So, my viewers, as you have seen, this is 'United Talons', my latest story, #105, and yes, I was inspired by my author friend, Spartan, for he has given me many invaluable ideas and suggestions. This is not a request or anything of that sort, just a great story idea. This will be far more than I usually do, but it will be worked to perfection, to the best I can.
I do hope you will enjoy reading it as I am enjoying to write it chapter by chapter. And to all the world, keep safe, and stay inside unless you have jobs of great importance or need. Thank you. -Traveler.
-At the enormous shooting range, somewhere in Sebastian, Florida; Friday, 12th, 2010-
It's a lovely November day, the sun is shining, the sky is littered with clouds here and there, and there's a breeze coming from the north.
Upon the sporting clay course, there's a group of six people bantering and laughing as they took their turns shooting clays left and right.
"Come on, bro! If I win all 8 positions, you pay for lunch for all of us!", proclaimed a young man, grinning at his comrade, his rented pump shotgun on his shoulder.
His comrade snorted lightly, "Being a sniper is one thing, little bro, but shooting clays, that's harder. And besides, we still have to put a vote to dinner.".
The young man groaned lightly, "I was only a minute younger! Couldn't you let that go, man?". The other man smirked softly, "Nope.".
They are actually twin brothers at the age of 19, from Canada in the province of Alberta, being Caucasian. They have been orphans since childhood. They learned to take care of themselves at a young age, and are tough as nails from that experience, and are always ready for a fight. They would have ended up as common thugs, and died in some alley if it wasn't for a Christian Priest that during a walk, he noticed the two as children on the streets, and offered them a place to live and to eat in.
Since then, the man had a big impact on their lives, teaching them kindness and compassion. Granted, they're not saints, and they will admit that, but they're grateful to the old man, and what he did for them growing up, seeing him as a grandfather they never had. When they got to be 17, they signed up in the military, wanting to make something of themselves, and seeing the military as the best option for themselves, and so, they saw some action before honorably discharged.
The first brother is Logan Valkara who is more of the CQC/weapons specialist when compared to his brother. He's bold, hardy and at times, a little reckless, but always has a reason behind it, and is more physically stronger and tougher then his brother, and has more of a muscular build. He likes to be in the thick of the battle, and get up close and personal with the enemy. He likes to play violin and guitar as a hobby. He has brown eyes, and has short black hair which is a little scruffy.
The second brother is Jason Valkara who is more of the sharp shooter of the two with keen eyes, but he likes to be in the thick of battle at times than firing at a distance, and has a lean, but still muscular athletic build. A little more serious, patient and focused than his brother, but likes to joke around every now and then. He likes to sketch/draw as a hobby. He has blue eyes and long brown hair as he keeps it in a pony tail, and it reaches his shoulders.
The things the two share in personalities/character is the two are close to each other, and always have each other's backs including their fellow soldiers and friends. They don't leave people behind if they can help it, but know that not everyone can be saved, and sacrifices need to be made for victory. They believe in God, but aren't zealous of their faith or try and force it on others. They believe that respect is earned by one's actions, character and the reasons behind them. Both are efficient soldiers/fighters, and when in battle, they're quite brutal.
"Dudes, let it go. Day's going. I am heaps hungry, and I am in the mood for a barbie place.", spoke a female voice, and the brothers looked to their comrade with slight confusion, "Huh?".
The woman shook her head in slight frustration, "Barbecue, dudes!". The brothers blinked in understanding, "Oh!", with Jason then speaking, "Even after a few years, you still got a accent, Pippa.".
This is Pippa Fox, the researcher/fact soundboard person of the group, and she's from Australia, now 21, had signed up for the military at 17. She has tan skin, some muscles on her with having brown hair reaching her shoulders, and sometimes she has a ponytail, but mostly she lets it go loose, being wavy, and bright blue eyes.
She's born in the state of Western Australia, in the town of Exmouth. She's a tomboy, often scoured the beaches for shells and sparkly rocks, where her love of researching began at, and she is a meat lover, often grabbing burgers or hot dogs off the barbie (barbecue), and she is a only child of two divorced parents. Her favorite hobby is telescoping the stars, and often telling made-up stories about them.
A loud voice laughed heartily, "You shouldn't keep her waiting, guys. She's scary fast when it comes to meat.", and Pippa grinned at her comrade, "Aww, thank you for that compliment, Haku.".
The young Japanese man bowed his head slightly, "You are very much welcome, Pippa.". This is Haku Teika, the explosive/demolition expert of the group. He loves to make things go boom boom, and he likes to talk, through he can be a bit of a loudmouth at times, but knows when to shut it and keep quiet, and has a bit of a temper and a little dramatic at times, but he can be counted on.
For some reason, he's neither Chinese or Cantonese in most people's views when he's actually Japanese, and he has somewhat of between a muscular and slim build, not too buff, but not scrawny either. He has a dark goatee with black hair, in the hair style of a buzz cut, and dark brown eyes while having pale tan skin. His favorite hobby is flying remote airplanes and crashing them.
He's born in the region of Hokkaido, in the town of Mori. He's traditionalist, thanks to his parents, but is very open-minded, and he loved seeing the fireworks during the festivals which caused him to be a expert on fireworks, and later on, explosives. He signed up for the military at 18, and now is 22.
"What do you expect? We're all starving here. Hurry up, Jason, or we're gonna leave you here in the dust.", snorted a older, yet sharp female, and Jason looked over to her, "You can't leave a comrade in the dust, Zuri. It's the oldest rule in the book!".
The slender woman raised an eyebrow, "Fair point, but you don't wanna make Pippa wait for her meat. Haku's right.". Jason shrugged, "I will hurry up, but first, Logan here gotta swear to pay for lunch if I win.".
This is Zuri Wilson, born in America, but she's Jamaican-raised, and she is the athlete of the group, a diver/runner/swimmer/climber. She's clever as heck, and can be sarcastic when she wants to be, but mostly, she's pretty laid-back when she's on break, yet serious when on patrol. She loves to take pictures of the sea in all times of the day, especially around sunset or sunrise as a hobby.
She was born in New Orleans, but moved to Jamaica when she was barely 2. She was the daredevil child of the family, often scaring her mother properly while delighting her big brothers. She has a dark skinned tone, almost like a shade darker than milk chocolate, with black hair in a curly bob, and teal eyes. She has some muscles on her from all the exercise in the military as she signed up at 17, and now is 27.
Logan glared at his brother, "What makes you say that?". Jason hummed in thought, "Oh, I don't know, unless you want me to do something if I lose. Say, the dishes tonight?".
Logan blinked in surprise, "Dishes and laundry, and you got a deal.". Jason smirked, "You're gonna eat those words, bro!".
A sigh, "Why am I here?", spoken by the oldest of the group, and Pippa glanced at her, "You wanted to check out the gun shop, Emma.". The oldest woman of the group nodded, "Right. At least this should be more interesting than last night. I still can't believe those boys broke your vase, Zuri.".
Zuri waved off a hand, "I hated that vase. I don't know why Mother bought that.". Emma shrugged, "Fair enough. He better hurry up...I am in the mood for a salad.".
This is Emma Fischer, and she's the stealth infiltrator of the group, and she is from Germany. She's sassy, sharp-eyed, and got a dry sense of humor. She is a semi-vegetarian, sometimes bickering with Pippa over the topic of meat vs veggies. Her favorite hobby is to write songs as she got a pretty good singing voice. She signed up in the military at 17, and now, she is 34.
She's born in the county of Thuringia, in the city of Jena. She was raised by a single father, with the mother run off, but luckily, she got tons of cousins. She has an athletic, slim build yet has some muscles on her, and she has a light skin tone, in the shade of olive, with long blonde hair in a ponytail, and she sometimes keeps it in a bun.
"Alright, here I go!", called out Jason, and in a matter of minutes, he didn't miss anything, and shot every object in sight in all 8 positions, and with a smoking pump gun, Jason turned to Logan, "You were saying?", with a smirk.
Logan sighed heavily with a nod, "I'll pay for lunch. Let's get outta here before Volcano Pippa erupts. And bro, you were good back there. Those years in the military sure has paid off for ya.".
Pippa whooped excitedly, "Finally! Sun's killin' me, and I really want some meat in my belly!". Haku grinned softly, "I'll drive.", holding up the keys to their current vehicle, the 6 seats Denali GMC. They left the shooting range, got into the vehicle, and drove on.
Zuri googled her Blackberry, and nodded, "There's a lot of barbecue places. The closest one is 10 klicks off.". Emma snorted lightly, "Good to know. Pippa looks like she's about to daydream already about eating.".
Jason, in the front passenger seat, pointed out, "I see something ahead...It looks like a mirage, but is a glowing thing a mirage?". Logan looked out as he leaned forward, hand upon the front seat, "That's not a mirage.".
Before them is a glowing circle, colors of white, blue, pink, green, and golden swirling around clockwise while interweaving, with the borders sparkling like glitter, and Haku soon saw it after Jason saw it with his great sight, and tried to stop the vehicle, but it was no success.
"I got no brakes!", Haku yelled in warning, stepping on the brakes multiple times as the vehicle got closer and closer, and Emma shouted, "Steer off, Haku! Steer off!". Haku listened to his leader's orders, and turned the wheel, but to his horror, it was stuck, like glue has closed the wheel from turning.
"I can't turn the wheel!", Haku shouted in horror, and Jason, having heard his comrade's terrified tone, dived to grab the keys, figuring without the keys in the ignition switch, the vehicle would stop, but when his hand touched the keys, electricity sparked out at him, shocking him slightly as he yelped out in surprise, grabbing his hand.
And without any more warnings or actions, the glowing circle blinded the group, and in a span of a second, the GMC vehicle was empty of passengers, falling into a ditch while the glowing circle, actually a portal, has vanished into thin air, leaving a world unknowing that 6 residents has disappeared, yet arriving to another world in a whole other universe.