First Phase
Act 1
Becoming
Chapter 1
Jim punched in the keys to unlock the door, as he did so he could hear firing behind him. He guessed Vor' was having quite a time with his new weapon.
"VVVVVScHHHHHHH!"
The door opened as Jim yelled down the corridor, "C-mon! It's time, let's get off this freakin' rock!"
"Let's." said Vor' as he ran through door without hesitation.
Inside was a machine, declared ancient by some. It stood in the center of a room about the size of two football fields in a dome shape. They both gazed for a moment in awe before setting to work preparing it.
Outside, an intergalactic war was happening, guns exhausted, close combat the weapon of choice. Five renegades fought not in the hope of victory, just in buying enough time.
One of the few remaining black men left in the war, Neal Brown sat in the corridor of a downed Hovercraft, praying that success and god shall be with them. Almost as if by cue, he armed his Flamesword and rushed outside.
Kane wiped his brow and quickly replaced his cowl as a group of tourists walked past, murmuring when they saw him. They always wonder why we wear our masks...
He heard footsteps behind him, and before his assailant could catch his breath, he was against the wall with a hand around his throat. This boy hadn't thought about how Enforcers react when they're attacked; they have much faster reflexes than the average human.
This boy was maybe ranging at about 16-17 years old, wearing a trench coat over his casual clothing. His left hand was bare, but his right held tightly to a large wooden rod. "Are you planning to hit me with that?" asked Kane to the boy.
"Are you going to watch as Direct pushes us around." The boy answered defiantly.
"Why attack me then, I'm an Enforcer!" he was trying to be quiet so the tourists wouldn't---
Flash! Click! Whirrrrrr!
Both Kane and the boy glared toward the cameraman and the group he was with. They got the idea and quickly scurried off.
They resumed their discussion. "If you're an Enforcer, start enforcing!" His voice was high above a whisper now; "You speak of Factions and order! You speak of peace and justice! I see none of this, not here, not now. You may say you're an Enforcer or Wing or Exodus, but yer' all Direct!"
With that, the boy broke free and ran South toward the outskirt slums. Kane didn't bother to follow; he was too out of place by the boy's words to realize where he was going...
* * * * * * * * * *
The preparations were complete. The machine read: 2245, Unknown date, Unknown time. They didn't have time to put anything else in the slots; the doors were beginning to give way.
Vor' began to turn each knob and throw switch after switch, as Jim viewed the statistics. The two panels began to waver and spark as power filled the machine.
Neal was on the guard in an instant and, thinking it didn't matter anyway, left him unconscious and took his Hovercycle. While revving the engine, he caught a glimpse of another renegade, as he let loose an energy ball. The ball hit a weakened wall, the wall collapsed. Inside there stood about one-hundred expectant guards, all with their barrels aimed outward. Neal let a cry escape him that could be heard all over the battlefield, "For Xenotra!!" He then barreled screaming into the rainbow fire and smoking barrels.
* * * * * * * * * *
Kane stumbled into the bar and collapsed on the floor. He quickly stood up, as not to cause any worry. No one noticed anyway. He gathered his thoughts and took a seat at the counter. As he looked through the holographic menu the other customers made sure they had at least two seats in-between Kane and them. "Nothing today, Harvey. I may be your best customer, but nothing today."
"Dang." And Harvey the bartender went into the back room. "Whooooaaaaaaahoooooo!" Before stumbling out of it and falling into a table.
"I'm calling the cops! That is not normal, whatever's in that room!" Harvey yelled.
"I'll check it out." Kane was already strolling toward the door, gun armed. He peered inside.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Power flew and swirled between the two panels, creating a vortex. Both Jim and Vor' exchanged excited glances, even as the door behind them began to crack and whine.
Gureal Stokosh was doing his best to buy enough time for Jim inside the barracks, shooting everything in sight, trying to cause the most commotion possible. He was at kaioken at its twentieth level and was still having trouble warding off Mecha and soldiers. Even with his enhanced neurokinetics, he didn't sense the laser sight of a Valkrie gattling gun finding its way to his back...
* * * * * * * * * * *
"What the hell is that?!" Kane exclaimed as the vortex appeared. Setting his gun to rapid fire, he readied himself for anything.
* * * * * * * * * * *
The door burst open and guards poured in as Vor' shot down a couple, his gun on "stun". Jim gave a nod and Vor' jumped into the vortex. Jim immediately followed after he shot the control panel and the machine readied for self-destruct.
They flew through time and space in less than a second, but it seemed like days, and, technically, it was. They saw themselves as young ones, even then fighting against Control...
* * * * * * * * * * *
Two bodies flew through the portal and smashed through the wall, alarming just about everyone, sending them into tables and chairs.
After everyone cleared out, the two men got up, brushed themselves off, realized they weren't where they were supposed to be, and congratulated each other on a job well done...
"Who the hell are you?" It was Kane, still staring through the broken wall.