Author's Note

Well, I guess I've got a good story going so far, from what I've heard. I just wonder if it'll be able to rise up among all the other stories. Well, here's to my good fortune!

One World

The troop transport was nothing more than a truck with a large flatbed on the back, a tarp draped over it in a sloppy tent to keep its passengers and cargo dry. Reece sat on a bench in the back, looking back at the mound of dirt that used to be their base. Everything of value was removed, and the entire base was collapsed. It was built underground to keep the empire's troops from discovering them, unnoticeable from above and easily destroyed without leaving a trace. That's the way the scout and scavenge parties worked, silently and quickly.

Jenny sat in the passenger seat up front, staring hopelessly out the window. Coop was driving silently, he needed to stay focused in the woods, he couldn't afford to lose the truck in a ditch somewhere. Homsar somehow found his was aboard the truck, and stood in the corner by the supplies, somehow blowing bubbles from his mouth. Reece chuckled at him; he always managed to brighten up a situation. Flippy sat on a bench across from him, Flaky sleeping on his lap.

"This is too much," Flippy said, stroking Flaky's quills with the back of his hand "Flaky wasn't built for this kind of life. I don't know what I'd do if I lost her to this war."

Reece stared back, he didn't know what to say. His eyes darted from Flaky's slumbering expression of peace, to his own weak hands, to Homsar's blank stare, to Jenny's dented body, to Coop's waistline.

"None of us were, we're refugees at best," He finally said, "I'm sorry Flippy, you don't deserve this, to be fighting a war I started."

Flippy pushed Flaky's head off of his lap and onto the bench. He stood and stared Reece in the eyes "You didn't start this war," He said, enraged, " You know damn well who,"

Hard beats sounded through the truck, as if something metal was pounding against the roof. Flippy clutched his head in agony, growling. He was changing, he couldn't stop it. Flaky, meanwhile, was just beginning to open her eyes, lazily drifting back awake when she heard his growl. This shocked her back to reality, and she leapt up and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

"Flippy, please! Calm down, calm down, it's only hail. I'm here, please, don't worry." She said, slowly coaxing him down.

Flippy shook violently at first, but soon was breathing slowly and then he was back. He suffered from severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from his time spent in his homeland's war before the worlds were merged. After years of therapy and self-training, he had been able to suppress his flip-outs, but if his temper got the best of him and something unexpected happened, then He might re-emerge.

"T-thank you Flaky," He said between gasps. Flaky let him go,

"It's all right, I'll always be there." She said, giving a weak giggle.

"Well, aren't you two cute?" Coop said with a laugh. Flippy's face turned red, Flaky's even more than usual. Reece and even Jenny broke out laughing. The truck seemed alive, as if they weren't fleeing for their lives.

But, hours later that were still driving. The group actually began to occupy themselves with some games, Reece and Flippy were playing poker. Or they were trying to, as Homsar kept eating the cards and Reece could swear Flaky was giving Flippy hints. They sat there, peaceful for at least a little while, until Flippy's ears perked up.

"What's going on?" Reece asked as he ran to the pile of supplies.

"Just, just hold on," Flippy said, pulling a pair of binoculars out. He ran to the back of the truck, peering out into the distance. Far off, he could make out a few hovering figures. But, he had no idea how dangerous the enemies he was seeing really were.

…

Above the misty night, the hail had reverted to rain once again. And cutting through the black sky was a sinister being, clad in a dark leather coat. He sat atop a clockwork throne of gears and whirring propeller blades, resting his head on his arm. He tapped a few buttons on his arm rest, a few blinking lights illuminated and he tapped away at them until some code or sequence appeared to him. In these flashing lights, one could make out his features. He had a pale grey face, marked with some creepy face paint along his eyes. His hair was a bright red, and pulled up by a pair of bright yellow goggles he wore upon his forehead. From his position, Flippy saw as a swarm of robots pulling up alongside him.

"Shit," Flippy said aloud. Without another word he went to the front, alerting Coop to their pursuers.

"You've gotta be kidding me," Coop said, pulling into a small clearing in the woods. He parked the truck in a ditch to hide it as best as they could, and the group took cover behind a fallen tree. Coop clutched a shotgun, just being able to peer over their makeshift cover to warn of any incoming enemies. Flippy, Jenny and Reece both had long range rifles, Homsar was unarmed, but he was never really a big player in any battle.

Flaky, meanwhile, was hiding in the back of the darkened van, her best bet was to avoid combat at all costs. She clutched a pistol close to her heart for protection.

Hmm, I never really noticed how short these chapters were when I was typing them. I'm going to have to fix that. But, besides that I think this is going well!

-Your pal Phoenix Reece.