CHAPTER ONE
A NEW COMMANDER
Haven city: 200 years after founding. Month one
Told by Maria
Haven city.
A safe spot for everyone who wishes to avoid the metal heads terror.
This city was founded by one of my ancestors, Mar, to keep these monsters at bay.
Today the city is ruled by my uncle Jacob, he's a good leader and the people love him.
It was easy to see this very day, the celebration of Haven City's 200 year anniversary.
Approximately the whole town was gathered to celebrate, and there was of course Jacob, he had arranged a large parade.
Right now he was standing in a large carriage protected on each side by armed crimson guards, some at foot, others in the carriage, and some on zoomers flying by the carriage.
Myself, I was standing behind the line with my five year old daughter, Kate.
She was hanging in the rope that kept the citizens from walking in the way of the carriages, hoping to catch a glimpse of her uncle.
"Mom? Is Uncle Jacob in that big boat?" she asked.
"It's not a boat dear, it's a carriage" I said and lifted her up on my shoulders, "you see him now?"
"I see him! In the carriage!" Kate shouted and waved,"hey uncle!"
It seemed like Jacob saw her, because he smiled and waved back, and then he turned and talked to a crimson guard sitting next to him.
"Hey mom, isn't that Uncle Cedrik sitting in there?" Kate asked.
She was right; it was my husband's older brother who was sitting next to Jacob.
I didn't recognize him at first, no surprise really.
It was three weeks ago he came back from his last mission, a direct suicide attack on the metal head nest.
Cedrik was the sole survivor, and he was far from unhurt.
Even from this distance I noticed a large percent of his face was covered in metal.
The carriage drove up to a scene that had been put up especially for today.
As soon as it stopped, Jacob walked out, followed by an escort of four crimson guards in red armor and Cedrik, whom as far as I could see wasn't wearing his uniform.
The people cheered as the six elves walked down to the scene and when Jacob raised his hand they quickly stopped.
"My dear fellow citizens" he started his speech, "today its 200 years since my dear ancestor Mar founded this glorious city, and it has never looked more glorious!"
The people cheered again, I guess it's true what Jacob said, some of the citizens often called the city Heaven City, instead of haven.
Jacob waited patiently till the people had calmed down before he continued his speech.
"I've been king of this city for six years, since my father's tragic death, and this time has been a wonderful time for me and this city" he said, "but during the last few weeks, we have been shaken by another terrible tragedy, when the commander of the crimson guards planned an attack that would change our war luck in this war against the metal heads, an attack on the metal head nest itself"
I noticed quite a few people around me was crying, even the crimson guards looked shaken; Cedrik turned over and looked in another direction.
"I guess you already know the attack was a failure, and I'm really sorry for all of you who have lost your friends and family during this attack" Jacob continued, "among them was also our beloved commander, Nick Jackson, rumors say he was killed by the metal head-leader in person"
Some of the audience cheered, to be killed by a metal head was one thing, being killed by their leader or even having seen him was something completely different.
As soon as the cheering stopped, Jacob kept talking.
"Only one brave man survived this tragedy, and he is standing right next to me, our new crimson guard commander, Cedrik Praxis"
I can't remember hearing anyone cheer as loud as the people of Haven City did now.
"Did you hear that mom? Uncle is the boss of the crimson cars!" said Kate.
"It's called crimson guard honey" I answered, "I heard it"
"I wanna go congratulate him" said Kate, and before I could stop her, she ran under the blockade and straight towards the scene.
Some of the guards turned to stop him but Cedrik, who until now hadn't said a word, told them to let her pass, "leave her, she's my niece" he said.
"Mine too" said Jacob and smiled.
Cedrik bent down and lifted Kate up on the scene.
"Hello there, I haven't seen you for a while" he said, "how is your father?"
"He's didn't feel well" Kate answered, "he had to stay home, but I'll tell him about your new job"
"You do that" said Cedrik, "where's your mom?"
"I'm right here Cedrik" I said and walked up to the scene, "or should I say commander Cedrik?"
Cedrik laughed, "If you want to" he answered.
"This is a great opportunity to invite you all to my dinner party tonight, what do you say, is Ronny feeling well enough to come?" asked Jacob.
"He wouldn't miss it if he had every illness in the world" I answered, "We'll be there".
"I'm not sure if I can" said Cedrik, "my wife's brother and he's family is visiting, so I should rather spend the day with them. I never got the time to see them much during my period on the hospital".
"Then you should bring them along" Jacob said cheerful, "we've got enough room for everyone".
"I'm not sure if that's such a good idea" said Cedrik, "I don't think Jonathans oldest son would suit in a party like that"
"Come on Cedrik, surely he can't be that bad?" said Jacob, "I'm ready to take the risk, and if anything goes wrong just blame me"
"Fine, it's your house" said Cedrik, "I'll go ask them, they are probably around here somewhere".
He walked down from the scene towards three adults and three children standing by the scene.
One of them was his wife Alicia, I knew her well. A red-haired girl at Kate's age was holding her hand.
Another woman and a man who looked quite similar to Alicia was standing next to them, the man was trying to keep two small boys from running out on the streets. One of them, a six-year old orange-haired boy wearing an orange shirt and a pair of racing-goggles, was chasing his younger brother, a four-year old boy with brown and black-striped hair, wearing a way to large red sweater, a pair of large blue pants and a big blue hat.
Cedrik talked to them for a while, Jacob, Kate and I followed him.
"I don't think you've met my family yet" said Cedrik to Jacob when we approached, "this is my wife Alicia, our daughter Ashelin, my brother-in-law Jonathan Elfin, his wife Karla and their sons, Erol and Cornelius"
"Pleasule to met yah" said Cornelius and saluted Jacob, making the sleeve of his sweater fall over his face.
"We'd be honored to join your party your majesty" said Alicia.
"Just call me Jacob madam" said Jacob, "that's what my friends and family call me"
"Is Kate coming too mom?" asked Ashelin, "cause if she's not going I'm not going either"
"Of course she's coming" said Cedrik and lifted his daughter up in his arms, "and afterwards, we're gonna celebrate daddy's new position. What do you say if we go buy you that stuffed crocadog you always wanted?"
"Yes daddy! Can we do that?" Ashelin said excited.
"Can you buy morph gun for me too uncle?" asked Erol.
"In your dreams Erol" said Cedrik, "we'd better get home and prepare ourselves for the big night"
CHAPTER 2
THE BIG NIGHT
Haven City: 200 years after founding. That night
Told by Kate
Daddy really wanted to some with us to the party, although mom almost had to carry him out the front door and into the zoomer.
The palace was in the centre of the city and was the most beautiful house I knew.
I had been there many times before of course, to visit my aunt and uncle.
We were welcomed by the guards guarding the front door and when we got in, uncle Cedrik and his family was waiting in the living room.
Erol and Cornelius were running around on the floor while Erol was trying to hit his brother with a water gun although their mom tried to stop him.
"Erol! Stop bothering your brother this instant!" she shouted,"we're in a nice party so behave! Both of you!"
"But it's so boring just sitting here!" Erol complained.
"Why can't you just play a bit more peaceful?" Karla asked,"you could play with Kate and Ashelin"
"Oh yeah! We could play hide and seek!" suggested Ashelin.
"I want to play" I said.
"Me two!" said Cornelius,"come on Ewol!"
"Hide and seek is for babies!" said Erol, "I want to play thief and crimson guard!" he shoot a water beam up in the roof before his father took the gun from him.
"Now I don't want anymore funny stuff from you young man" he said angry.
"Relax, let the kid play!"
Uncle Jacob came in, along with Aunt Isabelle.
"I'm sorry you maje... Jacob" said Jonathan, "but when he runs around like that... he could break something!"
"It cam be replaced" Jacob said and laughed, "don't worry, boys are boys".
Jonathan seemed a bit surprised by Jacobs's oblivious attitude.
That's my uncle, he loves children.
Unfortunately he and Isabelle haven't been able to get any themselves yet.
It seems like the stork doesn't know where they live, that's a bit weird, because everyone else knows and the palace is quite big and it's very difficult not to see it, especially if you fly.
Uncle Cedrik started laughing, "right now I'm glad I have a girl and not a boy" he said.
"You don't know what you are talking about" said Karla when Cornelius crawled up on her lap, "if you raise them properly they are little angels"
"In other words: you are lousy parents" said Erol.
"Well said Erol" said Jacob, "why don't we go into the hall? The food should be ready by now"
We all went in to the hall and sat down by a long table, a large turkey had been put on it.
Great, I hate turkey.
"I know someone here might not like turkey" Jacob added with a smile, "so you can help yourselves to some hot dogs"
One of the servants came in and placed a plate full of hot dogs on the table.
"And what if we don't like hot dogs then?" asked Erol.
"What awe you talking bout Ewol? You love hod dogs!" said Cornelius.
"I said if!" said Erol, "if we don't like hot dogs, what do we get?"
"You'll starve" Jacob said and laughed.
So we all filled our plates with food, turkey for the adults, hot dogs for the kids.
Even dad took a hot dog; he never liked turkey, like me.
While we were eating, talking and having a good time (except Erol who kept complaining it was boring just sitting there at the table) none of us thought anything terrible would happen.
Until...
"What's that smell?" asked Karla,"it smells burnt"
Suddenly one of Jacobs's maidens came running into the hall.
"Jacob! Isabelle! There's a fire in the basement!" she shouted.
"Did you try putting it out?" asked Jacob.
"We tried, but its spreading fast!" the maiden said scared.
"No panic please, everyone get out. Call the fire brigade" said Jacob and the maiden ran at her top speed towards the exit.
"Wait! Where is Cornelius?" Karla asked and looked around.
"He went to the toilet" said Jonathan, "this is not good".
Suddenly we heard a large boom and flames broke through the door into the kitchen.
"CORNELIUS!" shouted Karla.
"I'll go look for him" said Jacob, he grabbed a fire extinguisher from the wall and ran towards the basement stairs.
"Come on, we better get out" said Jonathan and grabbed his shaking wife.
"I wanna help him!" said Erol before his father grabbed him too.
Dad picked me up and carried me out; he seemed to forget all about being sick.
When we came out the crimson guards had already entered the scene to put out the fire.
"Jacob is still in there" said Isabelle when they got out of their zoomers, "along with a small boy"
"Got it, send in a squad" their leader said and five guards wearing fire proof uniforms and large water tanks ran in to the building.
"Is uncle and Cornelius gonna die?" I asked my dad.
"Of course not sweetheart" my father answered, "they'll be fine, but you got to have faith in them".
I tried, but it was not easy. Some people say kids have faith in anything, but seeing the whole palace on fire, was enough to take hope away from anyone.
Karla cried unstoppable, Jonathan and the Praxis-family tried to comfort her with little luck.
Uncle Cedrik was the only one who didn't seem worried.
Mom said it was because he was used to this kind of stuff being a crimson guard.
Only minutes after the fire brigade arrived, the five guards who entered the house came out.
They where carrying something that looked like a pile of clothes.
"Cornelius!" Karla shouted and ran towards the guard to see her son, "is he... how is he... he's not..."
"He's fine" said the guard and Cornelius made a coughing sound to confirm it.
"But... what about Jacob?" asked my aunt.
The guard didn't answer.