Genesis

## Original

"Sir, when exactly do you want to follow through with our plan?" General Diego asked Kaz as he paced around his office. "It will be soon." Kaz smirked, as he remembered the details. "Very soon." He said before leaving.

Kaz stood in his room, his fingers tracing over pages of an old book riddled with manuscript. He had searched for this book for a while, having heard stories about it for years and the knowledge it held; with it, he could finally achieve his goals. Kaz laid his eyes upon the page that contained a spell that would entrap his father's soul without killing him.

"You have done well . . . .perhaps you will be strong enough to join the Royal Guard." The two soldiers looked to the red-robbed warrior in front of them; excitement shining through their spartan helmets. General Diego, the most feared of the demon generals; known for his unforgiving nature; stood ready to give them their final tests.

"Your power can serve us well. I am looking forward to completing your training. You have but one final test. . . . " The two soldiers looked to each other. Through his red mask, the general grinned.

"Battle. The victor. . . .shall be a member of the Royal Guard."

The general's words shocked both of them. To kill each other? They had grown up together, training in the strongholds of Eden to further their power. And now, this was it? Tossed aside, like simple trash.

"No! I refuse! This is madness! None of this! General, no!" said one, stepping towards the general. "This is nonsense! We are not some pathetic institution with barbaric, superficial practices as this. I refuse, General."

Diego cackled. In a soft, calm voice; hiding his rage and disgust; he replied to the soldier. "Very well. . . my young Padawan. If you will not be turned, so be it. Now, young soldier. . . .you will die."

The General raised his finger-tips. The soldier knew exactly what was coming, and gasped softly as he accepted his fate. At once, lightning soared from the General's armor, burning the young soldier. His screams echoed throughout the throne room, and his friend watched in horror.

Ever since the war began, it seemed everyone had the same story. Their family being killed, their homes destroyed. It seemed everyone was orphaned now, Narscissa thought, as she sat near a tree, watching Commander Thero Ackerman bark orders as the other soldiers trained.

"Narscissa Salazar, stop sitting and train with the rest of the soldiers!" Thero shouted to her. "Yes, sir." She said, standing.

Zion looked over to finally see Narscissa join the others in training, and mubbled "About time she joins us, we all are here working hard and shes over there doing nothing"

Seeing the Commander walk his way he stopped mumbling and got back to complete focus until he was in the clear then he shouted "It's good to see you finally joined us Narscissa"

Thero paced in front of the soldiers. "You have all been training well after today you will all be sent to different outposts. All of you are divided into groups of 3, remember to stick together, demons and angels are smart and tricky and will kill you on sight."

Sand and dirt slipped through coarse hands decorated in dozens of scars and deep red stains. This right hand clenched into a fist, tearing rocks and grass from the ground as it punched in frustration. Far from civilization, far from the ongoing war, the land bore a scream as the bloodied figure slammed his fists into the rocks and mud like a child throwing a tantrum.

"I'm- I'm not weak! Fuck!" Tears streamed down his face, contorted in rage as he shrieked. A wound on his abdomen leaked onto the land, spilling down the mountain as he writhed in pain. Not the pain of his wound, but rather of humiliation and defeat. His spear rolled down the rocky cliff as he tore at his tattered cloak to grip his injury. He couldn't breathe, no air would fill his lungs no matter how much he begged for it.

All he could do was watch as the demons walked off across the desert, leaving him for dead.

"There, there, you go." The old man watched carefully as the young girl held the hilt of a blade. The blade was short and sharp; something the two had been working on for some time. She held her protective gloves tightly on the hilt, examining it.

"It came out good, Ian."

"You've done well, Kalyn. Zion and Narscissa would love to see something like this."

## Reboot

As her heart beat rose to extraordinary levels, as she continued to run through the natural barriers of snow and ice; the only thing that mattered to Kalyn Lancaster at this point in time was escape.

She could not see how close her foe was at this point in time - but she knew it continued to follow her. Her comrades - Zion, Narcissa; knew this too. Up on the snowy, freezing hills - a figure ran in close chase. Armored, green, and with a strange black haze radiating out of it. It did not speak, or scream.

Narcissa grabbed Kalyn's hand seeing she was falling behind and ran quickly while making sure her squad stayed together.

Zion ran past the others and screamed back: "We either need to pick up the pace or turn around and fight, I personally prefer the fight option."

"No!" were the only words Kayln could say at such a thing; as the snow continued to fall. She continued to run.

==Previously==

The squad walked into the arena, they had been training for weeks, Narcissa, Zion, and Kalyn had become quite close, but all were itching to be on a real mission, and today was that day, they got notice that Commander Thero was calling all the new trouts to send out squads finally.

They were the last to line up as Thero marched down the line giving his speech. He paused and looked at Kalyn. "Your squad is late, *again*. Can you explain why this is?"

"Won't happen again, Commander." replied Kalyn.

 S2: