Chapter 1.2 - Robbed of their Pasts

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

Amira Dhorian

The end of the day brings with it a golden sky and the fragrance of damp mud. Weeping willows sway in the gentle breeze, and the stream beside them shimmers and glows.

Bumblebee Creek seems quiet after the invasion, its silence is punctuated by sounds of animals drinking from the stream.

In its depths, a squirrel goes up and down an old oak tree while picking up acorns. As it tries to climb again, a piece of the trunk cracks off, and the squirrel loses balance.

It desperately tries to climb back up, flailing as it falls down.

A gray hand emerges from the darkness, catching the squirrel right before it hits the ground.

The figure releases it and chuckles in a feminine voice. "Such interesting creatures. Indeed, this planet holds life like the expanding stars," she mutters to herself, stepping out from the shadows.

Her beauty is other-worldly, almost like an elf. Pointy ears droop out from a mop of green hair. It frames a noseless face.

The Humanoid girl touches the trunk of the tree, tilting her head from side to side. It's like she wants to examine every bit of beauty in it while she's on Earth.

She crouches, looking at the plants on the ground, seeing if any of them catch her interest.

A male voice resonates inside her head, 'Hey, Amira! Have you finished?'

'Yes, coming back now.'

She uses her wings made of energy to fly away to her brother, as fast as an eagle. She flies quietly, swift and clear-sighted. She eventually finds him, sitting atop a branch on a tall tree.

He shares her elf-like features and emerald-green hair. He wears decorated, metallic-brown armour, with the breastplate in particular made of various layers of squared metal sheets. A prominent part of the force he once served.

It covers from the neck down while leaving a narrow part near the groin, leaving both sides exposed. Amira lands next to him on the branch.

He tries to hide his snicker with a cough.

"So, took a good look at today's study?"

"Absolutely, Varris."

He chuckles in response. "I see. Probably some magnificent animals worth checking for here, after all."

"Yes, but what is interesting is that the beings here do not have as advanced a mindset as the creatures in the galaxy."

"Hmm... primitive life forms, I suppose. At least compared to other planets."

"Or maybe they are just beings that grow slowly. What do you think?"

He pats her shoulder. She swats his arm away and grins.

"You should learn more about them if you want the answer."

Whatever species they are, maybe they hold the best secrets a Human being could ever know.

And yet, one doesn't know if those secrets can apply socially as well. Learning more of humanity can be a task as worthy as carrying out an important deed in your life, but it can come with its own risks.

He puts an arm around her as she rests her head on his shoulder.

"Brother, I do not know if this is..."

"Something wrong?"

"I do not know how to put it, but it is... something I have been wondering about for some time."

"Go on, do not worry, I'm all ears for it."

"Well, it is about the inhabitants of this planet."

Varris raises his eyebrows as he observes her at ease, he didn't expect that kind of question. "Hu-humans? Are you sure?"

"What else do I need to learn? I have already studied most life forms on Terra. Please, you know I really want to know about these Humans as well."

"Oh no, not that, please. You know how well our uncle fared when he tried to visit this place. And with what they do to each other, do you really think they would welcome you with open arms?"

"But what if some still have good hearts? What if-"

"No", he says sternly. "You should know from everything we've seen and learnt, that this race is too violent to become part of the galactic community - even if the Zlocu don't reach the place and lose the war.

"Now all I want is for you to learn that no matter what you believe, Terra is classified as hazardous for a good reason. There is no way the Humans are going to budge even with that presence of yours. Right now, we don't want the last of us being killed by creatures worse than the Zlocu, understand?"

Amira falls silent for a moment. Perhaps humanity may never be ready to evolve beyond their normal means of functioning. 

Even so, that is something that can be questioned.

Varris watches Amira's sullen face. Maybe he was too harsh in his judgment. Maybe they deserved a second chance.

"Look, I get that you don't like this. It's just that I-"

A huge flash of lightning hits Varris from behind. The smell of something burnt hangs in the air, and terror fills her stomach. She stands rooted on her spot as the huge, jagged shape carries him away.

"Varris! Where are you?" 

Did the Humans...?

She quickly turns back and sees what happened. Her blood runs cold as Varris is dragged towards a nightmare.

They thought they could be safe for a long time.

They thought they could never be found.

I was so wrong...

Massive assault ships loom over the sky. They darken the entire creek. Nothing is visible now.

"No... NO!"

The same ship fires at her. She is knocked off balance. Instinctively, she grabs onto a lower branch with her left hand and jumps, landing in a crouch.

As soon as her feet hit the ground, she takes off, hiding beneath tall trees as she runs. Blood pounds in her ears.

This can't be happening! It can't be!

***

Fluorescent lamps give the interior of the ship a dead look. Zlocan pilots groan in annoyance as they fail to track her down, while a soldier picks Varris' body and injects light-green liquid into him.

"Are you sure this will work?" one of the gunners asks. "I'm not sure if this serum would be able to negate the psychic functions."

"The scientists never failed in their tasks to create potions and formulas that could negate any ability inherent to any creature. Especially the Soranians. Learn well and you'll comprehend the meaning of this mission." 

A tall man wearing a gas mask stands near the cockpit. "Superior Captain, the Soranian scum is getting away from us!" another gunner says.

"Fret not, because the princess won't be able to find him. But if there's something else that can match her drive, then we could repay her with it," a shrill voice says.

The thin woman is clad in a grey overcoat, its shape swallowing her small frame. She raises a slender, veiny hand.

A figure is dropped from the fuselage, half-animal and half-metal. The only organic parts left in its body are a bushy tail, ears and hind legs. As it falls to the ground, its eyes light up, blood red, and it chases after Amira into the creek.

The endless nightmare has begun.

Tania Maestas

The last embers of the glowing sun hang in the sky.

Four people walk down the trash-lined trails of Cow Creek. It is quiet around them as they step on crushed cans and bottles.

A boy with spiky black hair yawns, stumbles and curses. The tall man next to him chuckles and sips some water. A blonde girl behind them puts a flashlight in her cargo pants and checks her backpack.

Another girl who leads is a bit chubby, her fro brushed the way she loves with a blue ribbon in the back of her hairdo, all while she carries some bright apple green eyes and a wide smile - someone looking for great friendships.

She walks quietly in front of everyone else, looking around herself as she moves.

"Man, I never thought we'd get a trip as long as Niagara Falls. I hate this kind of thing, y'know!"

"You should be here if you want to survive, Freddie," the blonde girl replies.

"You say that like it's a good thing." The tall man runs a hand through his hair.

"Can it, Ted! Why do you side with him all the time? Say something, Tania."

"Ted, we've been lucky enough to come this far. Dallas was bad, but you bet there'll be great stuff in Carson City!" Tania says.

"That's already packed, so it probably doesn't matter anyway," Ted grunts.

"But it has help for all escapees around the nation, guys. Helping others is the right thing to do in the long run," Amelia says.

"Yeah, as long as there aren't too many. We're low on supplies anyway," Freddie says.

Tania can only pat his shoulder to cheer him up. His blank expression doesn't change, mind seemingly elsewhere.

"Don't you love that cute smoothness, Freddie?"

"How can I when we're at war?" he says as he keeps his wandering gaze away from her. She scoffs at the notion; she may not care what the war entails for them.

"You're always worried about the top percent, you know that? We'll be okay if we stay together. And then spaghetti and meatballs!"

Ted chuckles quietly, the rest can only stare.

"...you wouldn't mind some?" she asks weakly.

"No, don't be upset!" Freddie says. "Sure, we can get some later, but now's not the time to crack jokes, not with those freaks out there."

"Ha! As if that'll stop me from being able to save you at all."

Ted reaches out an arm.

"You're blocking our-"

"Look, I just wanna tell you how you can be guaranteed to-"

"WAIT!"

He tackles Tania to the ground, grunting from the impact force. Just as he turns to face what was coming to their way, a red laser burns into his right eye, through the skull. He stumbles backwards and falls hard.

No one stops staring at the black hole where his eye used to be. They slowly tear their gazes away, and look towards the laser.

A squad of Zlocan Knights from the woods. They storm out, boots crushing the cans like bones.

"Oh god no! Please!"Freddie whimpers and covers his eyes, trembling.

A Zlocan Knight cackles.

"How kind of you to take good care of your friend. Too bad that was in vain because you won't live for long anyway." He sneers, aiming his rifle in their direction. "Say goodbye-!"

A bullet punches through his helmet's visor. His screams echo in the creek, orange pouring over black metal. He sputters and falls as another bullet hits him in the chest.

A stout, balding inspector with a potbelly grips his revolver and steps forward, more officers behind him. He ducks behind a tree as soon as the Knights aim at him, blowing up heads from behind his cover.

They shoot back lasers, and the officers join him.

The group scrambles, desperately trying to hide. Knights run after them, and Freddie grunts as he trips over a branch. One steps on him and shoots him in the back of the head.

Tania yells his name, but it sounds so faint amidst the gunfire. She is numb, too shocked to speak.

"Run away from here! We'll cover you," one officer says.

Amelia drags her along, forcing her to move.

Tears run down her face. The din never stops.

Amelia cries out a second later, keeling over with a thud.

Everything slows down around them.

Tania grabs her backpack with shaky hands and takes out a roll of cloth, wrapping it around her torso. The blood quickly soaks it all, and she sobs in frustration.

Amelia clutches her wrist and croaks, "You have to survive. Run."

"Listen to me! I know you don't want this, but if you want to survive, then run! Run, my amiga!"

Tania shakes her head vigorously. "Why... What about you? I can't leave you here, I can't let you die!"

"Don't worry about me. All I want is for you to survive...nothing more, and nothing damn less. Go." 

"But I don't want to lose you all!" Tania bends down and cries into her friend's chest.

"And how the hell does that even matter? Do you... want to cling on to something you... won't even hold forever?" Amelia struggles out.

 The inspector runs up to them as he holds his guns and takes out a spare magazine.

"Listen to me girl, your life comes first right now. Playing stubborn ain't getting ya anywhere in this hellhole of a place," the inspector says as he crouches down. His kind eyes now have a steely look to them.

"Please-"

"He's right, Tany. Go... don't lose hope...and your happiness."

She gets up as Amelia starts to gasp for breath.

The inspector gives her a gentle push. "Go! That's an order, I tell ya!"

She takes her fateful choice of running away. Going it as fast as she can, all while hearing gunfire and lasers behind her.

A Zlocan knight's eyes follow Tania. He presses a button on his waistband. A cavity slowly folds open and tiny spheres emerge. They unfold their wings and chase after her.

None of the survivors know of what is coming their way, as they head towards a fate that will change their lives forever.

Is it truly their judgment day?


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net