Rise
Omnicity, test lab 12"Ughn… What …"
It was clearly hearable on the intercom of the testlab. Jericho had awakened. Still drowzy he stumbled out of the tank naked and covered in the remains of the fluid that held him for twenty years.
Finally Yumi could have a clear look on him to see what was wrong with him. Before her stood an angelic creature in the true sense of the word. A young muscular and handsome man with a pair of white feathered wings and long blond hair.
"Where am I? …"
Bogard in turn was horrified by his appearance, picked up a phone and yelled "Subject 12 has a genetic mutation, send in the guards to put it out of its misery!"
Slowly the door opened its magnetic lock and slided open, letting in a bright light of the hallway lamps. Jericho covered his eyes.
(Watch out, they're coming to kill you)
A voice in his head warned him.
"Who is this?"
Halfly blinded Jericho saw how two men quickly entered the room, the door closing behind them.
"Help me…"
No, it's true. Two lethal shocksticks. Why? Jericho was trying to figure out what was happening. One of the assaulters struck out towards him. As if natural he dodged the blow, took the wrist in a firm grip whilst he twisted it. Snap!
The attacker yelled it out but was as quickly silenced by a powerful charge on the chest with his own shockstick. He fell to the ground unconscious. Jericho then turned towards the second one.
The attacker seemed to back away, until he skillfully swinged his leg upward: a kick to kill. As soon as he lifted the leg, Jericho grabbed his foot and tried again to break the joint. But the assailant gave way directly and turned around in mid-air, releasing his foot unharmed. He landed like a cat unto the floor but before he could get up Jericho took the back of the head and smashed it against his knee. Cartilage broke. But still he tried to put up a fight and angrily swung his fist wildly towards Jericho. He avoided the blows and almost danced around the berserker ending up in his back. Then came the easy part, placing him in a chokehold and wait until he lost consciousness.
With the two attackers down, Jericho came to himself again.
(You've proven yourself, they'll let you live)
That voice again.
In the controlroom it was completely silent of amazement.
"Get a D6-canister, we'll get him that way!" Bogard yelled even angrier.
"D6… Nerve gas? It can't be" Yumi thought; "There's gotta be something that must…"
"Wait!"
Julius intervened. "Let him live, he has proven that he's no mutant."
"No, I can't allow that. That freak has to die!" Bogard was out his mind.
"And I can't allow you to destroy this unique specimen."said Julius calmly in turn. "We wouldn't want president Carson to hear about this? So I won't ask it again…"
"…" Bogard was thinking it over. Julius was Carsons favourite and he a lot of power within the OC. So he didn't have much choice and said reluctantly "Fine take him, he's yours. But it's not my responsibility if something happens with or by him."
"I thank you for your understanding" Julius said with a contempting smile.
For the second time the door slided open and the same bright light shined into the room again. Jericho assumed the reinforcements came and took a defensive stance when a black figure stood still in the doorway.
"They agreed on letting you live, Jericho" Julius said in a comforting tone.
"Nice work by the way on the guards" he complimented also.
"What's going on here?"
Julius avoided the question; "I see you could use some clothing, take this Captain."
Jericho was handed a Legion uniform by Julius. While he was dressing himself he asked again; "What's going on here?"
"In due time Jericho. Are you hungry or thirsty?"
"No. But I'd like an answer to my questions" Jericho said irritated. To get the shirt over his wings he ripped two stripes in the back of the shirt.
"Once you, your brothers and your sisters are ready all will be explained…" Julius said while moving towards the door. But it seems we'd better make a stop at a tailor first" he laughed.
Quickly Jericho jumped into his boots, put on a belt around his waist and ran behind Julius, carrying the vest on his shoulder, with an emblazoned 12 on the collar. In the hallway they were passed by a medical team to treat the wounded guards still inside the room.
Omnicity, Legion officers messEverybody was already assembled in the mess when Julius and Jericho walked in. A silence fell and everybody was gawping at Jerichos angelwings.
"What's the meaning of this?" "Are they real?" Were some of the reactions coming out of the mass.
(Don't let them bother you, those who are the ordinary humans jealous of you, jealous of us.) the same voice from before reacted on Jericho's feelings.
Julius takes the stage: "Welcome all of you, we are here today to celebrate the completion of the Legion with the coming of these twelve new members to our fine organisation. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Dorn, Nina, Stryker, Rethel, Adonaï, Celes, Rayne, Magnus, Gannon, Aislinn, Solon and Jericho." He points to every person whose name's mentionted and continued.
"With this magnificent addition we're finally ready for the last step of project Ultra, the setup of our army. Once done we will be able to serve the Terran Commonwealth in all of its glory."
The audience applauded but Julius, who had not yet ended, went on.
"With our presence the human race will have no more use of war and other atrocities, we will serve and protect them from everything, everything!"
The applause became a bit too hard too speak so Julius gave up on trying to continue his speech, almost blushing like a little schoolgirl but still carrying himself with dignity. Meanwhile mess-personnel carried in trays of champagnefilled glasses, he quickly took a glass and raised it; "A toast… To Legion!"
Almost instantaneous the applause stopped and the people answered in choir: "Hail!"
As the party started the crowd started to mingle with each other, Yumi approached Jericho.
"Hi there Captain" Yumi said, trying to get herself noticed.
"Erhm hello miss…" He stuttered in turn.
"1st Lt. Yumi Massingbird" as she saluted "I'll be your personal instructor."
"I … I don't know what…" still he was stuttering.
"That makes two of us" she smiled.
Meanwhile Cid had joined them "Maybe I can be of assistence"
Before anyone could even answer Cid started his speech, as if he had memorised it for days.
"For eternity mankind has been fighting with one another for the smallest bit of difference, such a great war erupted we almost destroyed ourselves…
But one man stood up and said 'no more', that was Alexander Stahl. He is a man who, legend says, has profetic visions, he foresaw the destiny of mankind and found a way to prevent it. A great lasersattelite was placed in space, which he called the Regis Ultima Ratio, the Kings Last Defence. He threatened to use it to annihilate both parties if they didn't surrender, but luckily they did and peace once more emerged from the ashes.
In an attempt to unify all of mankind he tried to ban everything that could be reasons for war and inequality and he succeeded so far. But what he fears is what happens after he dies, his dream can be shattered by the powerhungry devils of the old ways, or even now could an uprising occur. That's why he wanted us to create an united army that is equal and has no preference of sides. Which is impossible because humans always are inequal and have all different preferences, so we decided to develop our own unified superhuman who is far above the petty squabbles of man.
And we created you, the last of the leaders of this army. Once Emperor Stahl approves this army, we will begin massproduction of soldiers, labourers, scientists and MS."
"That seems a bit overboard, don't you all think?" A voice said behind them.
When they turned around, they saw it was Gannon. Test subject 09.
A giant of man, very muscular and ginger hair. He has the kind of smile you'd expect from a man who knows he's the strongest.
"Better safe than sorry, now we have peace we should do everything to maintain it" Cid replied.
"You must fight in order to get peace" Gannon laughed "and that's why we're here. Right Jericho?"
"Seems like it" he carefully answered.
Gannon laughed even harder and took Jericho in a firm grip around the shoulders, pressing Jericho close to his chest.
"I knew you're the same, a fighter. It's an honour to have a man like you as a brother in arms. We will be good friends, you can count on it!"
"I couldn't be happier" Jericho smiled while grasping for air.
Yumi and Cid almost bursted out in laughter on the sight of Jericho trying to get out of Gannons armlock. Finally Gannon let go and beckoned a waiter.
"Come my friends" Gannon said in a booming voice " join me in a mug of this delicacy they call beer"
Later that evening Jericho had the time to speak with Julius alone. "Julius, you were that voice in my head, weren't you? Why did you help me?"
"And I ask you, why didn't you kill the two guards?"
"They were more valuable to me alive than dead" Jericho answered.
"Excactly, you are more valuable to alive me than dead and I see many great things in store for you." Julius confidently said.
(As for this power, it is something only us superhumans can do. And remember no human knows this, it'll be our little trick up the sleeve.)
21 March. RA 0066, MS-Testfield 4, Lunar space 750 km from OmnicitySpace, empty and dead. Many who have wandered of the designated routes are never heard of again. This place is a graveyard filled with debris, spacedust as well as broken MS. Now this area is a testing ground for space combat and a lone Antrax 250/2f is being hunted down.
"Damn! He's everywhere…" Yumi sighed in desperation.
Lights are flickering in the cockpit and for the 100th time the alert is buzzing. The scanner is being interfered and the targeting system is going haywire.
"Where is he!"
Quickly she maneuvers her MS through the vast field of debris in a desperate attempt to lose him. As if guided by a supernatural force she pilots it through the rubble like it was nothing. But the hunter isn't scared of that trick and follows her right on her six through the field.
"Damn, his reactions really are superhuman…"
As her last option she tries to do a looping, hoping she makes a shorter circle than her opponent so she ends up on his back. This might be the dumbest thing to do in a 3-dimensional enviroment like space, but she gambled on the fact that everybody thinks in 2-dimensional terms. The afterburner on the Antrax gives a giant roar and the loop begins. Instead of following, the interceptor flies straight forward for a hundred metres, turns around a shoots a volley from its 10cm. railgun.
"He didn't follow, did he saw through it?" she wondered while trying to avoid the incoming shots. "No use in running, it's time to fight back!"
Dodging from bits and pieces of cover she returned fire with fiery determination, her only mistake was that she didn't noticed all of the rubble and almost flew against a piece of an old cruiser, which was enough of a gap to come in for the kill. Miss. Hit… hit!
Within Yumi's cockpit the first hit was clearly hearable, right on the batterypack on the back. Whilst she turned around she got hit on her main camera, her front viewscreen fully colored blue of the paintballshot.
"You have been destroyed" a computerized voice said over the intercom.
"Darn!" Yumi was angry, getting killed on such a stupid way.
"Red 1 to Queen 6, are you OK?"
"Yes, I'm fine Jericho. I hope it wasn't too easy for you?" she answered with a hint of shame.
"Not at all, I hope I didn't rough you up too hard" he asked in concern.
"Hahahaa… You'll need something better than that my friend" she laughed cocky.
Meanwhile the spacecruiser Millenial Salvation approached to wheel in the MS and assess the recorded combat data.
"Broadsword to Queen 6"
It was Julius.
"Queen 6 here"
"You can both fly in to the hangar bay. You two deserve some R&R after this month of intense training"
"Thank you Sir" the two pilots reacted back over the intercom.
Millenial Salvation, officers lounge
Still in their pilot suits Yumi and Jericho enjoyed over a refreshing drink on one of the couches with rations in front of them. Julius and a Sergeant Major entered the room and both pilots jumped up and saluted.
"Please, at ease" he smiled.
Both returned to their seats and continued their ration-meals.
"After this month of training all of your abilities ranging from tactics to leadership and close combat to MS combat, the general staff and me have come up with the ideal Legion for you to lead."
He paused for a minute to raise the suspense a bit and then continued.
"You will command the 12th MS-Infantry Division, ideal for urban combat and defence. Congratulations Captain. A small ceromony will be held in Omnicity to celebrate your command."
He then waved towards the Sergeant Major "This is Sgt. Mj. 12089 he will be your second in command of the legion, he was especially engineered for this role."
The Sgt. Mj. is a bit smaller than Julius completely bald with a black greyish beard, which was odd because he couldn't have been older than 25 years. Also he had the gaze of an experienced warrior, his eyes slightly closed to stare into the horizon. He extended his arm towards his new commander "It's an honor, Sir"
As both shook each others hand, Jericho answered him "And to me it's a privilege."
Earth, Germania Province. FriedrichshavenThe manor looks out unto the lake surrounded by the Alps, it's still early and few boats are out on the water. Sunrays just come out above the mountains to shine a warm orange glow onto the watersurface, a nice weather for the beginning of spring. Inside the old emperor awakes badly from his dream.
"No, not again!" he muttered.
"The same vision, Mylord Emperor?"
"Ah Carstair, I didn't hear you enter…"
The butler entered the room with a shiny tray with the breakfast of his master; an omelet, some loafs of bread, orange juice, a newspaper and as always the first stack of papers of state matters. He placed the tray on the massive oak table in the grand bedroom "Your breakfast Sir."
"I'm too concerned about this vision to eat, it's just like in the war but stranger, deeper."
"Sir?" Carstairs was worried.
"I foresee another war, more terrible than before… I see a lone warrior on a nameless battlefield. A blue demon raining down fire from the skies. But I also see an angel in defiance" Stahl was confused. His other visions were always clear images from the future, but now it's becoming too difficult to understand, what does this vision mean? Is it a vision of the future, or a possible future. Or is it imagery,metaphores to warn for something else? "Maybe if I was younger I could have made sense out of all this…"
"My emperor, do not forget about project Ultra, it is nearly complete and within a week they will present us with their results, surely with this army we'll be able to defend us from these invaders,whoever they are."
"I hope so, old friend, I hope so…"