HEY GUYS! I'm back, and I got a new chapter. I've been liking the visits but I need reviews. I like to hear what you guys think, especially those for out of the U.S. So please review.


The Survivor of Xernex: I Am Alive

The legendary city of Xernex; it was a relatively peaceful and thriving land despite the harsh conditions of the desert that surrounded it. And, at the time, had a population of over a million people. It was also famous for its language, philosophical, and technological advances. Though slavery was a common practice there.

One hot desert morning, a slave was busy mopping the floors to one of the scientist's lab. His upper arm was bandaged from a recent punishment for attacking a guard. His black hair was long and was tied back into a messy pony tail. While his bangs were the only thing dripping sweat on his face.

"I don't envy you, kid." A voice said. "That is one bad brake on you being a slave. You're gonna have a verrry hard time getting out. Of course I can help you." The young teen looked around and saw no one, so he went back to mopping. "Oh I get it, you're ignoring me." The voice said. "Hey kid, over here!"

The teen finally looked in the direction from which the voice was coming from.

"That's right, down here." He looked down to see a small blue hedgehog in a metal cage. It wasn't like any hedgehog he saw before. This on stood upright on its back legs and should bipedal movement as it paced back and forth in the cage. The only quills it had which looked more like a hair style then actual quills.

"I'm busy," the teen said. "Talk to me later."

"What!?" The hedgehog said. "Get back over here!"

The hedgehog thrashed around in its cage until, because of his thrash, moved the cage off the ledge. The slave kicked a cushioned chair over to catch the cage.

"Would you stop fooling around?" He asked he put the cage back on the desk. "I'm gonna get in big trouble."

"Fine," The hedgehog said. "But how about I make you a proposition."

"A propo-what know?" he asked.

"An offer of terms for a transaction," his words were making the slave more confused. "As in business kid."

"No thanks." The slave got back to work.

"Hey wait a second!" The hedgehog yelled. "Your brashness impresses me. What's your name?"

"Since I'm a slave I, I go buy Slave number 299. But my name is Aaron, Aaron Wynne."

"Aaron, huh?" he said. "Well, Aaron, for your kindness I will give you knowledge. I'll teach you how to read and write."

"Don't see how that we'll help me with my job. Like I said, I'm a slave."

"A slave, huh?" The hedgehog questioned. "You mean: Those who have been denied their freedom and rights, whose ownership is transferred and sold to other as a commodity?"

"Transferred?"

"A conveyance, by sale, gift, or other wise, of real or personal property, to another." The hedgehog explained, but Aaron wasn't understanding it. "... You're not very bright, are you?"

"SHUT UP!!"

"Look. You're just like me, Aaron." The hedgehog sneered. "Stuck inside a cage, and can only look out on the world. Knowledge is the greatest treasure known to all living species. It is a power source that will never way you down. And in a way, you'll gain your freedom."

"Really?" Aaron smiled like a fox. "Then what should I call you then?"

"You can call me Scourge, Scourge the hedgehog."

XxXxXxX

"This is how you write sun," Aaron was giving the other slaves how to read and write in Xernexese using the dirt as a chalkboard. "And this is for moon."

"How do you write fish?" a female slave asked.

"Like this." He wrote it out for her.

"It must be great to know how to read and write and stuff." A slave said.

"Yeah and do math as well." Another one said.

"If we learned how to do that, then our master's wouldn't play tricks on us." A bald slave said. "Where did you learn that?"

"It's a secret." Aaron smiled. "Tomorrow we'll go over arithmetic using double digit numbers."

"HEEY!!" Their master yelled, causing them to jump. "So this is where you scrum have been hiding!" They all ran for it, but Aaron was the one who got caught. "You again. I'll make sure you don't eat for three days."

"Sorry, master." Aaron said, being hung from his ear. His master then found the notes he was teaching the other slaves.

"You know how to write." He released Aaron's ear.

"Yes… I can read and write and I can also do some math."

"I see," said the master. "So that's why the slaves have been becoming so knowledgeable. You've been teaching them."

After realizing that he wasn't in trouble Aaron said. "That's not all; I can also do some chemistry. So if you give me for an apprentice role, I can do much more."

XxXxXxX

Nine years have passed since Aaron became an apprentice. With the money he earned, he was able to buy a nice house for himself. His work was demanding, but he still found time to spend to give other slaves lessons. He soon became a full time scholar.

Scourge, over the year became taller (By three whole feet!). So out of the goodness in Aaron's heart, he was able to pull some string and make him a full citizen.

"Everything comes from one source and will eventually become one again." Aaron read. "In other words, the one and the all."

"You've become quite the scientist, Aaron." Scourge said as he sat on the ledge of a deck.

"I'm very grateful to you."

"For what?" Scourge asked.

"I am only able to live so well because of the knowledge you gave me. My days as a slave are a distant memory."

"Being of Homo Sapiens species, in you case though Homo Canis, is so inconvenient." Scourge said as he watched Aaron put away his books. "You have to build communities in order to stay concerned. And you are one of the few species who mate for enjoyment."

"Don't use the word mate." Aaron said. "It might seem ridiculous to you but we find happiness through our family and friends."

"Hmm... Really?"

"So what makes you happy?"

"Well..." Scourge thought. "Never really though about it. To be honest this city is all I know. If I left, I would probably die. But what about you? You don't even seem interested in the money, or honeys, you get for being a scholar. So what do you want?"

"Ever since I was a kid," Aaron seemed at peace with himself. "There has been one thing I've always wanted."

"Lets hear it: Power? Respect? Money? Popularity? Women?.... Men?"

"A family."

"That's pretty weird."

"Master Scourge," a slave said. "The king wishes to speak with you."

XxXxXxX

"Immortality?" Scourge questioned the old king's word. "Why does everyone with wealth and power always go down this direction. It's so cliche."

"Mind your tongue, Hedgehog." Aaron's old master said. "You are in the presence of the king of Xernex. If you don't watch yourself, I will just kill you here and now."

"Right," Scourge rolled his eyes. "Sure you will. Remember you thought of using me for your sick experiments. If you kill me, you crazy old geezers, I'll haunt you to the grave."

"Enough ideal chatter." The old king said. "Immortality. Is it possible or not?"

"Getting a little antsy in your old age?" Scourge said. "How pathetic, my dear king." he smiled. "All right, I'll teach you the secret. But it's gonna cost a lot of blood."

XxXxXxX

Five days later, there have been several attacks on Xernex's outer cities.

"I heard that in the south, Bagorah village was wiped out in one night."

"How?"

"They said it was because of bandits."

"I heard they killed everyone. Even women and children."

Aaron was on the way to his lab when he heard the new.

"What a tragedy," Aaron said as he walked into his lab. "Bagorah village was wiped out last night."

"Really?" Scourge said. "What a shame."

XxXxXxX

For the next six months, the five surrounding villages have been attacked by bandits. And the outcome was always the same, every one in the village died.

"Make haste," the aging king said. "My health grows weak."

XxXxXxX

It's been know over a year, and the king is know bed ridden do to his health.

"Your majesty," His followers gathered around him. "The paths are cleared. And the design is complete."

"To bad we had to use the villagers for the sacrifice."

"Is everything in order, Hedgehog?" the king asked.

"All set." Scourge said. "Immortallity will be yours dear king."

"Then lets begin the ritual."

XxXxXxX

In the audience chamber, the king and his higher ups were preforming the immortality ritual. The king sliced his finger to put in the last amount of blood.

"A new era is opening to us!" the king announced.

"Yeah, my era." Scourge smiled. The ground started to shake like an earthquake, but the buildings weren't moving. The people and animals were screaming and gasping for air as if some unknown force was killing them.

"What the hell is going on!" Aaron thought as the only thing he could see was a typhoon of tortured souls. "What is this?!"

"Hello?" A man's voice called out to him in his head. "Who are you? The living aren't allowed here."

"My name is Aaron Wynne."

"Aaron, huh? You're Marcos's son."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means, my lord, that you are going to learn to become the next Mandalord."

"Who are you?"

"I am a tool for the Wynne family. I am Central. And I will give you my knowledge!"

XxXxXxX

Aaron woke up on the floor of his lab. He was gasping for air and hold his hand over his heart. He looked around and heard absolute silence. He picked up the red katana, which was laying right next to him, and started investigating the city. It was morning, and Aaron used the sword as a crutch so he could keep his balance. While he held onto the sword, his head felt like it was going to explode do to the amount of sword fighting knowledge.

"Somebody..." Aaron yelled out. "Why is it so quiet?" He found the people hunched over railings and face down on the ground. "... They're.... They're all dead. William! Andronicus! Rhinemile! Mei-Yo!" He looked over the corpses, and saw that they were all dried out. "What happened? Somebody... answer me..."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible." A voice came from behind him. "You se they are so tired, it's like they had the souls sucked out of them."

Aaron spun around and bowed. "YOUR MAJESTY! You survived!"

"Oh do you like the clothes," the voice said. "I just put on whatever was lying around. How do you like waking up from the dead? You've been out for more than six years. Does it suit you?"

Aaron unsheathed the sword and charged at the now green hedgehog.

"SCCOOUURRGGGE!!" Aaron, even though he was flailing the slashes around, knew exactly where to strike. But Scourge was faster than him. "Hold still you bastard so I can cut your head off!"

"Sure, That's enough to make me stop." Scourge punched Aaron in the gut, causing him to gasp for air. "You were only a slave when I met you Mr. Slave Number 299. I made you into what you are today. You should be thanking me. But instead you're trying to kill me."

Aaron grabbed onto Scourges leg, causing it to bruise. "I swear..., one day,... I WILL kill you!"

XxXxXxX

Several years later. Tojo slums, Kyoto 37, Kalevala, Mandalore sector. Parties, gambling, and risk taking for the Nobles are daily. They rolled in their riches constantly while the common people are taxed heavily. Their poverty has reached dire levels. In the slums though, only the strong will survive. Mandalore has truly lost it's honor. When violence in the slums becomes a "concern", the Nobles send in the army to clean up the violence.

Aaron walked through the burned skelton that the slum once was. Small fires were still burning from the rubble, which any survivors would use for heat. The clouds above him started to blacken and humidity started to raise. He suddenly heard crying coming from one of the few standing burnt huts. He then found a young boy with blond hair and a very simply made autopart left arm. He was dressed in a dirty white undershirt and long brown pants with a rope belt. He hid his face in his legs as he lightly sobbed into arms.

"You realize if you keep crying like that your arm will rust." Aaron said, but the kid continued to cry. So like any reasonable adult, he stood him up... and headbutted him back down. "WHAT-THE-HELL-ARE-YOU-GETTING-ALL-SENTAL-MENTAL-ON-ME-FOR?-YOU-LITTLE-SQUIRT!...Feeling better?" The kid rubbed his soar head as Aaron stood back up. "Relax, kid, you're going to make it through this. Do you have any family?"

"I have an older brother."

"Where is he?"

"He ran out to find someone," the rain started to fall outside. "I don't know where he is right now."

Suddenly an older boy ran into the hut, soaking wet and covered in ash paste. His hair was crimson color and buzzed back, and had a double scar that stretched down his face, running over his left side.

"Is this him?"

"Who are you?! And what do you want?" He yelled at Aaron. His clothes mostly consisted of a black trench coat whose sleeves barely fit him, and a pair of worn out jeans. "If it's food or water you want, we don't have any!"

"Thanks, but I already have some." Aaron got up and planted his hand on the older boy's shoulder. "You two are Projects. I never seen one up close."

"What are you?"

"Bounty hunter." The two boys attacked at once with sand and lightning. "You are cheeky little brats." Aaron stood behind the two brothers. The two brothers shot around to do another attack, but yet again, Aaron stood behind them. "I heard a rumor that the reason why you Projects are so feisty, is because you have high bounties." Aaron dodged a bolt of lightning. "Lucky for you two,I'm a bounty hunter with a heart." He punched the two in the stomach, bring them to their knees. The two still tried to stand. "So you still want to stand and fight. It'd be a shame if you die. If you still want to live in these slums in fear, go ahead. Or, you can help me change this system as my sons."

"Son...?" The younger one asked. "Hey, Zaps. What's a son?" He noticed his brother shacking in the ash. "Zaps? What's wrong?"

"Be strong! Be strong!" He told himself as he created pools with his tears. "But... Why... so suddenly... do I want to live. Why am I so happy... the tears won't stop?!!"

"I know what kind of pain and weight you've been carrying." Aaron hugged the two boys. "You don't have to any more."

"WE ACCEPT!!" The two boys screamed through their tears.


It's like the story of old before the Xorda's attacked.

When two families hated one another,

But the two children from the families were lovers.

But in the end they died a romantic, tragic, death.

Next Time: Star Crossed Lovers.