle as the group walked by them, heading towards the doors that lead to the council with the flags of all four great nations waving at its base. The doors at the top were already opened and they stepped inside the foyer to see two sets of hallways both left and right, and another set of doors in front of them in which two soldiers opened upon seeing them. Beyond it, sat the council where all four council members rose as the group came close. One of the figureheads, a human wearing a suit and bow tie, raised his hands up and spoke to them in a familiar voice. It was none other than the president of Ania, the human lands, Kenneth Glandall.
"Hanowitz, Stryker, Hachur, Finch, and Dagas. The council of Mekkan welcomes you." They all bowed their heads.
"An interesting crew you have assembled there, Stryker." A male tiger, wearing similar attire as Glandall, commented, which Jargo recognized as Nellis Karvolk, the president of the UKE.
"And we couldn't have found a better leader." A hefty voice came from an older basatin, dressed in decorative armor with a red cape dangling from his shoulders. Sebastian squinted his eyes and masked his anger as he saw the ruler of the federation, King Risbertdon.
"Yes. When I first saw Stryker, I knew he was destined to lead. Such a strong, iron-willed man." A soft voice came from the most elegant of women. A white and blue, tight woven, one piece dress, parted on her right side, gave only an insight as to how beautiful she really was. A helix shaped, golden headpiece signified her position as queen of the erusian empire. Her perfect face was captured by the same stripes, almost similar to Sara'Zoe's, except hers spiraled at her cheeks before extending towards her temples and then disappeared under her brilliant, golden curly hair that flowed down to her rear.
Sara'Zoe's jaw dropped and she quickly looked down to the floor and got on one knee. "My queen! I am not worthy of your presence."
"You may rise." The queen lifted her hand up as if guiding her.
The erusian did as she was told and got back up, but her eyes were still aiming at the floor like she was afraid. It was strange seeing her deter from her normally stern and confident behavior, and the fact that she turned into a sweaty mess in front of the council by a few words from her superior made Cain wonder what this queen was all about. The others didn't seem to take note of this, however.
"Stryker, your team has been called and assembled for a reason. This next task for the four you is of the utmost importance, which is why this meeting is held in such secrecy." Glandall paced behind his podium. "To cut to the chase, as of the last two months, people have been disappearing. Humans to be more exact." A hologram appeared and separated the two parties. The images it shown were of various towns and small villages. Nothing seemed out of the norm until they noticed that each photo had their similarities where abandoned vehicles could be seen scattered along the streets, its occupants strangely vanishing. "The abductions started off small, but as of recently they have become more and more extensive with the latest one in Franselburg, topping at over five thousand missing oersons."
"And that's not all." Karvolk continued. "Although the humans have suffered from abduction, those who were of any other species were killed on sight and left behind." The hologram changed to pictures of bodies both basatin and keidran laying on lawns and on city streets. Their deaths were all the same. Bullet holes rattled their bodies with some executed with a single shot to the head.
"I smell the White Hand at work here." Jargo muttered.
"We thought so too." The queen spoke up. "But the operations have been executed flawlessly. There have been no reports to the authorities during these abductions; no signs of casualties or evidence, for that matter, from the unknown enemy; an operation that is far too organized even for a terror cell such as the White Hand."
"So I'm assuming no leads then." Cain said.
"There is something." King Risbertdon gripped the edges of the podium. "Our intelligence division, alongside Ania's, stationed fifty miles from Franselburg has intercepted a radio frequency during the last abduction a few days ago. It transmitted a message that gives away some location, just north of the Whitefield Ruins." He pressed a button on the console and the hologram shifted into an oscilloscope, pulsating as a male voice spoke.
'Invasion of Franselburg was a success. Zero casualties and 5,342 civilians have been captured. Message command to rendezvous with the strike force at 50.8524N, 73.1156W on the Crisp Sea. There, we will ready for an – ' The message fades out with static.
"That's just outside our territory." Cain observed.
"Indeed it is Stryker, and that's where you will be heading first." Glandall held his hand to his chin. "We must stop this before it gets any worse."
"Just how exactly are we gonna get there?" Jargo crossed his arms.
Cain looked at the wolf and noticed a smirk making its way onto Hanowitz' mouth. It was the type of smirk that yelled, 'I know something you don't.', and it made him wonder what he's hiding or better yet, what the council was hiding. They all opened their eyes a bit more after the queen spoke
"A special team such as yours requires its own base of operations." She looked at them all before continuing. "Lady and gentlemen. I present to you, the effort of all four nations working in parallel; the emblem of unity and your own personal frigate, The Concord."
The hologram transformed, again, into the shape of a medium sized ship. Cain bit his lower lip at the site of the magnificent vessel. Two wings extruded at the rear of the main fuselage, while two smaller fins stuck out towards the front end of the ship, giving it maximum maneuverability. The main body was curved to minimize drag, which then tinned out towards the bow, almost meeting at a point. The details of the ship were listed off to the side of the portrait. Two railguns underneath the wings for piercing armor, a gattling gun armed with antimana rounds for disabling shields towards the bow, countermeasures against enemy missiles, a missile system of its own, active stealth and cloak, the works. He heard drips coming from beside him and turned to see Jargo with his tongue hanging from his mouth and saliva consistently dripping. The ship was an engineer's dream, afterall.
"It is a combination of the highest technology that our nations have to offer. This will be your home while on active duty. You will patrol the world, waiting for the call, and you will strike without prejudice." Karvolk held his hands behind his back.
"And with every ship, there needs to be a captain to guide it." All four council members looked at Stryker.
"It is our honor to promote you, Stryker, to Captain of The Concord." Glandall tilted his head towards the general. "Hanowitz, if you could present him with the pin."
Hanowitz stepped in front of him with a pin, shaped in the rank of captain. He had a very serious look in his face as he eyed Cain, much more serious than that playful smile he held a few moments ago.
"It is an honor that I, General Hanowitz, promote you, Cain Stryker of R.E.D. Special forces, to the rank of captain." He said as he he placed the pin on the collar of his armor, glowing ever so subtly as it permanently stuck to the metal. "May your voyages serve us well." He then saluted.
Cain saluted back and whispered to the general. "I don't know anything about leading a ship!"
"Sure you do! You served under Admiral Jacobs for a reason. You'll do fine."
Cain stared into his eyes, still holding his salute, wondering just how long he has been planning this for. He worked under Jacobs several years ago and although he has learned a lot about how a ship and its functions, he has never commanded one himself. Cain rested his arm at his side. He knew it was time to make his speech. To thank the general for all that he's done for him, and to the council for trusting him with this kind of power.
"Thank you General. I will wear this pin with pride, knowing that you have always been looking out for me. I will command this ship with the utmost importance, and caution, when fighting this new enemy. We've assembled the best squad that this world has ever seen and I will put all of my effort into ensuring our success and our safety and the safety of others. We will put ourselves in the frontline to protect the innocents that walk this earth from this enemy and to any others that will dare to stand in our way. I, Captain Stryker of The Concord, thank you, the council, General Hanowitz, and all others who have supported us, for selecting me to lead this squad. We will do you proud."
The others looked on in aspiration from the captain's fine words. The council clapped after hearing his speech and the others joined in.
"Such a moving speech, Stryker." The queen commented after the clapping ceased. "I have a single and simple request for you before you begin your journey to the Crisp Sea."
"Yes, your majesty?" Cain bowed his head.
An unnoticed smile stretched across her lips after hearing his proper address to her. "I want you and your crew to visit me at my palace. There is something that I wish to give you that you will find useful."
"As you wish."
"The ship is in an underground hangar just behind this building. There is an elevator at the end of the hallway to your left that leads to the entrance." Karvolk gestured with his hand. "There, you will meet the rest of your crew."
Cain shook his head in acknowledgment.
"Oh! Before I forget." Hanowitz opened his hand once more to reveal four small electronic devices. "These are your holo-gear." The four of them grabbed the devices. "Place it somewhere on your body that's easy to reach. This will be your lifeline to the ship. It will be able to establish communications, provide maps of the area, and any type of information can be stored in it. Fiddle around with it when you get the chance."
They wasted no time attaching it to themselves. Cain and Jargo put theirs on their forearm, Sebastian put his on his glove, and Sara'Zoe, as reluctant as she was to place it on her beloved armor, fused it to her gauntlet.
The meeting was about to be concluded when the doors to the council room opened, and a soldier peeked his head in.
"Pardon the interruption. King Risbertdon, the Master General is on the line with urgent news. He requests your immediate attention."
The king grunted as he looked over to the other council members. "Pardon me for a few moments." The others motioned him to go ahead. They knew that the Isles were in an almost state of emergency due to criminal activity. It was his priority to ensure that order prevails. The king then stepped off the podium and walked out of the room.
"So now what?" Jargo shrugged.
"Technically, everything is said and done. You may leave now if you wish, but first." Glandall descended from his podium, followed by the others, and met Cain face to face, offering his hand for a shake. The captain firmly shook it, along with Karvolk's, and and gave a bow as the queen curtsied in front of him. They repeated the same gestures with his squad mates, except for Sara'Zoe who got on her knees once more to kiss the feet of her ruler.
"Good luck to all of you." Glandall said once more.
"Thank you – " Cain stopped mid sentence and everyone else stood completely still as they heard the sound of the air raid alarms. The alarms blared again followed by the sounds of faint explosions from anti-aircraft guns. A loud whirring sound faded in and got louder and louder as the seconds past. They all looked around, trying to hear the direction from which it was coming from and at this point they realized that sounds of the explosions has seized. Another soldier burst through the door screaming.
"Everybody out! Now!" He waved his hands, motioning us to move. "A plane is about to – "
His warning came too late. Before they could leave the building, a large explosion rocked the area as the fuselage of a large cargo plane ripped into the sides of the structure. Instinctively, everyone one dove to the ground and shielded themselves while they heard the sounds of collapsing walls and screeching girders crashing around them. Cain was the first one to rise after everything had settled. The heat of the crash was almost overwhelming; sweat already started to drip from his chin. He looked down to see the others still prone, covered in ash and debris.
"Is everyone okay?" He shouted.
Slowly, one by one, they all rose to their feet, checking for any missing limbs or cuts or bruisers. Sara'Zoe dashed over to the queen to inspect her, only to receive a nod.
"Yeah. I think everyone's good." Sebastian shook his head, trying to rid himself of shellshock.
Outside, they heard the yells of troops giving orders with small arms fire just beyond that. Was this the enemy that they were looking for? Cain wasn't going to find out by standing here. He reached over his back and grabbed his gun and rested the butt against his shoulder.
"Alright squad. This is it." He eyed the exit of the room. The others did the same and readied their weapons. "It's time to test our merit." He pumped his shotgun, readying the first round in his magazine. Their mission starts here.