Chapter 1

24 hours previous

David Hoss sat at the debriefing table listening to his friend Jason finishing his report to the security chief of the city regarding their last mission. It had been a typical mission to a small wilderness town that had stopped sending supply runs. The city of Zion had sent the Justicars out to investigate and see if they needed assistance. What they found was a massacre.

Bodies of men, women, and children littered the ground, some weren't even recognizable as humanoid. Only one survivor was found, a women named Susan Swan. She was found among the wreckage of her power armor, a design David was unfamiliar with. David found her first and managed to tear her out of the armor without hurting her more than she was. David's friend, Jason DuChey, took a look around the rest of the village for anymore survivors. Their were none.

"Beowulf" Jason called out, "I haven't found anymore survivors. The bastards who did this where rather thorough How's the girl you found?"

David looked up from helping the young girl, responding to Jason's use of his code name. He had chosen that name for himself because of his love of the poem of the same name, and because he likes how it sounds. Most of his friends and family called him by that name anymore. "She's lucky to be alive." he responds. "Whoever attacked her must have thought she was dead from how bad her suits messed up, not very professional of them." Beowulf surveyed the area as he stood up holding the girl in his arms. He wasn't a medical professional but he could tell she was in critical condition. He would probably have to fly her back to Zion, the land vehicles they brought would take too long. First though, he would take her over to Sarah for some psychic healing before she dies. Beowulf took to the air and flew the couple hundred yards to where the other Justicars were gathered. Beowulf had grown quite fond of flying. He had discovered he could at the age of 18 and he had kept that ability when he had been chosen by the Cosmic Forge to become a cosmo knight, He still felt honored and a bit unworthy to be chosen as one of those elite heroes, but he definitely thought it was much better than dying, which was his other choice if he hadn't accepted. Not that the Forge would have killed him for saying no, but that he was already dead when the choice was offered.

As Beowulf returned to the other Justicars, Jason started into the largest building, a large hut type structure made from scavenged building materials from pre-cataclysm cities and mud bricks. The village didn't have much technology in it, just a single solar generator and an electric powered truck for moving supplies for trading and selling to other villages. There weren't very many high tech cities like Zion around anymore, in fact you could probably count all of the ones within a thousand mile area on one hand. There were, however, several small villages like this one. They don't have much technology or magic, so they can't defend themselves very well. That's why the Justicars exist, to help and protect people like these villagers from monsters, bandits, and other evils. That's why Jason became a Cyber Knight. He's always felt a need to defend people and has always respected law and justice. When he found out about his true atlantean heritage, he began his training immediately. It was difficult at first, but he had one of the best trainers there were, a cyber knight by the name of Lady Nightstar. She personally trained Jason and David in combat tactics and martial arts. They both owed her for their new lives. Now, Jason was known as Sir Maverick, or just Maverick, and he did not like what he was finding in this building.

As he entered the building, he concentrated for a brief second, and willed his psi-sword into existence. It was in the shape of a long sword with a faint purple aura to it. It was enough to help light up the inside of the building, and also he wanted to be prepared for trouble. He felt something wasn't right, and when he had that feeling he was usually right.

The room was a mess, like the rest of the village. The bodies of what must be the village council strewn all over. Maverick couldn't even tell how many people were in here because of the mess. The stench was overpowering, forcing him to lower his face mask and activate his body armor environmental function to block out the nauseating smell. He took a couple of steps inside, that was when he noticed movement. To his right, a small horned creature rose up from the corner of the room where it had been gnawing on a femur bone. It looked at Maverick with red, hungry eyes before lunging at his throat. Unlucky for the creature however, Maverick was faster. He brought up his free hand and summoned his psionic shield blocking the creatures lunge and knocking it to the ground. It recovered quickly, and swiped at him tearing a gouge in his armor. Maverick jumped back and thrust his sword at the creatures head only to have it side step the thrust and lunge again. This time though, Maverick had a surprise. He dispelled his shield and created a second psi-sword and sliced the creature in half in mid lunge.

As the creature slowly disintegrated Maverick checked one last time to see if anything else was waiting in the room before heading back outside to warn the others that theirs a problem.