Chapter 6
Cody stared at his friend who he thought to had died about two years ago. "But, how?" Blu looked to him with a stern look on his face. "This is a dream. But not a normal dream. And yes, I am dead." Cody walked towards him cautiously. "There is a war coming. Protect everyone. Zeel knows, but tell him that you learnt from a dream. Training will begin shortly. Only you and Zeel, along with Fortune know this. Keep it a secret, for the only way to ensure victory is to make sure they do not panic, for that is when they will strike." Cody was about to ask him a question, but he began fading. "Protect everyone. Protect your family." As he finished speaking, he disappeared. When he disappeared, Cody got a headache. He watched as images of his family and friends appeared, dead, with massive beings above them. The final one showed a metallic face, and throughout it one word repeated. Sentinel.
Lilian woke to the sound of a struggling bird. She looked around to see Cody was not in the nest, but on the floor, kicking and crying and yelling. She couldn't understand what he was saying, but knew it was a nightmare. "Cody. Cody, wake up. Wake up. Now!" She slapped him with his wing, knocking him down from her grasp. He opened his eyes weakly, and saw her. "Thanks. I needed that." She put her wings on her hips. "First of all, why were you sleeping here?" He got up slowly, trying to regain his balance. "You took all the nest. No room." She slowly calmed down, but was still a bit angry. "Okay. Now, second of all, what was that all about?" she asked in an angered tone. "Nothing. Just Blu." Her expression changed to guilt. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know." She looked down, only to have her head lifted up. "It's okay. Remember what Jewel said? Love means never having to say sorry." They nuzzled eachother and kissed. She felt happy again, until he spoke again. "I have to quickly see Zeel. I'll be back later." She went to argue, but he was already gone. Be back soon. Please.
Cody flew through the halls towards Zeel's office, only not to find him there. He searched the desk and found a note. It read a message not only for him, but some others. On the paper read:
To Cody, Logan and Boah
I believe you all saw a vision. We must discuss it in the secret meeting area under the tree. This is absolutely secret. Tell no-one.
Sincerely, Professor Zeel and Fortune
Well then. Seems Blu also visited others as well. He made his way towards the entrance of the underground facility underneath the school, which was made for the time of war and is also used for the X-Birds headquarters. He put his wing to the small hidden pad, which was blended in with the wall. A small light went up and down his wing, scanning it like a handprint. The light turned off and the wall next to it moved open to reveal a set of stairs. He climbed down the stairs, the door closing behind him. When he arrived down the stairs, he went down the hall at the bottom and stopped at a door. He knocked, and it opened to reveal four figures standing in the middle of the room. "Ah, our final guest has arrived." The door behind Cody closed automatically, and the room darkened. Cody then heard a click and the center of the room, where the others were illuminated. He saw Boah, Logan, Fortune and Zeel looking to him from a table. "Please, sit." Cody obeyed Zeel and sat with the others. Zeel looked around the table to do a final check, then began. "Now, I believe you all recieved a vision?" The others nodded. "All with our friend Blu?" They nodded once more. "Then it has come." The others looked to him with a confusing look, except Fortune, who had a grim look. "Are you sure, Zeel?" asked Fortune with a fearful tone. Cody didn't know what was going on, but from his tone, he knew it wasn't good. Zeel nodded slowly, making Fortune look more in fear. "Then this is bad." Fortune shook his head slowly in despair. "I am afraid so." Zeel looked to the others. "I think it is time for an explanation. Our friend here can explain it to us." He moved his wing to point up to a now illuminated platform, where a bird shrouded in his dark black cloak stood. "It is time. Humanity has become feared by us, and has taken desperate measures" explained the cloaked bird in a deep, dark tone. He looked to a screen on a nearby wall, which turned on. It showed a dark silhouette of a bird."That, my brothers, is a Sentinel." As he spoke, the image became brighter, showing a mechanical bird. "They were designed by humans to hunt mutants. A war is coming. The nearest estimate I could come up with is six months. I have been searching for help, some old friends, and some old enemies. You have been selected to protect your families and other mutants. The war is inevitable, and now your only ally is time. Use it wisely." As suddenly as he appeared, he disappeared in the darkness as te light turned off. Cody looked to Zeel with a confused and scared look. "Who was that?" Zeel turned to him, knowing one would ask. "His time to show himself is not yet. In the future, he will." Cody looked down in confusion, thinking about the possibilities. "Tomorrow your training begins. Meet in the simulation chamber at noon. Now return to your families. You have the day off. Dismissed." They moved from the table and exited the room. Fortune stayed, wanting to discuss some things. "Are you sure they will be ready in time?" Zeel looked to his friend with eyes full of worry. "If they do not, then the future is dark. For all of us." They then left the table and exited the room as well, thinking of what was to come.
"So, who do you think that was, Boah?" Boah shrugged at Logan's question, limping in pain as a result of his still sprained leg. "Like Zeel said, only time will tell." Cody had Boah's wing over him to help Boah to his room. "Here we are, mate." Boah was led into his room and sat into his nest. "There you go. Logan, look after him, okay?" Logan made a salute with his wing. "Of course, mate. I'll make sure he stays put." Cody walked out with a smile to join his mate for the day. When he was halfway, he remembered something. Food. How could I forget? He quickly bolted to the kitchen to collect some food for his mate. He collected two mangoes for her and one for him. He flew through the halls with haste, not wanting to anger Lilian. He barged into the room and placed the mangoes on the floor. "Sorry I took so-" He stopped when he saw Lilian and Jewel giving him angered looks. "Where have you been? Abandoning her like that? Some men are just...well...rude!" She pushed past Cody and grabbed the mangoes from behind him. "What was so important that you just had to leave me, huh?" asked Lilian. "It was something about the future. Very urgent and secret." Lilian took a mango and munched down. Jewel marched to him and looked him in the eyes. "Was it that important. Did it have anythting to do with her?" He straightened himself up to be eye level. "Yes, it did. About her safety, and everyone elses." Jewel gave him a disbelieving look. "You better hope you are right, or I am coming back for some tail-kicking, got it?" He looked at her in fear and nodded fast. "Good, now take care of her. She's lucky to have a man in her life still." She looked about to cry, and left. Cody walked over to Lilian, who was already on her second mango. "Look, I'm sorry I came late, but Zeel needed to speak to me. Something is coming, and it was urgent." Lilian looked grumpy at him for a bit, then lovingly smiled. "Okay, I'll forgive, but next time you have to give me more warning, okay?" He remembered what Zeel said about tomorrow, but he couldn't tell her. "I'm going to visit Logan and Boah and maybe go out for a bit at noon. Is that okay, honey?" She looked sad, but agreed. "Okay. I was thinking of joining Jewel anyway. Be back soon but, okay?" He sat in the nest and she snuggled up to him. "Of course. Always." She fell asleep as he ate his mango, then had a quick nap.