Cain, a 13-year-old boy, along with his mother Alicia, and his father Lucas, are just arriving at the international airport of their country. Cain and his family live in a small country south of Netopia, ravaged by a myriad of civil wars. Cain, like most children, remains oblivious to the danger that threatens his life as well as the life of his parents and stays listening to his musical selection on his Transer. Alicia and Lucas however, know the world for what it is and in an attempt to safeguard Cain, they plan to send him to Electopia.
They all walk to the gate in silence. Once they reach it, Alicia whispers something into Lucas' ear and he hands her a ticket marked with Cain's name. Cain sees the name however; he keeps his thoughts under strict scrutiny and asks, "Mom? Dad? Why are we here at the airport?" His mother, Alicia tries hard to withhold her tears and takes a knee, so to see eye-to-eye with Cain.
"Cain…things are starting to get dangerous. So we want to make sure that you stay safe." Alicia's voice is shaky; nevertheless, she keeps her composure and retains her motherly voice. This does not help the situation however, for Cain looks broken.
"Y-you're sending me away?" Cain stuttered.
"Cain, you're nothing more than a child. You do not yet know how ugly the real world is. This is for your own good. You aren't old enough to lose your innocence to the likes of war." Lucas said as he tried to take his son to customs. Cain jerked his hand out of Lucas' hand and wiped his tears.
"13 years. 13 years…I've lived here. You really think that I will abandon this place just because of some war? I mean no disrespect but who the hell do you take me for father? A coward?" Cain demanded. Cain's answer was a slap across the face from his father. However, Cain was not fazed. He stood firmly face expressionless.
"Hit me as much as you want Lucas, I stopped feeling the pain long ago…" Cain informed, as he looked his father straight in the eye.
Lucas raised his hand again but as he looked his son, he could see that it would not help. He lowered his hand and placed it on Cain's shoulder.
"I guess you're more grown up then I give you credit for Cain." Lucas said as he then went to Alicia to console her, for she was weeping knowing that Cain had made up his mind.
Cain was staying...
From then on Cain joined the Rebellion Group as a junior cadet as they called it. He trained severely and learned the art of war. He met a young girl a year younger, Hailey. She was the daughter of the Rebellion Commander, Normandy who everyone called Norman. They became good friends and began to hang out and as they became closer, Norman trained Cain harder and harder. Then one day Hailey asked Cain to make a promise to her, "My father is sending me away Cain…He said the war is about to start and I can't stay here its too dangerous for me, my mother is coming with me. Cain, I know my father has been treating you badly and has been working you to the bone; but it's because you've been like a son to him. Cain, I want you to promise me something…you're the best soldier here so please take care of my father and…" Hailey walked up to Cain and kissed him, he returned the kiss tenderly, and she began to tear up.
"And when this war is over promise me we can be together…"
Cain wrapped his hands around her and kissed her again, he lifted her chin so that she would look him in the eye and he said,
"I promise."
4 years later…
An alarm rings at 3:30 a.m. its redundant beeping pierces the cold night air like an ice pick. A hand covered in scars and stitches hits the off button on the alarm and a muscular figure gets up and begins his daily routine. As the figure prepares for today's events, he traces his hand over the fresh stitches and newly formed scars. He looks to the calendar to see that the next day is marked 17th birthday. He chuckles and goes over to his nightstand to pick up his Transer. The screen cracked in several places and the screen shows only a negative image of what it should display. The figure walks out his room to see something laying on the kitchen table…It's a ticket for a one-way flight to Electopia. Marked with his name; next to it is a crest with a marking that has haunted him for his entire life.
"The High Marshall never dies he merely gives his blood to sacrament the divine path…hmm were it so easy to believe…" He recited as he took both the crest and ticket and stuffed them into his pocket. He walked over to an old trauma pack, grabbed it and took it into his room and began to pack his belongings. After he finished he walked down stairs to the living room to see a man sitting in a chair drinking some whiskey. He chuckled and grabbed a beer himself and took a drink.
"Ain't it a little early to be drinking Commander Norman?" the young man said. Normandy only laughed as he took another sip from his glass.
"Yes I suppose it is. However, considering what today is…I see it fitting don't you?" Norman pondered as he put down his glass and eyed the young man's Transer. "Cain that Transer is dated. Why don't we go and get you a VG-Hunter?" Norman said as he rose up his hunter to Cain.
Cain stopped mid-drink and looked sternly towards Norman and raised his Transer, "This 'dated' Transer as you called it is the only reason I'm still alive and the only reason we won; so you all keep your Hunters I keep to my 'dated' Transer." Cain said crossly.
"Well suit yourself. Cain, are you going?" Norman asked eyeing the Trauma pack. Cain pulled out the ticket and showed it to Norman.
"I owe it to her Normandy. I made a promise, she may not remember me, but I'll keep my promise…" Cain replied. He got up and grabbed his keys from the hanger and started out. Norman sat in his chair and pulled up a photo of Cain and Hailey from his VG-Hunter and as a tear rolled down his face his said, "No Cain she hasn't forgotten about you, but sometimes I wish she did…"
Sorry about the chapter being really short at 1,134 but after finishing all of chapter 1 I saw it was too long to put in one so I divided it into two. The Second part will be up slowly. Sorry for the lack of updating with all my stories and this one. I've been preoccupied...
-NotoriousAntiHero
