Call of the Valkyrie

In post-apocalyptic world a young soldier sits in her bunk, alone staring out at a scorch fired sky made of ashes and sulfur, remembering her past, present and unsure of her future in the resistance of darkness.

“I remember it like it was yesterday. The blank gazes, the silent gasp, the look of terror and despair on the public faces as the darkness washed over the sky; in what seemed like a moment frozen in time was actually years if not decades or centuries in the making. It started days… no…months before with a simple wonder and great curiosity as the allied governments across the world rallied together to debut the first Artificial Intelligence engine known as the W.A.N. - World Artificial Network. It was ‘simple program” the claimed to protect the people. A fancy or should I say sugar coated lie of saying track, police capture and if necessary eliminate the beings known as the S.P.E.C.S. A bigoted and prejudice term the media came up with to deliberate and discuss politically on television, internet and newspaper to describe an entire race. Yes, they were different. Some could fly…some could control the elements or run super-fast…control energy; there were even some who showed us that magic actually existed. Some lived in water…the trees…city bridges. Then there were some…well I should say others who only came out at night. They lived and breathed the darkness…if they breathed at all. It was they who sparked the first stages of fear. Those stages are what lead to the creation of the W.A.N. to begin with. Vampires, demons, monsters of the deep…all the things people thought were stuff of make belief were coming out to be as real as anyone else…. And with each new discovery the minds of people grew more fearsome. It wasn’t long before news of certain creatures started to come to light in what was possibly ages. They would kill… rape…feed on the willing and non-willing if not turn them to insubordinate or entranced slaves. It was said that the beings had their own order of government to pass judgment outside of man’s laws and asked politely to do so. Most governments respected this at first but it became not enough as time went on. The allied governments decided to issue a new bill that forced all non-humans, creatures and supers to register what, where and who they are for public safety. A bill that was passed on Election Day of 2013; that was the day that everything changed even more than they had already. Many showed up to either protest or register in various cities like New York… Washington… Los Angeles and every other major city across the world appeared to comply with the new law. Even the greatest heroes made a public appearance but that was not enough to stop what came next. A wild flash shook across the world and with it hysteria followed as cold war’s broke out across the planet. War’s filled by fear and topped with hate. Hundreds if not thousands fought and died on all sides. Fearing the safety of the human race the allied governments surrendered all technology and weapons as W.A.N. went online to help the Alliance enforce martial law on all other worldly beings. It first created an entire race of machines to ensure humanities survival but it wasn’t long before it saw forms of life and death irrelevant; and so it sparked its own war against it. A war had sparked between all species and with the machines on top many unlikely allegiances were created between the humans race and the beings they called S.P.E.C.S.; and thus the great trinity war raged through the world...causing demolition of all kinds across the planet.

It was not long after the war started that I was forced out from leave and back into the reserves for the government. The allied forced did everything they could to increase thier numbers for this war...drafting, retired vets, disabled veterans; you name it. They took to science... magic... genetic manipulation; all effort that was made too late. Salvation was promised through and through but damnation is what we received. The allied forces configured a type of bomb using science and magic that created a shroud over the inner atmosphere blocking the rays of the sun. It was with hope of doing this the machines would lose the main energy they needed to survive; solar energy. We knew the sacrifice would be great, we had no idea. As the sun's light shined no more creatures of the shadows began to take over... we won the battle against the machines but found ourselves in a new one with the supernatural. Demons ten times greater than before... giant creatures... things we had no idea existed between worlds or deep beneath our own until now. The human race has taken the largest death toll since the trinity war began years ago and is now on the brink of extinction. If it we are meant to survive this it means it is time for us to find new sanctuary from the beast around us. My name is Kristin Butters... Sergeant Kristin Butters to the people of the resistance.

Kristin stands at about average height for a female. She's military fit and strong from her many years of service before and after the fall of reality. Her hair is cut into a short style. Fair skin tone that bear somewhat of a tan and a huge tattoo on her back baring butterfly wings that reach from her shoulders, down her back, and around her hips. She lays in a small bunk, big enough to fit a small unit of four soldiers, alone in her thoughts, wearing only her undergarments and nursing recent wounds.

"I had lost plenty in this war but for some reason this time was much different. I lost my entire unit about a week ago. It's hard to keep time without the consistency of the sun or moon in the sky. We get some beams of light we call gazes or gazers... they pass through when the dark shroud breaks up for a few seconds during the day from time to time. It makes things almost better but at the same time a lot worse. A gazer can save your life by shedding light on a night terrorist; which is what we call some demons and monsters, they hate it. A tiny bit can send them running for their life. But on the other side...it's constant torture of what we had once and took for granted... the sun...oh do I remember the feeling of the sun. The warmth... the sight to the eyes when it would rise and set... now all it is...is cold," thinking as she stairs off into a nearby small window. "Well, after I lost my unit I was promoted to my current rank of sergeant...a bittersweet achievement; but you fly through the ranks fast these days. I was bound to end up with it eventually anyway...because of my background in service. Combat specialist...sniper... automatic and semi-automatic weaponry... explosives...you name it I can do it. Even had some mechanic experience thanks to my sister growing up; something I was able to apply in my years of service one way or another."

A knock at the door interrupts Kristin's thoughts as a short male enters the room wearing dark and dirty like military ensemble. "Sergeant Butters," he says with a salute," the captain wants you packed up and upfront for your debriefing in ten." After he leaves, Kristin gives the young private an annoyed glare after and she begins to get dress in her own military garbs of green and black fatigues with boots. "I've been packed since they told me I was getting re-assigned after my promotion. This bunk was getting a little too roomy, and who needs that," she thinks to herself sarcastically. As she finishes getting dressed and rolling up her sleeping gear, placing it with her belongings she leaves; she starts down a long stretch of a hallway. The resemblance of it is to that of an Old Catholic boarding school. Military patrols travel in small groups as they pass through the area. Civilians are seen and heard praying or crying but the faint sound of laughter is seldom heard in the distance from children playing.

"Some of the night terrorists still fear the old testament of God. You know... the vengeful and hot tempered idea of God. So places like hospitals... churches…temples... this school or anything of faith is a sanction of protection for people. But it doesn't last long. Nothing ever does. We move every few days or weeks depending on how long scouting units, like mine, take to find a place. Sometimes we get lucky...other times not so much especially if the scouting unit doesn't come back...” Kristin says.

Kristin falls back into her thoughts to days ago where a small convoy of two units, her own included, with two jeeps of four people in each drive through deserted back roads filled with abandoned cars, corpses and dead plant life to a distant small town of buildings in the distance. Kristin sits in the back of one of the jeeps as a radio call comes in from the other jeep stating how they will check out the town ahead. As they arrive they notice most of the building and houses are boarded up or have shattered or broken windows. Kristin notices how there is graffiti on most of the walls but nothing that indicates people are living in the buildings or not. Not a single body, dead or alive can be found on the streets as the two squads search the area with their weapons drawn. To their assumption the town seems as it was longed abandoned before the apocalypse.

"Search the church...if it's clear we just may have found our new sanctuary," says the Sergeant over the radio, "Butters, take the high point and cover us, you see anything strange or out of the ordinary you yell," he continues. He then takes three others from his unit into the church, three from Kristin's unit stand outside guarding the perimeter, as Kristin finds the high point on top of an old bank's roof opposite of the church; using the fire escape. Everything seems really quiet as a couple more members of Kristin's unit are waved into the building, leaving one outside. The Sergeant communicates over the radio saying, "Seems to be clear but... Oh my god... OH MY GOD! We've got casualties...two maybe three dozen bodies," he exclaims. Suddenly the radio turns to static and goes dead; followed by gunfire and drowns out all radio communication. Screams from inside the church are heard as they echo to the outside, where the one guard runs in leaving Kristin on the roof. Noise grows louder and soon the Sergeant comes out with only two others with him, and ravagers that follow. Ravagers are zombies that are not slow in nature but fast runners and eat anything in sight. The three soldiers fire as they run and Kristin shoots from a distance aiding their escape until she sees them enter one of the two jeeps without her to start up the engine. She starts to make her way to the survivors while simultaneously screaming over the radio for them to not leave without her. Shouts unheard as the three starts up the engine and begin to drive off leaving her as she makes it off the roof. She is soon attacked by two ravagers whom she fights off and kills with not her using her side arm, but a knife. Moments later a loud explosion is heard in the distance, and Kristin sees the jeep up in flames as the small heard of ravagers move quickly to consume any remains. Kristin makes it to the only truck, starts it and begins to speed off in the opposite direction. As she drives she encounters many bumps and holes in the road, as if someone set them as a trap to prevent anyone from escaping or entering the town. The bumps soon prove to be too much for the jeep and it flips over once, but she manages to right it and continue to speed down the road. A few ravagers manage to get close enough from elsewhere in the town, alerted by all the noise, and catch up with the jeep to hang on the back. They make their way up to the driver’s seat but Kristin manages to take each one out with her gun with on clean shot to the head. In the end it was the last strike with a telephone pole that stops the jeep suddenly, after a minor tremor knocks it over. Ravagers in the distance soon make their way toward Kristin as she makes her way to an abandoned fire department house. With dislocated shoulder, earthquake shakes the ground slowing her run. Plowing through the front doors of the firehouse, she inadvertently creates falling debris that knocks her down as she passes into it and falls to the floor. Rapidly firing her gun, as ravagers run toward her fast, she soon passes out from the strain. She wakes up days later in the infirmary at the resistance outpost several miles away.

In present day, Kristina recounts these events of her last moments with her old team to her superiors. "And that's all you recall from your last assignment Butters? says the Captain.

"Yes, sir." Kristin says standing firmly at attention in front of three men sitting behind a table with combat clothing similar to her own.

"And you are certain there is nothing else you are leaving out of your written or verbal report here?" ask the Lieutenant, leaving Kristin with a confused look.

"I'm sorry, sir, But I do not understand what you mean," she replies.

"You see, Sergeant, you were picked up just outside of the headquarters here... just a few yards outside of our perimeter according to the privates on duty who found you... not to mention you say you were injured but you strangely enough barely have a mark on you aside from a mild concussion," says Lieutenant Green.

Lieutenant Green and I had joined together before the Great Trinity War. We served in the military but he climb the ranks faster than I did, even though my attributes out qualify his own. Some say it's due to his privilege as a man... others say he is just that good at being a leader. You know with no failed missions; unlike me... Me on the other hand...I have my own ideas of how he did so.

Lt. Green continues, "You say you passed out unconscious by the attack... so how did you make it back here?"

"I am unsure,sir...there is no idea how or even why I could… maybe one of the others survived... I blacked out… I don't know, sir... I’m just thankful I made it," Kristin says.

The captain continues to say, "Mild Concussion...few bruises... cuts...and a day later you're back on your feet. No one would say this is nothing short of a miracle...but in our time, considering things, one could assume you were one of *them*... Luckily for you, regardless of your family history, you don't carry such a gene... so one might assume you're something else if not worse...a liar."

"Permission to speak, sir?" she ask.

"Proceed." The captain says.

"In this world we are over run by demons, monsters, murderous pirates of all kinds and cannibals all shape and sizes...I refuse to believe miracles are in short supply... I mean it's nothing short of miracle that any of us are here today... sir" she says.

The captain responds, "Damn right you are..."

Lt. Green adds," We will be monitoring you in the days to come. I mean we are indefinite short supply of soldiers, lucky ones or not."

Second Lt. adds, "You'll be transferred to a special ops assignment for the rest of your duties."

"Special ops sir?" She asks curiously.

Captain chimes in and says "I'm sure someone of your caliber can handle it, being so lucky and all. You move out immediately, dismissed" All three officers get up from the table and leave one after the other and Lt. Green hands Kristin her reassignment papers.

"Good luck to you Sergeant." He says as he departs, leaving Kristin to look at her own papers.

As I looked at the papers only three things stood out to me... my name... transfer...and Special Ops Unit: Sweeper.

Kristin grabs her bag and begins to march down the hallway to depart to her living quarters, angrily. She is then randomly pulled into a shadowed hallway and met with a passionate kiss from none other than Lt. Green.

"Not so fast soldier," he says. "Special ops can wait a few minutes," as he kisses her again.

Kristin makes him stop long enough to ask with a whisper like tone, "What's going on? I mean special ops? And the sweepers of all places?! You know that's a death sentence! They might as well string me up in the courtyard arrange a firing squad now," she continues to exclaim.

"Shh calm down alright?! Listen I fought the best I could to get you assigned to another recon division...but the others thought that was beneath you...that you were ready for more and I couldn’t dissuade them. Sorry babe... but this one's out of my hands," he says.

"I could die in this unit, Green, don't you care even a little?" She asks.

"Of course I care I.... look I risk my ass when I stick my neck out for you... just take the assignment please... come out flawless like I think you can, and you'll come up in the ranks faster and can start getting these other soldiers to be coffin fodder," he replies.

"Is that what I am to you? Lamb to the slaughter for the infantry?" She says angrily.

"Look, just don’t get killed ok?" Saying as he exits the dark hallway, looks around to makes sure no one sees him and leaves.

We joined together years before the war...yes, served many battles separately because it is against service rules to be married to someone in the same unit. So we separated just as things got bad and once W.A.N. was active and later destroyed; no evidence of divorce or marriage was could be found to prove it existed. By some mere fate it seems we found each other during the war...he had risen in the ranks while I stayed a specialist in multiple units...one after the other. Now he's a Lieutenant under one of the highest ranking captains in the resistance...and giving me orders. To think we once made plans to start a family together...but that all changed after the fall. I don't know if it's for better or not but it seems fate had its hand in that as well. We keep our affair quiet...secret.... but I don’t know if it's for mine or his sake... I love him...but the gray areas are becoming hard to see."

Kristin picks her bag up, after looking the direction toward Lt.Green, and turns to walk the opposite way heading to the front of the building where a small jeep transport waits for her. The jeep takes her across the base to the far side of the school of over twenty acres to an old recreational building. When she arrives there she is met by a young private.

"Sergeant Butters?" He says as he salutes and she hands him her paperwork. "Right this way ma'am." He says. She follows him to a small bunk just outside the main hallway of the building.

"What is this place?" Kristin asks.

"This is our living quarters for our division of the resistance. This use to be I think...the recreational pool area," he responds.

"Recreational pool?" Kristin says.

"Um yes... where they did water related exercises for the students I guess. My school didn’t have one growing up so this is my first" He says.

"I see, so they are picking them kind of young these days... what are you fifteen or sixteen?" She says jokingly.

Chuckling in reply he says "No...I'm actually...I mean I will be...uh."

"Where are you parents...seriously? Any family?" Kristin continues but the young man stays silent as they enter a large ambient room with an empty pool.

"Here we are... special ops HQ." He says.

Kristin looks around at the abandoned conditions of the pool area. Dirt and mold grows on the walls and in every corner. Wind draft seeps through the cracks in the wall and at the bottom of the pool are a small platoon of soldiers that she would be working with. Each one had their own small space in the empty pool. The young private and Kristin descend a rickety ladder and slowly make their way through the bottom of the pool starting from the shallow end.

"This is Sergeant Silver...tactical security and infantry force. He was part of an elite Special Forces group in another dimension. His task force gear is beyond amazing. I've been trying to replicate it for weeks. It's a mix of science and sorcery...but with the limited resources I have here it's...almost impossible." He states.

Silver wears a dark gray to slight shades of gray and silver of a suit plated with armor covering his vital organs. He sits polishing a helmet that has limited ventilation of the mouth and limited visual viewing. The armor and helmet has a lot of scratches and scuff marks as he polishes it. He is a dark skinned male, bald and between the ages of twenty-five and thirty. As they continue to walk through the empty pool they across another soldier with a military roman cut. He wears a variety of holsters for guns, knives and explosives. He looks more like a civilian because he is not dressed in military clothing of any kind. Rosary beads are wrapped around his left wrist. A fair skinned male, counting his ammo as he loads a small arsenal of weapons under a ragged trench coat.

"That's Sergeant Dean we call him the Winchester. You know...cause of all the guns." Saying as he chuckles. "Anyway he's our paranormal/ supernatural intelligence and tactical officer. Basically any kind of monster or weirdo with fangs need killing... he knows how to do it,” says the private.

"And what do you do First Private Hahn is it?" Kristin ask.

"Oh, Hahn is fine...I am uh... I'm the field tech operative. I handle the communication network ...defense systems and such while on and off the field. You know computers and stuff like that. So yea...just Hahn..or Tech Sergeant Hahn." He replies.

"But you're not a sergeant," She says.

"Not yet...but soon. Just trying to get a feel for the name you know what I mean." He continues.

As they walk on they come across another soldier. He stands tall with tanned tattooed skin and hair pulled back out of his face into a bun with a couple of feathers in it. He wears war paint smudged on his face and carries a tomahawk and several knives and clubs. He appears to be ageless but strong and silent. Wearing green fatigues, black shirt, and brown shawl over himself with green converse. He also wears a turtle necklace carved out of wood around his neck.

"That's Sergeant Turtle... we call him the Native cause well...he's indigenous to what was once the United States as far as we know but only speaks his tribes language. But he understands English so not all bad." Hahn says.

"Well what does he do? I mean how does he communicate with everyone?" Kristin ask as she continues to look at him curiously.

"Mostly through writing and sign language best we can. As for what he does... not entirely sure. He showed up about three or four days ago here. They saw his skills and figured he knew a lot about these parts so transferred him to us in hopes he will be an asset of some kind." Hahn replies.

"So you don’t know exactly what he does then?" Kristin asks.

"Well he's pretty strong... a great marksman and his hand to hand techniques are impressive I mean he beat Ramirez there in a sparring match the other day and he's the best we have." Hahn answers until he's interrupted by First Sergeant Ramirez.

"That's enough private get back to work." Ramirez orders as he takes the papers from Hahn.

"Sorry, sir." Hahn says apologetically with a salute and leaves.

"Sergeant Butters, I assume." He says.

"Yes sir." He says.

"I'm First Sergeant Ramirez, second in command of the sweepers unit.” Says here you're an infantry specialist?" He tells.

"Yes sir." She replies.

"Sharp shooting, hand to hand, remote detonation.... top of your class?" He says with curiosity.

"Yes, sir." He says.

"By my count you should be at my rank right now at least... at the very most a major. What happened?" He asks.

"Well sir you see..." She starts to explain but is abruptly cut off.

"Never mind... don't want to get too personal for all we know you won’t last a day or two here." He says as they start to walk toward an empty cot on one side of the pool. "This is yours...keep it neat...that's all I ask. Hope you're not shy being a woman and all... cause we share everything here...short supplies and all. Settle in...captain wants to see you in the deep end in ten." saying as he leaves her to unpack.

Ramirez is a fast talking Spanish male born in the southern part of the United States. He is highly decorated serving three tours but has lost his right arm and both legs in battle before the Great War and uses a variety of cybernetic enhancements in their place. Kristin settles in and then heads to the bottom of the deep end of the empty pool where a desk, cot and radio sits. The captain sits at a desk, with their back turned, writing frantically.

"Give me a minute… finishing up these reports for my superiors," she says. "Fucking assholes wouldn’t know combat if it bit their cock off and handed it to them." She continues in frustration then turns around in her chair and stands up. She stands just over five feet tall with shoulder length red hair. She wears a skin tight flight suit with embroider badges showing her rank and battles fought before and during the Great War. She has green eyes and fair skin, with freckles, and answers by Captain Redd.

"Well I'll be fucked sideways. They finally heard my call to get another woman in this unit. Name and rank soldier?" saying as she fold her arms in confidence.

"Sergeant Specialist Kristin Butters, ma'am." she replies.

"Specialist huh? What do you specialize in?" Captain Redd ask.

"Sharp shooting. Hand to hand combat. Remote and trigger detonation. Non-automatic, automatic and semi-automatic weaponry..." Kristin says until she is stopped as the captain reads her file.

"Yea.. yea... I see that here in you file. Says you've seen field work but wasn't until after the world went to shit were you active consistently. Why is that Sergeant?" Redd asks.

"Personal reasons ma'am. I was coming out of my service and then everything...changed. She replies.

"Things going to shit, fucked up your plans. Yep... I get that. Story of many of us in our field of work, hell I was on my way into being a cop and part time mixed martial arts fighter. Says here you were transferred from seeker to sweeper operations, why is that?" She asks.

"I uh...I am sure it's in my file captain." Kristin replies unsurely.

"It is... but I'd like to hear it from your own words," She states.

"I was um...my unit and I got some bad Intel. We were told of a town establishment approximately seven-two miles from home base was hostile free. No heat or cold signatures...very little movement. All seemed okay when we arrive until we entered this church on the edge of the town. It was completely inhabited by more hostiles we couldn’t handle. We were ambushed... my entire unit was KIA ma'am." Kristin says.

"And somehow you survived" Redd says with a look of confusion on her face.

"I did...and I was somehow found a few yards, unconscious, from our home base perimeter. I don’t know how I got there." She continues.

"I'm sorry you lost your unit...clearly the place had not been swept because that's what we do...sweep the sites and move on one at a time. Not sure how they do it in seeker units...but us...we get shit done so shit like what happen to you doesn’t happen. No offense to you or your fallen comrades but we watch out for each other here... We may not always get along but we do have each other’s back. With that in mind...don’t let what these other cock steins here can do intimidate you. You …me… our dicks are as big as theirs.... We might have different talents and ranks but we are all equal" Redd says with confidence.

"Yes Captain," Kristin replies.

"However, don’t let the fact I am woman as well go to your head. I don’t do favoritism or girl talk nor am I going to sit and braid your hair and hold your hand. I just want you to go out there, do your job and not get me or anyone else killed; get me?" Redd states.

"Yes, Captain." Kristin replies.

"Now before..." Redd is cut off by Hahn interrupting.

"Captain, sorry to interrupt but we have a code thirteen... instructions from the higher ups wants us to sweep immediately." Quickly saying then departs.

"Well...so much for a training exercise. Sink or swim...suit up soldier you're about to get the experience before the lesson." Redd states as Kristin leaves to her cot for her belongings.

Each soldier is gathering up their specialized equipment as Kristin passes them running up the pool from the deep end. They then meet at the top edge of the deck of the pool lined up facing Captain Redd.

"Alright, we have code thirteen. For you new people that means a possibility of a demonic infestation. Hostiles can be anywhere between two inches to twenty feet tall or even bigger. Rules don't change at all here. We get in, sweep'em, we get out...alive! LET'S GO!" she yells and instantly everyone runs to the outside of the building where a hover craft transport waits them to board. Hahn jumps into the front passenger’s seat with Captain Redd and everyone else straps themselves into flight chairs as the hover vehicle begins to rise and takes off in fast flight.

I am scared; I mean it was my first assignment as a sweeper coming off a temporary leave. You see in recon, for every area we travel to its covered by a surveillance drone at the lease before we enter. The drone picks up schematics ranging from land mass, air, temperature, and structures in the area. If all is well they send a recon team like my old one to further investigate for reassurance. If not and the area suits the needs of the people the sweepers go in instead...clean it out and move on. They are the best; but the survival rate of being one of them is low. It's an honor to be part of this new team and what they do for our people... but I'm still scared shitless.

The hovercraft is fast and stealthy making it to get to the designated area in just under an hour. Everyone stands up as the craft hovers over one hundred feet above the ground.

"Alright we're here," Captain Redd states. "As usual I'm gonna fly ahead and check the area, see what we are dealing with. Ramirez pair them off;" saying as she turns on a device on her wrist engaging a jet pack on her back, diving out the window and flies off. Kristin looks surprised and then Ramirez interrupts her shock.

"Alright this is a code thirteen so any hostile you see you put it down fast. It has more than two legs you, shoot first then ask questions. Winchester you're with me. Native and Silver cover our backs, Butters and Hahn you're up front...I want constant visual... any movement shout."

The hovercraft comes to a slow stop and everyone sits for the captain to return moments later.

"Alright," she says after landing, "we have about a dozen maybe more hostiles in the center of the town from what I could see. Area is covered in sand mostly. But I've a plan which I will inform you all when we are closer...move out."

Everyone grabs their gear and leaves the craft one by one as it hovers just a few feet off the ground. Hahn initiates the ships auto pilot and puts it into stealth mode. The group makes their way into the town moments after. As they walk everyone keeps their eyes open and ready to combat anything that comes with guns pointed in all directions and a small manual drone in the shape of a spider circles them, controlled by Hahn remotely off his wrist. Even though everyone else is ready Kristin grows a little more fearful, so to relieve her tension she begins to ask questions.

"What is that thing you're doing? she asks to Hahn.

"It's technical... one of my little toys." He replies.

"I see that but what is its purpose?" she continues.

"It has many modes of function but it is currently in sentry mode...placing eyes where we can't see...it can also summon the craft and a few other things" he says.

"I see... so you're tech savvy...what... what's the gizmo on the captains back?" She continues to ask.

"It's a sky pack. Allows the wearer flight from 2 to 90 miles per hour, generates a shield to the wearer that's invisible to the eye but near indestructible and capable of plasma blast from the cuffs on either forearm which range in damage." He finishes.

Kristin chuckles as Hahn ask "What's so funny?"

"Nothing... just all this tech is helping the human race take back our world when it helped create it... it's a bit ironic." She says.

"I have to agree," he responds.

"So what's the captain's story... I mean with that kind of tech...it sounds pretty rare... never heard anyone with such things." she says.

"You wouldn't...the captain was part the air force...a pilot actually. But after the fall she was placed on Special Forces with the WingNuts." Hahn says.

"Wings Nuts?" Kristin says curiously.

"Yea, heard of them?" Hahn says.

"Yea... I mean just stories...elite air force group. But heard most were killed in an off the book mission." Kristin responds.

"The captain AND two others are the only survivors of twelve. She doesn’t like to talk about it really..." Hahn says.

A few feet floating above the captain stops and lands in front of the squad, stopping them in thier tracks several feet outside the perimeter of the city and says, "Okay this is it. So as you see from all the abandoned cars, boarded up windows and doors, high man made barricades, barbed wires...garbage you name it. This is only the mouth of the town too so whatever's in there was not suppose to get in... But it did...and it's lethal because there are no survivors or human remains for that matter..." Captain Redd says.

"So what's the plan captain?" Ask Ramirez.

"We're gonna bring the walls down in front. The blast will knock the walls of the canyon in the area down and create a filter for them to pass through as they come." Redd says.

Winchester chimes in with a southern accent saying "Pick'em off one by one like shootin' fish in barrel, I like it."

"Exactly" she responds "Butters...Hahn... gonna need you two up on those high points on the walls. Make sure nothing is flying in the air but me and watch our asses. Ramirez... Winchester...Native... and Silver place these charges near the bases of each mounted wall then find cover... cause it's gonna shit when they go off. Move out!" Redd orders.

Upon the order everyone scatters and then waits for Captain Redd's command. Several minutes later when she gives it one by one each bomb goes off, creating a large hole in center of the car barricade. Seconds later everyone is attacked by large demonic bug like creatures doubled size of a regular elephant, as they filter through the makeshift tunnel. Blasting and firing as they come through killing them one by one. Each soldier uses their special talents to take care of all hostiles. Silver presses a button on his belt buckle and it armors him up from head to toe in metallic steel like tactical armor. He uses a shield that forms from a compacted device on his wrist, and a blaster that carries a sharp shard on the bottom that if used can turn it to a blade in seconds. Winchester uses every gun and blade he has under a trench coat and attached to variety of harnesses with supernatural enhancements. Ramirez moves almost inhumanly with his enhanced cybernetic limbs, mounting, jumping, and dodging while shooting anything in sight with pin point accuracy, not missing a single creature. The Native moves swiftly like a cat dodging when enemies get close and destroys them any blade he has, as well as with his archery skills firing arrow after arrow with ease hitting ever target he aims for perfectly.. Hahn uses special gauntlets to fire ionic blast big and small similar to Captain Redd. Butters cover everyone from a distance with her sniper skills. The fight seems stable and able of winning until a tremor opens the ground and reveals an even larger creature that spits lava like acid. The team fights it off best as they can but are overwhelmed by other monsters. The captain fights the bug herself but has little affected to it.

"Take cover!" The captain screams as she throws a bomb that does nothing to the creature on the outside.

Kristin falls from the rocks and recovers fast but finds herself frantically shooting at the monsters as they come toward her. In the commotion she shuts her eyes as if she was ready to die but is saved by a force of rock shape hands crushing the monsters on the opposite side, when she fell away from the others. When she looks up past the rock made hands she sees a woman in grudged down and dingy clothing with a short like hair cut, similar to her own.

"Figured you could use a pair of EXTRA hands little sis." She says.

"Sandra?! What are you doing here?!" Kristin yells.

"Same as you but better!" She replies.

"Look it's not like I'm not happy to see you but you need to go!" Kristin continues.

""Why?! You clearly need my help I'm staying!" She responds.

"If you don't go you'll be arrested possibly worse! YOU NEED TO GO!" Kristin yells.

"Fine! But that thing is an acidic beetle demon... can only kill by attacking one of the two vertebrae..." She says.

"I got it, thanks, get out of here!" She yells back at her as Sandra uses the force of a slab of rock to start moving herself away from the area.

Kristin then looks on to the commotion several feet ahead and says "Wait! I'm gonna need a boost getting on that thing!" Kristin says.

"I knew you’d come around! You got this sis!" Sandra cheers.

Kristin runs toward the monster while its back is focused on the captain, jumps up and with elevated help from Sandra moving the ground up and out, lands on the monsters back. She then starts firing rapidly at the spine with her blaster between the vertebrae her sister described, while the creature moves insanely, drilling a hole deeper and wider as she fires. The creature starts to try to kick her off and in the instant moment Kristin loses her balance, but catches herself on the hole, created, with one hand. With the other hand she pulls the pin on a concussion grenade, off her utility belt, and throws it in just in time as the creature shakes her off. Abruptly, Kristin, breaks her fall and finds cover as the creature screams in agony, exploding and then melts from its own acid. The defeat sends the other creatures in retreat; and all the sweepers cheer in victory. Covered in bruises and scrapes the other sweepers congratulate her on a job well done.

"Specialist on kicking demon ass I see," says Captain Redd."Good to have you on the sweeper’s soldier... welcome; MAKE CAMP!” She yells as everyone cheers and moves out to set up camp conditions. “ Private Hahn remote in the ship to our destination." she continues.

Hours pass as a small camp with illuminated heat lamp in the center of a circle forms. Ramirez, Winchester, Hahn, Silver and the Native are gathered around it with equal distances. Kristin joins them soon after.

"No fire?" she asks.

"The flame and smoke could attract unwanted, large, man eating visitors... this lamp does all a fire can do without the headache." Ramirez replies.

"My own design," Hahn chimes in.

"The colonies of survivors could really use something like this..." Kristin says.

"Would it matter with the curfew always in effect?" Silver says. Kristin says nothing but nods in agreement.

Redd soon joins the bunch with a small case. "Found this on our last assignment, I expect the best so I give the same in return. Here's the Beer!" All cheer. "We move out as first gaze so have fun! That's an order!” She then leaves onto the ship.

"You're not going to join us Captain?" Kristin asks.

"I've got first watch, can't ... right now. But stay...mingle. That's also an order," Redd says as she climbs to the top of the ship.

"So what's your story, Butters? Ramirez says as he hands her a beer.

"What do you mean?" She asks.

"We all know about your last unit, and until earlier didn't trust you..." Ramirez continues.

Winchester chimes in and says "We thought you were a pussy, no pun or offense intended."

"What he means is it is a tad farfetched to believe your entire unit were KIA but you lived," Winchester finishes.

"But one would gather, if they were smart, the nature of our unit being a kind of a death sentence from the hire ups... to you know weed out the weak, is why you were sent to us." Silver says.

Responding quickly to the group, Kristin says "I promise it was nothing like that. We were in the wrong place... wrong time."

"Like some...wrong Intel or something?" Hahn ask.

"Actually that's exactly it. You see...we were sent in to see if an area was safe for inhabitation as we were previously told. You know go in and check to see if any hostiles were present... water... shelter... but upon investigating..." Kristin begins to explain.

“You found yourself in deep shit with no shovel," Winchester says.

“Sort to speak... bit by bit we fought and were killed off. I was knocked unconscious and woke up in the infirmary at home base," she continues.

"Wow, talk about lucky, hey stick close to me, I can borrow some." Hahn says as everyone chuckles in response.

"So botched intel huh?" Ramirez say then continues. "Lost this arm on some bullshit Intel... my partner and I were on an assignment for the resistance, deep cover shit. She and I were supposed to masquerade as a slave owner and slave to infiltrate human trafficking in a division up north. The intel was someone had cut a deal with a demon to sell off people for labor to the highest bidder. They were wrong. Two weeks in, we get where we needed only to find out it was humans finding others to eat. In a panic she blew both our covers as being part of the resistance. The days spent after that.... he carved her up in front of me…. I remember her screams..." saying as he chokes up. "When there was nothing left of her he started on me... I got lucky some said... bad weather destroyed everything around me including the killer. But left me alive... I don't know... but when found...well what was left of me... I was thankful... and filled with rage. So much but I couldn't do anything to channel it. Until I met a vet named Trip Anvil... like me he had lost limbs in combat... but he was a genius. He had created and used cybernetic limbs for vets like he and I and hooked me up with the same as his. I got faster...stronger... the heads found out. Eventually put me in with the sweepers... been one ever since." Finishing as he stairs into a heating lamp.

"Your partner... was she uh...you know?" Hahn ask.

Ramirez responds, "No... Just my best friend... and sister in combat."

"Yea...Yea  I can kind of relate to that" Winchester adds on as he drinks a beer. "Most of you know that I was a bounty hunter before...all this." Saying as he gestures to the world around them.

"Like before the war or...?" Silver ask.

Ramirez responds "Winchester use to hunt and kill these beasts for years... before the fall, the Great War... all of it."

"Yep... since I was 13 years old." Winchester says. "You see before the world knew about the supernatural in 2012, I was kicking the shit out of it. Hunting this hunting that... sending it straight to hell or where this or that came from...Didn't care. But I wasn't alone. Had my little brother with me."

"Whoa! Brother? We have been fighting for months together and this is the first time I am hearing about a brother." Hahn says.

"Not many know...except maybe the captain and Ramirez here... I asked they keep it private. You see for years my brother and I hunted and killed these things. Sometimes for profit other times just because it was right. Ghost, Demons..monsters...fucking vampires... psycho psychics...we did it all; and loved it. Then the fall happened and it was almost like Christmas. Until it wasn't. You see my little brother heard and believed we could do much more if we had an army. So I figured...why not join the resistance..you know... get an army of humans by teaching them all that our parents taught us and give the monsters hell, and die trying need be... only....only uh...." Winchester staggers in his speech and chokes up slightly...

Ramirez pitches in, "His brother didn't make it."

"Yea." Winchester starts again. "We..uh came across a kid in the outskirts of New York... Hiding under a bridge. Could not have been more than 8 or 9... Said she was hiding from the monsters and waiting for a gaze to come so she could stand in it and follow under it."

"Some creatures can't stand in the light so....smart idea." Hahn says.

"Yep, that's what we thought. So we instead offered her to come with us until we found the resistance or at least a resistance outpost. We were stupid. That night she came after us in our sleep. Got my brother first, if it wasn't for his screams I would have died that night. I put her down fast as I could... but my brother...he died in my arms." Winchester ends.

"Wh...what was she?" Hahn asks.

"I don't know. I mean we performed every supernatural test from garlic to silver to bronze...sunlight you name it." Winchester responds.

Butters states "I um...I heard some humans make deals to monsters to be bait for other humans in the wastelands. Like they trade others lives for their own...maybe that was the case?"

Winchester responds, "I do wish that was the case but not this time...she was something new...different. Had uh... shark teeth like a wraith but claws like a bear or something.... I just don't know. I burned my brother’s body, joined the resistance in his honor; and now... here I am..."

"You know the monster you uh...described sounds like something from my world." Silver says as everyone gets quiet. "You see...when the fall came every world bled into just one. In my world technology had evolved so much we were fully capable to hunt, police, and exterminate these beasts with ease. But as the tech evolved, the monsters got smarter. There was word that they, being the enemy, were experimenting to create new monsters invincible to everything we had. Genetic engineering on a global scale. My wife... she ... uh she knew we would need additional help so she created this..."saying as he gestures to his suit and armor.

"Wow... she must have been brilliant." Hahn says,

"She was...when the BPOLD (Bureau of Paranormal and Omega Level Defense) found out it was immediately funded and mass produced. Fully armored, light weight, titanium suit. Combined with a source of magic...and cold fusion. Bullet proof...scratch proof...fire proof...just name it. But when hell came to stay... I lost her... my world... everything. I guess all the tech and the fighting… it just wasn't enough."

"But you...in a way have a piece of your world still... and her." Butters says.

"Yea, I guess I never really thought of it that way." Silver replies.

"What about you," Butters ask the Native, who just looks at her, then responds in his native language.

"What did he say?' She asks.

Hahn replies, "We don't know...the language and without a translator it's kind of pointless."

"What's he doing now?" Winchester says as the Native signs.

"I he's signing...wait... I have been studying sign language last couple days since he got here...I .... Have... no...Bathroom?" Hahn guesses but everyone laughs.

"He said my story is for another day," Butter responds.

Ramirez asks "You sign?"

"I use to as a kid...my sister and I wanted to communicate in a secret code and learned away to talk and pass secrets...haven't used it in a while though," she says.

"Ask him his name." Silver says.

The Native signs and talk in his language at the same time.

"He says my name isn’t important only the life we have," Butters translates.

"What language is he speaking?" Hahn ask.

The native signs and Butters translates saying "It's muskogee...a language of the choctaw and Chiksaw tribes spoken when they were together and later apart."

"So that's why I couldn't find a way to translate this language... it's not a common tongue like french, japanese or italian, Amazing!" Hahn says in excitement as he pulls a gadget from his bag next to him.

"What is that?" Winchester says.

"It's a broken translator... I've been restoring it since I found it on the last mission. Figure it can help with not just this but other stuff to..." Everyone gets quiet as they look at Hahn as he says, "What?"

"Nothing it's just..." Silver says

"Of everyone here we know the least about you. You're always tinkering with that shit and never talk about yourself," Ramirez says.

Commotion starts to get loud among the group with Hahn arguing in his defense. The Captain comes hearing it and stops it as she gives the command to all to sleep, handing first watch to Ramirez. As everyone quiets down Butters notices a scar on Hahn's hand that he quietly hides with a glove when he sees her looking at it. Hours later the sun rises and everyone heads further into the town. Weapons draw for any attack. Kristin walks up next to Hahn as he is using his gauntlets to detect trouble within the area. He is the last in the group to take watch as he is joined by Kristin hours later, with the rest of the group as they begin to head out on the next assignment in the abandoned town.

Kristin softly whispers to him, "Look...I am sorry about the others last night... I could tell you felt ganged up on." Hahn shakes her words off as if there is nothing wrong. "Listen...you don't have to be that way with me...I know."

"Know what?" He asks.

"What you are..." she says as a worried look comes across his face.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Hahn stutters.

"Election day...2013...thousands of evolved humans....creatures... and other supernatural beings arrived in every major city in America to comply with the registration law...when all was done they were left 'E.I' barcode on their hand or wrist for enhanced individuals... it was like an ID bracelet that told who and what they were... from the scar on your hand looks like you tried to extract it...." Hahn shushes her immediately.

"Quiet...ok...we are on a mission and I've to focus." He says.

"Hahn, any heat signatures or movement below the surface?" Captain Redd ask.

"No sir," He replies.

"And in the buildings?" she ask.

"Running a thorough diagnostic scan on all...but will take a few minutes." He replies.

"Alright everyone take finve...get water." she says.

Kristin sits next to Hahn and continues to whisper to Hahn."My sister... she was like you." She says catching Hahn's interest. "Well not exactly like you but I mean...one of you. She could move the earth with her mind, more specifically sand, which was ironic cause of her name. She use to tell me it was lighter than rock. Any way...she registered and... was one of the lucky few who survived the massacre in D.C.: She says.

"What happened to her?" Hahn ask.

"I uh...I don't know, after the massacre, my family kind of disowned her for their own protection... so they wouldn't be put under watch or tarnish our name I guess... then the fall happened...Not sure if she’s alive or not. I regretted what was done immediately back then... but had no choice...the world was tearing itself apart.... if I could... I would go back and probably go with her" she finishes.

"I'm... I'm a techno-path. I can fix...control or even build anything technologically based with my mind. If I see it I can build it…or fix it… or even control it." Hahn says.

"That's an amazing gift... but why hide that about you?" she asks.

"Not sure you notice but we S.P.E.C.S. are not very popular with humans. After the events of D.C. martial law was put in place... it even stands now... years after the fall. And with more demons...monsters.... it's harder to be different now more than ever before. If caught they’ll execute me for sure." Hahn says.

"Have you met or encountered any other like you since the fall?" she asks.

"Not since before. But how could I…we try to stay inconspicuous...  I did have a family once though… well they were like family since mine abandoned me..." he chuckles "there was even one who could mimic my powers... we bonded through that...our love of comics...games..." Hahn says.

"What happened to them?" Butters ask.

"The left me or worse…same thing that happen to everyone else... I was alone...so I joined the resistance as a tech..." Hahn says.

The group is soon disturbed by tremors and the alarm on Hahn's gauntlet going off like a clock alarm.

"Shit! Captain Code Green! Code Green!" Hahn screams as a swarm of insect like demonic creatures begins to invade the area.

"Fuck! To high ground now!" Captain Redd screams.

Everyone fires at the horde as they come down while running the opposite direction to the highest peak of the town, city hall. The captain leads them through halls and stair cases of the building to the top of the roof, but in the commotion, Winchester is eaten alive whole by one monster, causing some panic in the others as everyone flees. The Captain orders an evacuation and retreat when the swarms becomes too much from above and the on the ground on all sides as they make it to the roof. Silver, fires rapidly at the creatures coming from above and below in front of him, as they get too close along with Kristin and the Native. Hahn frantically tries to call in for the airship but the creature’s presence dampens the signal.

"I can't get a fixed lock on the ship! I need to get hire or someone needs to punch a hole!" Hahn yells.

"How long?!" The Captain asks.

"A few seconds at least!" He replies.

The captain stops shooting at the creatures with the others, fires a concussive force from her gauntlets punching a hole in the air attack swarm of the creatures, picks Hahn up as high as she can and makes her way into the hair, shooting with one hand and carrying him with the other as the signal transmits. The signal finishes but as the two make their way back to back to the surface of the roof, Captain Redd is struck down through the chest by a giant mosquito like creature and taken away mid air, dropping Hahn leaving him to free fall.

"Captain!" He screams as he falls.

The native sees Hahn falling, runs toward him, leaps several feet into the air and catches him with ease, leaving the others with a short puzzling look on their face. As the ship makes its final approach, the remaining survivors continue to fight. Ramirez runs out of ammo, and in his hesitation is killed by another insect like creature that stabs him through the shoulder and tosses him into the horde on the ground. The ship comes closer, hovering outside the roof behind the air born swarm, hovering outside the roof. Hahn and Kristin make their way on to it after Kristin uses the grenade launcher on the base of her gun, followed by the Native but Silver is taken by the monsters just seconds later.

In his last stint of bravery he screams to the others, "Get off the roof! GO!" Before setting his suit to self destruct. The concussion of the blast goes off seconds after the air ship starts to fly off. It kills most of the horde and swarm but knocks the ship out of flight sending it crash landing several miles away from the area. In the commotion Kristin is knocked unconscious.

When she awakes, it’s hours later, to mumbling words in the close distance, under a slow gaze above, next to the crash site. She sees a blurred image of a man crotched down over another body, and when she’s able to make the image out she realizes it is the Native crouching over Hahn. She walks up with a limp to hear what the Native is saying to Hahn but in English, without seeing his face.

"It's... you." Hahn says. "It's been you... I ...I can't believe it. He finishes as he clinches the Natives hand tightly, smiles and passes away.

"Hahn...oh..my..." Kristin wimpers.

"I...I couldn't save him. I burned too much energy...his..his wounds were too harsh from the crash...I should have been more cunning...in control… faster." The native responds.

"What are you saying? You did what you could...and when... when did you start speaking English? Kristin says.

"I always could," He responds as he turns around with a completely different face. "I just thought no English would have made a better cover.

In shock Kristin pulls a knife and commands him to stay back. Trying to calm her down while closing moving toward her with ease, he explains that his name is Bren, and he was there to help the resistance the entire time and not hurt anyone. Not believing a single word he is saying she lunges sloppy with her knife and starts to slash at him frantically. She cuts him a couple of times across his hands and wrist as he tries to stop her. He eventually subdues her and shows her who he really is, as the wounds close instantly in front of her eyes, surprised.

"I'm different, yes. But not your enemy." he says,

"What are you some sort of vampire or shifter or something?" She ask.

Letting her go he tells her he is not a vampire because he can stand in the gaze as it rolls by, but his shifting is not only shape shifting but age shifting.

"It's a little ability I picked up years ago...helps me get in and out of places no one expect a feeble old man or a little kid. In this case, a middle age, non English speaking native American," he says.

He goes on to explain he is like Hahn...a super human or Supernatural Paranormal Enigmatic Subspecies as they were called before the fall of reality. He explains he is a power mimic with the unique power to absorb powers from anyone or anything he emotionally connects with, and when done he not only retains the power absorbed but could sense danger of who was connected to it regardless of distance. In this case, it was Hahn he sensed in trouble.

"So... you're the guy he mentioned earlier... the one he said was like family," she asks. He nods yes and states how he could sense his friend's fear so he manipulated his way into the unit to protect him, but at the cost of losing him.

"I failed him...couldn't save him." Bren says as he heals her leg injury.

Kristin wonders how and why he couldn't save Hahn or any of the others.

"My powers are infinite but limited to stress levels... I have to stay calm and be at peak level of endurance to execute them fully..." he says.

"So the battle..." she wonders.

"Yes, the battle put a lot on me mentally. The surprise triggers stress....I should have foreseen this," saying as he crotches down to Hahn." Rest easy my brother...my friend." he says as he touches Hahn's body and it dissolves into ashes."Come on...we can't stay here...we have to find cover to rest then I can get you back to the base...I know a place not far."

Slightly distrustful of him she takes his hand; he picks her up into his arms and takes flight.

As the two fly through the air, Kristin can't help but notice a slight attraction to Bren. Though she was upset and disturbed of the fate of her fellow soldiers and the hand Bren played in it, she could not help herself.

"Are you ok?!" She yells over the wind currents.

"Yea! I'm just a little warn out!" He replied with heavy panting.

"We should stop so you could rest!" She yells.

"No...We are almost there...up ahead," he says as he flies faster.

The two eventually land outside several mountain ranges as Bren put Kristin down he falls to his knees from exhaustion.

"You sure you are ok?" She asks again.

"Yes, I just need a few minutes." He says.

"Where are we," she wonders.

"This mountain was called Everest," He says. "Was, as you know, one of the most dangerous mountains to climb...now it's a solitude...that's if you can fly."

"I heard this place use to get cold, like really cold" she says.

"It still does. Especially toward the top which is where we are going," he says.

"Excuse me, but why?" she asks.

"Trust me, it's the safest place for us if we are going to survive." He says.

"Since when did hypothermia become safe? The last I checked it was guaranteed death sentence in this place. And trust you? That's a laugh..." Krstin says.

Kristin starts on a nervous and scared tangent-rant of attacks at Bren. He then stands up slowly, walks over to her, taps her on the head gently, knocking her out. Hours later, Kristin wakes up on top of the mountain next to Bren who has made a fire that shines blue.

"What happen," she asks. "Last thing I remember was landing on a mountain and you..."

"Sorry. You were kind of hysterical...shock from the crash I'm guessing..." he says. "I cleaned you up...started a fire..."

"Cleaned me up?" she wonders.

He points at her abdomen where she has been bondage with part of his shirt.

"You sustained a wound...probably didn’t feel it because of the adrenaline from the crash. I cleaned it up, healed what I can and bandaged the rest. Should be able to heal it completely when I'm at full strength."

"Heal... what else can you do?" she wonders.

Bren then lights up his right hand engulfing it with a blue flame and throws a small fire ball into the fire and says "A few things, but for now, rest." He continues, "I will take the first watch... you'll need your strength."

Hesitant, Kristin looks at him confused and distrustful.

"Don’t' worry... we are safe here. The creatures won’t come this high because of the erratic sun gazes," he says.

"It's not just that ...it's you too," Kristin says.

"You can trust me. If I were going to harm you I would have as you slept." Bren replies.

Kristin then lies back down, watching Bren look into the fire as she slowly falls to sleep. Hours pass and the two prepare to descend the mountain after resting.

"Tell me again why if you can fly that we are walking?" Kristin asks.

"Not sure if you notice but the creatures who can also fly is like owls to bats...they search for small creatures to prey on. I could carry you and fly us out of here but would put us both in more danger than we can handle. I could also run us to HQ but there are things that run faster," he responds.

"Run?" she asks.

"Wait you have super speed or something too?" Kristin ask.

"Yea something like that," he replies as she looks at the fire.

"So... what's your story? Like how did you know Hahn?" She asks.

"I met Hahn when he was only seventeen years old. Was sent by the leader of the Viktorious Regime... as dubbed by the media," he states.

"I heard about them...news said they were a terrorist group but others say the opposite." Kristin replies.

"And which do you think?" Bren ask.

"I don't know..Doesn’t matter now...a differnt time," she replies.

"We weren't. You see the leader, Viktor..her soul purpose was trying to rally all SPECS. She believed the SPECS would be needed for humanities future to thrive." Bren says.

"Well, yea, doesn't seem like this Viktor did well in that mission...look around you..." Kristin says.

"Yea.. her sister Lillith didn't help matters there... she was leader of the underground terrorist group, Rise Up. They were bent on making sure all supernatural and super took over world leadership and believe themselves superior. Anyway Viktor used me to rally, collect and protect as many specials I could. Hahn was one (saying as he chuckles) caught the little shit robbing an ATM with his powers. When I caught him he ran...didn't get far. He thought I was a cop. Used every piece of tech in the area to throw me off his trail, but still caught him. He wasn't lying about his family." Bren says.

"Yea...he mentioned that they abandoned him..." she states.

"Poor kid...was only fifteen. Was knocking over ATM's to buy food for himself and staying in a boiler room of a slum apartment building in Chinatown New York," Bren Says.

"But why? I mean he could take thousands at a time from any ATM and live like a king. Why wasn't he?" Kristin asks.

"He was smart... he knew a little here and a little there would keep him off the radar of the authorities. It worked too..."

"He could pass for human...finding work should have been easy for him." Kristin responds.

"True...but the registration brand changed that...once that is on your skin, humans see it on you; and that’s all they see. No one will hire or even give you a place to stay...so petty theft and bribery was all he was when I found him. So I took him under my wing. Taught him to use his powers for others like us...for good. Looked after him. We bonded. We talked of everything and anything... like brothers." Bren says.

"So why'd you leave?" Kristin asks.

"It's rather complicated...come on we're making good time.” He replies as they continue to descend.

Hours pass and monsters soon take notice of the two forcing them to retreat into a small cramped cave. Bren ceils the entrance with a layer of ice generated from his hand.

"We should be safe here for a few hours. We can both rest; I should be at full strength by then. Let's check that wound," He says as Kristin nervously lifts her shirt in slight pain exposing her injury."Relax," he says as he takes a deep breath and touches her wound healing it completely.

Panting in fatigue after healing her, Kristin grows concerned of Bren's well-being which he simply blows her off with slight frustration, rolls over, wishes her goodnight and rolls over to sleep. Hour’s pass only for Bren to wake up to discover Kristin gone and not where in sight. With entrance still barricaded and completely blocked, he notices a hole in the back of the small cave and begins to track her into it. He follows her trail to the opposite side thinking and worrying for her safety. He jumps out the end into a large opening of a glowing crystal like cavern, lands and jumps into a combat fighting stance with electricity emitting from his hands. He then hears moving sounds of water in the distance and follows it to a steaming hot spring where he finds Kristin bathing and swimming in it; nude. Upon seeing his presence she gasp and covers herself, as Bren looks embarrassedly away.

"I'm sorry," she says. "I thought you were sleeping...I figured I'd let you...you know...regain your strength."

"Well thanks...but can you please wake me next time before you go exploring in a dangerous mountain?" He responds. "I Just...I can't protect you if you wander off...and I just feel...I should until we get back."

"I am the ranking officer here and the last thing I need is your protection...I'm not some damsel in distress... look just get in and YOU relax now...That's an order!" She exclaims.

Bren smiles and gestures she turns around, with one hand, so he can undress; as he does so and takes in the warm water.

"I don't think anyone's ever been nor found this place." Bren states. "Then it should be our little secret...along with who you really are," Kristin states.

"Not that I don’t appreciate it but...why?" Bren asks. "I mean by duty you're sworn to uphold the rules and you're suppose to turn me in to our commander or commanding officer."

"True, but you did save my life...  thank you for that. And it's the very least I could do...after you tell me more about you." Kristin wonders.

"There's nothing much to tell...I'm born...I grew up...manifested special abilities... boom here I am." He states.

"We all have a story... like I notice you don't have a brand that most SPECS were to get at registration areas... like Hahn." Kristin continues.

"I was lucky." Bren says.

"No one's that lucky." Responds Kristin. "Not even one such as yourself... the dangerous ones were usually locked up immediately if I recall... you're what a level 5 maybe a 6?"

"Maybe they didn’t see me that way." Bren says.

"My sister wasn’t dangerous. At first classification...they thought her power was limited to just sand particles... but it wasn't... Most glass is made up of sand so when they tested her she was categorized as a class two of the SPECS. Not long after that she was classified as a class five because she was able to manipulate the sand particles found in glass and any underground or around cities. They practically locked her up and threw away the key all because she might destroy cities if provoked. Was total bullshit." Kristin says.

"Sounds like you despised what the old government did to my kind." Bren says.

"I disagreed to an extent. Especially what it did to my family and others families. Maybe this new reality is a kind of karma." She says as a short silence comes across over the two of them.

"Election day..." Bren says.

"Excuse me?" Kristin asks.

"Remember the tragedy on election day? Bren continues.

"Who can forget...the Election Massacre the media called it? Hundreds of people died at a registration station in Washington... was global news." Kristin says.

"It was my fault..." Bren says.

"I'm not sure what you mean elaborate." Kristin says.

"I was in line to register... do all the things my people were against...and there was this kid there... he had to be maybe nine or ten. Was scared, I could feel it. Not sure what he was but he wasn't human. Red skin… sunken face...ridges on his temple…bright blue eyes. A mere spitting image of his mom who was also with him at the time. Some were there by choice... others; well more like forced. Part of a deal they made with the courts for a lesser sentence of any crime they committed. Anyway, the kid anxiety grew. The lights... helicopters military police...cops with guns. He started losing control of his ability... it scared some of the guards...got them all stirred up so much they drew their guns and aimed it at the kid to stop...calm down... which just made it worse and upset the mother. She shouted in her native language...not sure what but you can imagine her fear; feel it. It all happened so fast... one of the guards trigger happy asses killed both, one then the other, and it set off a chain reaction of gun fire. Those who fled were caught if they were lucky to get away from all the flying bullets. The rest... slaughtered like cattle." Bren says.

"I don't understand how is a nervous trigger happy guard making it your fault for the massacre?" Kristin asks.

"The guards started it... I simply finished it. In a span of a second it seemed...I wiped out every one who wasn't dead by their hand, them included, in an atomic wave of energy... next thing I know...My face is on the news as a wanted terrorist. I killed several dozens and fled after a fit of anger got the best of me." Bren finishes as a disappointed look comes over Kristin’s face.

Kristin then swims and stands out of the water covering herself and begins getting dressed and says "You know after that incident SPECS became classified as living weapons? Especially anyone above a class two? Your actions hurt thousands if not millions... and separated families. I heard they never caught the SPECS who killed all those men and women... now I know why. It's because he was a coward. Too cowardly to take responsibility for his actions." She says as she finishes getting dress and begins to leave the cavern. "I will take your help getting back and when I give my report this will definitely be on it. Let's go...NOW!" She yells as the cave vibrates so much it closes off the entrance they came in with a small rock. Disgusted and angry Kristin distances herself from Bren after he saves her again, by tackling her to the ground after using a burst of super speed over to her, from a series of ice like crystals that almost impale her. "This doesn’t change anything," she says as she gets up and tries to move the giant ice boulder blocking the entrance.

Bren then starts to get dress as he says "You know what it feels like to actually be one of us?" A threat to society all because you were born different or come from somewhere else? Marked with a fucking remote leash on you? Chained and caged like an animal? Slaughtered out of fear and ignorance? I bet your sister does?!"

"Don't you say a word about my sister! You know nothing about her!" Kristin says.

"I know she saved your ass out there the other day." Bren says as Kristin stops for a minutes to listen. "Your little conversation before your little stunt with the grenade? She was there... saved your ass from what I understand."

"You don't know anything soldier!" Kristin says.

"I know you're scared of this new world! Scared of me! Scared your superiors will find out you've been aiding a fugitive for years!" Bren yells.

"Shut up!" Kristin yells and turns away to try to move the rock again.

"I ruined families? You ever stop to think for a second to wonder why I did what I did that day? Hell, does anyone? You see the bad and just automatically judge and label…just like everyone else." Bren says.

"Yes, because you're a coward who lost control of his emotions and threw a tantrum like a child." Kristin says as she continues to struggle with the ice rock.

"Or a father who lost his family..." Bren states as Kristin's attention is once again grabbed. "My wife was one of you; human. She was scared after she saw what my son and I could do so she turned us in. In exchange for freedom we were given the choice...registration or imprisonment separating us. Realizing how she was wrong she went with us in support of my son and me to registration. Bullet struck her through the heart, died instantly. My son, he was only six. Died in my arms; riddled with bullets from one of the ignorant assholes. They took my life. So… I took their lives... quenching my tears for good.... and if that's cowardly...then I am." Bren says as he finished and walks toward the stone of ice moving it as it is light as a feather. "Go... I won't stop you but I won't help you either, you leave then you're on your own to the base... I will be damned if I let anyone turn me in..."

Kristin makes her way back into the entrance. Bren trailing behind her several feet eventually the two meet up in the small cave and without a word Bren removes the ice wall keeping them safe inside. Before she leaves Kristin says "Look... I'm sorry. I over reacted. I am afraid...you're right. We all are of something... especially in this world now. What happen with both our families was unjust... we can't fix it... but we can make it better from here out. It’s all we can do in this world."

As the two begin to reconcile in the cold air they’re attacked by a giant bat like creature. Bren shields Kristin and throws a fireball at it. The commotion brings more like the creature and Bren picks Kristin up, tells her to hold on and then super speeds to the bottom of the mountain. The creatures follow in pursuit leading the two to run. Bren manages to get ahead of them because he is at full strength. Realizing they would continue to chase them he stops, puts Kristin down and takes her hand while closing his eyes.

"What are you doing?! Their coming straight at us!" She screams until she feels a chill wash over her body from Bren in a gasp. "What was that?!"

"Together... wind and fire...ready?" Bren says.

"No, what are you talking about?!" She yells. Bren taps her on the head and she responds immediately as if she already knows what to do. Bren counts to three and after he releases a wave of fire from his hands, he combines it with Kristin's focus of a wind gust in the same direction of the creatures which creates large blow torch effect and incinerates the creatures in its path.

Panting in relief. "What...just...happened?" Kristin ask.

"I will explain later...come on." Saying as he picks her up and super speeds off in the opposite direction.

The two travel for miles until they stop on a large forest like range. The center lies a cabin that's been damaged by the weather. Upon investigating they discover a family of zombies which both kill using knives on their belt. Not saying a word, Bren begins to mutter in Muskegon as he waves his hand around the open areas of the cabin.

"What are you doing?" Kristin asks.

"I estimate we are about two days travel from headquarters. If we rest here we can start fresh... get there in due time, maybe even less that a day." Bren says.

"That's great but still doesn't say what you're doing?" Kristin says.

"It's a protection spell. The only one I learned from a friend before all this..." Bren says.

"Sounds like a good friend." Kristin replies.

"She was..." Bren states.

"What happen to her?" Kristin asks.

"I don't know... last I saw her she was on the run from...everything...with a vampire slayer." Bren says.

"Wow, and what does the spell do to protect us?" Kristin ask.

"Should make us invisible to whatever is outside this place... long as we are here... nothing can see or harm us." He says.

"Is there anything you can't do?" Kristin says as she chuckles.

"A couple things actually... I uh...can't dance... I stumble over my words when I get excited.

Kristin chuckles and says "What else?"

"I'm terrible at baking" he says as he sits next to her on a broken couch.

"Really?" she wonders.

"Yep. Pie, cake...cookies. Man do I miss cookies." he says.

Kristin laughs, "Oh man... me too; and um… popcorn... actual chicken!"

Both chuckle, laugh and talk together for what seemed like hours as they get to know more of each other and in a moment stop and make eye contact for seconds that feel like hours, then break it off. "So...uh... you want to explain what you did to me back there?" Kristin asks.

"It's a power I picked up years ago...basically it allows me to give any power I take in to anyone or anything. Temporarily or permanent." Bren says.

"And is this... permanent?" She asks.

"Temporary...at least while we are out here. You need to protect yourself... I mean what if you lose your knife or run out of bullets right? Controlling the wind might help." Bren says.

"What else can I do with it besides make or control wind currents?" She ask.

"I put full knowledge of the power in your mind... so probably anything involving air," he says with a chuckle.

Kristin then stands up and subtly uses the power to blow over a nearby can. She then does the same to a stack of books. She then starts to spin a mini tornado in her hand and lets it die into the air. Becoming fonder of her power she begins to turn currents underneath her, slowly hovering. Bren warns her to be careful because the commotion can bring new enemies. She loses control as she starts to take flight into the air and starts to fall. Bren flies up and catches her mid-air and brings her back down to the cabin floor.

"Sorry... got away from me. I've always wanted to fly but forgot I'm not too thrilled about heights. It's a lot harder than it looks." Kristin says.

"I know all too well what you mean," Bren responds.

She sits down and begins to catch her breath and notices Bren looking up.

"What are you looking for?" She asks.

"Just making sure no one or nothing saw or followed us... we are safe in the cabin long as we don’t leave the perimeter of the spell." Bren says.

"How I mean..." Kristin starts.

"I can see and hear abnormally than most...." Bren says,

"Sorry... I was just ...excited... for once I have a small part of what it's like to be one of you...like my sister.... what...what was it like when you first flew?" Kristin asks.

Bren stops looking up. "Scared..." he then sits down on the broken couch and continues "I was.... living in a third floor apartment. My son was playing across the street. I had butchered dinner so started to grill on the balcony," saying as he chuckles, "My wife was in the shower. I remember pouring the charcoal and about to pour the gasoline and that's when it happened. My son ran into the street chasing a ball and was about to get hit by a passing car. I remember thinking I can't get there fast enough...only if I could... Next thing I know I'm flying with him in my arms. Floating above the street. He was so proud and excited” Bren says with a smile. “Dad you're a super hero he said. Didn't notice everyone had seen what I did... neighbor... kids...my wife...that day changed everything."

Kristin says, "I didn't know..." with pitiful look in her eyes.

"It's alright... I came to terms with it." Bren says as he starts to search the cabin for supplies.

"Was that the first power you discovered?" She asks.

"No...It was the second actually.... The first one was... Never mind. Anyway the flying seemed to hit hard later. I uh... caught my son hovering in his sleep during naptime, Didn’t know until later that my flight ability origin was from him...." Bren grows silent then states "SO we have canned soup...dog food biscuits and tomato paste...looks like this cabin was raided before we got here or the owners didn’t get to restock." he says.

"Who cares...I'm starving!" Kristin says.

Bren takes the can of soup and heats it with a thermo power from his hands and the two share it. Still hungry and tired they also consume the tomato paste until nothing is left.

"I still feel a tad hungry but more tired than anything," Kristin says.

"That could be the power fading...you see when I place a power in someone who doesn’t have the DNA signature of one of us or isn’t different of some known origin other than human it can kill them. SO I place it in kind of a temporary charge like a battery. Once it’s depleted the power leaves but the side effect is tiredness and hunger unfortunately... I can put it back once it's gone...safer that way."

"But my sister is one of you...wouldn’t I have similar traits? Kristin ask.

"I don't know... not much of a scientist... I just know how it works from....Hahn telling me." Bren says. "Um if you want...I can try something with the dog food."

Reluctant at first Kristin says no but then out of curiosity allows it. Bren then picks the can up and read the ingredients. He opens the can and places the food on a broken plate and stares at it. Seconds later it turns it into a large roasted hen. A shocked expression comes across Kristin's face.

"It's called molecular manipulation... can make whatever long as I know the ingredients. The power isn’t perfected so I don't use it often." Bren says. Kristin agrees after taking a bite and realizing it tasted like pork, she chuckles and stops eating after a few bites and lies down.

"You'll feel better after you sleep. We will head out after....I can sleep here on the floor...you take the couch." Bren states.

As the two begin to lie down and rest Kristin wonder and soon ask, "Can I ask you something personal?"

Bren tells her, "Yes."

"The multiple power thing is your ability... but what was the first other than flight... you didn’t answer before.” She says.

"Since I was a boy... about fourteen I was able to see things in my dreams before they happened. They started happening while I was awake around sixteen. Each year it got stronger. My mom told me it was nothing but nerves but at seventeen I saw something in a movie trailer that freaked me out." Bren says.

"What was it?" Kristin ask.

"The two towers in New York...on fire." Bren responds.

"Nine eleven?" Kristin sits up out of shock.

"Yep... I told my mom… a week later it happened. She thought I was cursed or possessed by a demon and kicked me out the house. Said it was only meant for god to see things before they happen and it was a front to him." Bren says.

"Sorry....that you had to go through that alone." Kristin says.

As Bren begins to tell her more about visions he's had, he realizes she is asleep. He soon follows. Hours later she awakes from a startling nightmare brought on by distant howling to find Bren standing guard looking into the night.

"Wolves." He says.

Kristin gets up to look but doesn’t see them.

Bren then holds her hand and tells her to relax and channels his mind sight ability into her so she sees what he sees. A pack of wolves in the distance coming toward them. As they draw closer Bren reaches into their mind and makes an illusion of fire surrounding them, sending them into a frenzy of fright at first then has them running. After disconnecting from Kristin she has as small hot flash and Bren picks her up and takes her to the couch, laying her down. As she catches her breath and drinks water from a canteen she is carrying, Bren mentions their supplies are dwindling and she grows slightly curious. Not of the supplies but of the flash in her mind.

"Are you alright?" Bren asks.

"I just had like this whoosh feeling and it was like a flash of memory or something." She says while Bren gives her water.

"Of what?" Bren asks as he continues to give her water.

"My old unit...their death. I've thought of it many times. Even seen it play in my head but this one was different. I distinctly recall passing out and waking up in the infirmary but this had to have been after. I passed out... a hooded figure... carrying me through the air..." Bren then gets up and starts looking through the supplies, counting them nervously. "You're nervous... I can not only see it but I sense it too.... Bren is there something I need to know? Anything you haven’t told me?"

"I can't... I mean... I just can't…" He responds nervously.

"I’m going to ask you one thing... please don't lie... we have established a kind of trust. I don’t want to taint that." Kristin request.

Bren stays silent as Kristin begins to walk away and finally stops her as he responds.

"Weeks ago.... I was living in a tree trunk; was startled awake by one of my dreams. Least I thought it was at least. It was actually a vision but felt more like a caution or warning. Like someone dear to me was in trouble... was the first vision I had in a while... Hahn. I saw him scared...and fighting to stay alive. You see my visions can come as a form of symbolism or just straight as they are. So I felt him out. Tried to sense his power and presence of where he could be... got a hit on him psychically after a day or two and started making my way to him. While on my way in the car I had found barely working, it broke down. So started walking... then running... and that's when I saw the explosion. At first I was going to keep going but when I looked closer I saw them...soldiers fighting to stay alive from a large heard of ravagers in a small town. It happened fast...when I got there...they were all dead...all but one.” Saying as he looks at Kristin’s shocked expression. “I fought through the horde made my way to her just after she passed out. She was the last left of the group, alive. So I simply picked her up... looked at her, healed her minor injuries and as I did I felt something I had not for years. A feeling like the weight of the world was lifted from my shoulders. Like I'd do whatever to save her...protect her...love her..." Saying as he trails off into his own thoughts.

"It was you... you saved me... you brought me to the base...you...you almost died for me..." Kristin says. "But why?"

"When you have lived as I do, connected with people as I have; you can still be lonely regardless that you can feel them from great distances. Their happiness… sadness all their proud triumphs; but nothing let's you forget what love is when you feel it at first." He says."All I wanted, and still do, is to protect you...it's crazy but I'd do it again in a heart beat... so I don’t know... maybe I shouldn't have gotten involved." Saying as he looks away into the open area of the cabin.

Kristin sits up, walks over to Bren and starts to kiss him. Subtle kisses at first which turn into passionate ones. Passionate kissing leads to them removing their clothing and Bren pick her up and take her to the couch as they continue to sweetly embrace each other’s body, mind and soul making love; collapsing into each other with relief as they lay hand and hand.

Hours later Kristin wakes in nothing but covered in only Bren's hooded vest and him nowhere in sight. As she calls out for him with no answer, he then swoops in from above with more supplies. Relieved, Kristin walks to him, hugs him and gives him a kiss.

"Brought breakfast and found supplies." He says as he starts to cooks a couple eggs he found and a rabbit he hunted. As he does so he points out the things he found. "So I ripped the leggings off our pants, hope you don’t mind, and sleeves to fill them with water. Found a creak about two miles away. I also found some metal shards and more cans to do this..." turning them into bullets to match Kristin's gun.

"Wow, you've been busy," she says. “Seem...different too."

"I feel different...like I can...do anything...guess that feelings coming from you....like you saved me." Saying as he kisses her and she smiles. "There is some sours news...you know how the realms kind of shifted into each other years ago? Well this place shifted slightly so instead of days away from the base we... are weeks... now I can get us there but without a beacon or something we would be traveling blind and can get loss or we can wait it out until or if it shifts back. I don't know maybe just stay and build a new life here, we could manage."

"Well we have to get back...I mean I have some...family I have to get back to," she says nervously.

"You mean Lieutenant Green?" Bren says. “Couldn't help but read you...sorry...it's the connection. It's like we are one now. I can kind of sense you more than before.

"I’m sorry I should have told you... he was... is .... Was my husband. It's complicated," She says.

"No... It’s fine... um just give me a bit... let me see what else I can come up with." Bren says.

Hours pass with Bren meditating. Kristin tries to get his attention but cannot so she waits. Eventually he talks to her when he comes out of his meditation.

"Alright new plan I managed to find the crashed ship... not only can I control tech but I can sense it. If we get back to it I can send out an S.O.S. beacon to HQ. Maybe there’s a rescue party out looking for us, too. However If we go back to it there's danger of us running into hostiles so stay here I will be back in a couple minutes."

As Kristin tries to understand Bren teleports away she waits for a while and he returns with the craft terminal and a few parts. As he starts to fix it Kristin begins to apologize about not telling him about LT. Green. Bren listens but says nothing in response. She continues to state how she has had trouble adjusting in the new world, since she lost her family and pushes her sister away whenever she shows up in her life. Bren tells her that fighting will not stop any of that but instead just assist in her avoiding things like the new world and the fact Lt. Green is using her for sex as he is with others on the base. Countering Bren that he's jealous of her statue with Lt. Green and placement in the resistance the two stay silent from talking to each other after Bren turns the beacon on. Hours pass with no word. Then more time passes, and still no word of the two to neither each other nor the beacon signaling help, but they could feel what the other felt in silence.

"I didn't mean to hurt you... I promise when we are rescued your secret... you identity will remain with me... you can age shift or whatever and continue to fight with us," Kristin says.

"Thanks but I am not going back." Kristin shows concerned as to why as Bren speaks. "When the rescue party arrives I'm just going to disappear, will be as if the native died with others."

"You can't do that... I will be court marshaled. They'll think I killed my last unit plus this one! They... they'll hang me!" Kristin says.

"I won't let them do that.... I will sneak into the base, erase their minds of everything and you'll be able to go back clean slate within the war in the resistance... Lt. Green... all of it," he says. "Even can take your memory of me if you want," he continues.

"You'd... you would do that for me wouldn't you?" She asks.

"I’d do anything for you..." Bren says as she smiles at him. The two are interrupted by random noises in the darkness around them. Kristin grabs her gun and stands behind Bren. They soon find themselves surrounded by rat-wolves. As they begin to fight them off they bring more and soon are outnumbered. The battle goes on for a while until gun fire is heard and the two find themselves rescued by another base of the resistance. Bren is seen using his powers as they arrive and is placed under arrest and taken into custody with power negating hand cuffs. Kristin is sent to the infirmary to be looked at, once theya re all back at their own home base. After her checkup she looks in on the interrogation room where Lt. Green, who seems to have a personal vendetta against Bren, interviews him. Kristin learns they have identified Bren as the terrorist who killed many humans during the Election Day incident, which killed many soldiers of Lt. Green's past. Most who were friends he had known since and before his early army days as a private. He is eager to trial and convict Bren for genocidal man slaughter. Kristin blames herself for what is happening and soon finds herself in the embrace of Lt. Green as they meet.

Clearing the room to talk to her, "Are you okay?" He askes.

"Yes... sir... I've been cleared of any injuries." She says.

"Not talking about that... I mean the last of another unit, you were gone for weeks; I thought I had lost you," He says as she looks confused. "You see the killer here just confessed to everything... that he slaughtered your original unit and created memories of your story of what happened... that he snuck into the base to steal, infiltrate and sell resistance Intel... orchestrated the massacre of the sweepers... raped and held you captive for the last three weeks against your will..."

"Weeks, what do you mean… wait he said that?" she asks.

"Yes he did... add that plus the Election Day incident and it's an instant death sentence...unless you think otherwise?" Lt Green says.

Kristin stays silent and in shock. Lt. Green says "ok, I'll inform the command... can't wait to torch this freak. Take him out into the quad. String him up. Will take a few days for command to give the order. I'm sure others will like to have a few words with this...thing," saying as guards take Bren away. Kristin can do nothing but look on at fault. Bren is taken outside and seen by many as he is tied and strung up from an old broken crane. Lt. Green announces who and what he is to the base as well as his crimes. Instantly people began to throw things and boo at him. As days go by Bren is tortured various ways by resistance civilians and soldiers. Rocks are thrown, rotted food as well, he is cut up and whipped. Even Lt. Green takes enjoyment of beating on him like a frozen slab of beef. One night during Kristin pays visit to Bren, She ask why did he lie for her and take the blame for everything that happen to both of her units?

"Because I can take many things in life...except seeing someone I love hurt, not my family friends… not anyone," he replies. She cries subtly, kisses him and gives him water and a small smile comes across his face.

"They promoted me to captain... of the sweepers. They want me to recruit new members and start over as soon as possible." To Bren's shock he pleads for Kristin not to take the position but instead to run away.

"No,” she replies. Bren continues to plead and she stops him and says "You were right about everything. All this fighting... me being afraid....Lt. Green... all of it. Did you...do you mean what you said about leaving this war and starting a life, back at the cabin?"

"Don't lie to you remember?" Bren says. Kristin hears a noise in the distance, caresses Bren's cheek gently as he closes his eyes to her warm touch, then she turns around and retreats into the shadows nearby.

Hours more pass and soldiers march to Bren for his execution only to find him gone. One of the soldiers immediately sounds an air horn like alarm. Lt. Green soon after discovers Kristin leaving the base in a jeep on the opposite side with Bren still cuffed in the back. The soldier’s guarding the gate open fire on the jeep as it charges toward them but Kristin still manages to crash through it. Aiming for the tires they eventually hit one sending the two into the dirt in front of them. Soldiers begin coming down to surround them both. Lt. Green attempts to talk Kristin down and states she's committing treason. She responds she isn't but instead following her heart, as she creates a huge gust of wind around her and Bren; takes his hand and flies away. At the shock of it all Lt. Green orders every soldier after them and to start moving the civilians to the next location, for fear Bren and Kristin would tell enemies of their location out of vengeance.

The two land outside the destroyed town miles away where they originally met. As they make their way into the abandoned churches, which has been laid to ruins by Bren's atomic blast he made to it weeks prior; after rescuing Kristin, they collapse next to each other tired. Kristin then pulls a key to the cuffs she stole from Lt. Green the night before. Once out of the cuffs Bren's powers return and he immediately starts to heal from all the injuries. Kristin lies tired at his feet as he stands.

"How'd you do that? With the wind? The power faded in you back at the cabin... I felt it," He asks.

"I don't know...maybe I took it back some how?" Saying as she tries to catch her breath.

Bren tries to help her but is startled at the distant sound, with his super hearing, of soldiers making their way into the decimated town.

"We can't stay here... we have to run." Kristin insists.

"We can't... I'm too weak... so are you, we should hide," He replies.

"Where? Green is obsessed with ending you for what you did on Election Day...he won’t stop," she replies.

“I can lead them away and come back, he mainly wants me," he says.

"No, we are in this together now. You can teleport...teleport us away..." she says trying to catch her breath.

"I don't have enough energy to do that... I can fly us..." he says.

"No, Green is a sniper...he'll shoot you down...you have to teleport us. For the sake of you... me.... and our baby." She says.

The news sends Bren into a surprised shock, but gives him the motivation he needs as he grabs her hands, holds her close and teleports to the outside of the city. Unfortunately they are spotted by soldiers soon after but Bren teleports them away as a swift wind of sand kicks up blinding the soldiers and masking Bren and Kristin escape. An infuriated Lt. Green yells to other soldiers for them to be hunted down.

Meanwhile the two lovers make their way to the decimated city of their friends from the sweeper unit. There are no hostiles and the city has been buried in sand. Catching their breath, Bren stops to think of the news Kristin has told him. He is in disbelief until he walks up to Kristin, turns his head, and listens to her the tiny heart beat with his own super hearing. A small touch from both parents, to Kristin's stomach, lets both parents see the child, in their mind. They travel backwards to the child’s moment of conception; weeks ago at the cabin. A sense of bliss and worry comes over them both as they attempt to make a plan on running away with each other. They are soon interrupted by a familiar face, Sandra. She tells them that the resistance fears their betrayal and Lt. Green is searching for them frantically by now; according to her spy watching Kristin inside the resistance. The news of the spy watching her upsets Kristin and Sandra simply tells her it was her protecting her as she has done many times over the years, like recently covering her escape from the soldiers with the sand that appeared out of nowhere. To help she gives them shelter for the night in the city, in man-made sand hut of her constructed by her own will. She keeps guards them from a distance until they leave. That night Bren and Kristin plot a course to take to get away someplace safe. Sandra over hears them and mentions a hidden city of paradise where they could go that people talk of. She tells them not many have reached it alive, but it would be safer for both of them especially with a baby coming. Bren doesn't want to take the risk but is encouraged by Kristin to try for them and their future.

"I don't know...it's a high risk... the dangers alone..." Bren says.

"People may have or may have not died getting their but they aren't you...they aren't us. If there is one thing last left fighting for, it's this," Kristin says. "You told me once you had a vision about helping your friend Hahn... you thought you failed in that vision but what if the vision was to lead you to me...to us..." She continues.

"They are open for interpretation...you're right. Come on." Bren says he takes her hand and they leave. As they do Sandra sees Bren fly off with Kristin in his arms and whispers to herself, "Good luck out their you two, you'll need it."

For months the two lovers search high and low for clues to the hidden city. Some rumors are nears folklore, other truth, allowing them to come closer to its location. They run into many enemies along the way whom they fight off. They dodge resistance fighters and hide whenever they can, getting closer to the hidden city whereabouts. Lt. Green eventually gets wind of this and it makes his effort of finding them stronger. He starts a rumor in what remains of the common people that the hidden city entrance is located in an old abandoned train yard that has an underground entrance. The two follow this rumor closely, taking it with a grain of salt because the arrival of their child was closer, and Kristin's travel capabilties is drawing to a close; Sandra also follows closely unknown to them making sure they are going to the right place. But she is soon found out by Kristin and Bren and dissuaded from following them. Sandra insists because she always has protected her sister, even when she didn’t want to. After Kristin asks her to let her live their life the two teleport so she can not follow. One night after a long journey they find themselves less than a day hike to the train yard, and make camp. Bren returns to wake Kristin after a day of scavenging for supplies and food in an empty town.

"I didn't find much, but the train yard is out forty to forty-five miles from here... I got some old bread... soup and I found this music box," he says as a he winds it up and it plays. "It's for the baby.... I figured she would like it."

"She?" Kristin asks.

"I had a dream...sort of..." Kristin smiles and says "You're going to be a great father." Putting a smile on Bren's face. She then says "Dance with me," while holding Bren's hand. Feeling embarrassed about dancing Bren declines, with a shy expression. She stands him up still and they slow dance to the music box. As they do Bren looks her in the eye and she in his only one thing comes to mind.

"Will you marry me?" He asks. Kristin chuckles as he says, "I'm serious...we have been through a lot in these month together... we're two minutes away to paradise maybe. We have a baby on the way; I mean it just feels right. I know it wouldn’t be legal... Look, I'm not letting you go...ever... marry me?" She kisses him and smiles as they embrace and make love on the last night before they head to the train yard.

The next day the two make their way to the wrecked train yard. As they come upon the underground passage they see others entering before them, but as they come close to the entrance; people vanish. Confused, Bren immediately realizes it's a trick but it's too late as he's shot from a distance in the arm. The shooter shows he to be Lt. Green as he walks toward the two.

"I've been tracking you two for months and I must say...this is going to be worth it," he says.

"Green?! What are you doing here? How's it you found us?!" Kristin says as she consoles Bren’s gun shot wound to the shoulder. "You can't be here.... the resistance..."

" Like I said...been searching for months...planted a few seeds here and there to get you here... but before that found a platoon for the resistance, a new home to squat in... however my efforts did not exclude my exile, sometime after that. Apparently they frown on obsessive efforts, like revenge. But no worries... I've made due all just to get here," he says.

"Your wound...Bren why isn't your wound healing?" Kristin says in worry.

"Power negating bullets. Little treat left behind by your friend Hahn. Did you know he was a freak too? Found this journal in his trunk under his bed... filled with all kind of inventions and weapons and how to guides, including these little babies. Bullet goes in.... power turns off!" Saying as he shoots Bren in the leg, causing more pain. Kristin goes to draw her gun from her ankle and her wind powers at the same time. "Don't!" Green exclaims. "Any wind even shifts and I will take you out love... I still love you... and want you but not like this...not with him around! We get you a nice set of power negating coughs for those powers and we are all set.Your place is with me! I still have plans for us." He says.

"There is no us you psychopath!" Kristin says as she shoots at Green, misses and counters with a wind attack. Moving from both Green is missed, fires a bullet, grazing Kristin's shoulder as she hits the ground. He then walks over to both with injury and taunts them. He threatens to kill one so the other can watch after he learns Kristin is pregnant, but states how he can't decide which one to shoot first. As he points his knife, while stating the death will be slow, at Kristin unborn child; Bren musters up strength to knock the knife away and jump up in full combat assault on Green. He proves more skilled at combat than Green. So skilled Green resorts in using his side arm on Bren's injured arm putting him on the ground. Bren kicks him several feet and then tries to remove bullet from his leg and arm. Green then stumbles over to Bren to finish him off.

As he pulls the trigger Kristin jumps in fire range and takes the bullet to the chest. Fueled with rage Bren upper cuts Green so hard he breaks his neck, while simultaneously sending him into rubble in the train yard. Bren then sits and holds Kristin in his arms as she begins to die with the bullet in her chest. He tries to heal her but the power negating bullets short his abilities out. Both shed tears while holding each other.

"Yes." Kristin shudders.

"What?" Bren says over their cries.

"Yes," she stutters, "I will marry you."

"You will... you will in paradise...when we get there, he says as he tries to pull the bullets out of himself to no success.

"Stop... stop..." Kristin says. She then pulls the small music box out and plays few seconds of the tune. "I'll save you a dance... and we will both meet you at the cabin, just remember to practice." She smiles and lightly chuckles.

Bren cries and chuckles with her as he touches her head to his. "I love you," he says.

"And I love you..." she replies as both weep into a kiss. The music box stops playing slowly as Kristin passes away. Stepping away from her body, weeping, Bren lets out a massive energy surge of anger so strong the bullets eject from his own skin. He heals as they fall out and flies away in a fit of rage, screaming.

Epilogue

Minutes later after Bren leaves, Sandra manages to catch up too late to the confrontation to find her sister lifeless. She weeps and holds her hand, asking why’d she have to be so stubborn? She holds her close to her placing her head on Kristin's stomach. To her shock she feels movement on her face from inside the womb. Thinking quickly she performs a C-section on her sisters corpse using a knife in Kristin's boot. Covered in blood, she holds the baby close as it cries. Using the sand and dirt around her, she takes the baby and rides the self made sand wave like the wind leaving the train yard. She soon arrives to the actual entrance of the hidden city, miles away from the yard. A small opening begins to show as she approaches, similar to a wormhole but nothing shows behind it. A guard meets her outside, heavily armored but not armed.

"I have another one," Sandra says.

The guard talks into a communicator on his wrist in an unknown language. Seconds later a long haired and dreaded woman, in nurse like robes, appears seconds later.

"She's my niece.... It's not safe for her out here.... can you please take care of her?" Sandra asks.

The woman looks at the sleeping baby wrapped in army jacket belong to her Kristin and simply ask, "Will the child parents be joining her?"

"No... They...they're gone." Saying as she moves up on large sand wave moving through the surface. "Please take good care of her! She's special!" She yells as she leaves.

"What's her name?!" The nurse yells as a small team of medics arrive.

"Her mother was always of the fond of Mika!" She says as she departs.

Back at the train yard a mysterious figure cloaked in white with celestial magic markings arrives. He walks over to Green's dead body and chants a spell. The spells resurrects Green. As it does his neck heals, his hair turns blond and skin pale.

"What...Happened...who are you? He asks the stranger. The stranger removes his hood revealing himself to be an old man with a white beard and says, "To my people I am known as the Headmaster. But you my son may call me...lord."

"And who am I, my lord?" Green ask.

"You my son are very special. A great traveler you'll become and are...my St. Christopher. He says. "Come...we have much to do to fix this world… and save everyone." He continues as the two walk through a portal of white light, similar to the worm hole like portal at the hidden city gate.

Elsewhere in sea of basking whit light Kristin walks toward emptiness. She soon hears a voice whispering. She follows it as it guides her to a tall golden gate. As it opens a large landscape of floating islands, waterfalls, trees and rivers with purple and violet skies are bestowed to her eyes in white light. She sees many Pegasus’ flying throughout the sky and variety of women from different time periods. Nervous of where she is and knowing no one she soon is greeted by a familiar face in Captain Redd.

"Captain... is that you? She asks.

"Unless you know of another short and bossy recently deceased red head...then it's me, Butters." She responds with a smile.

"Where are we?" Kristin asks.

"It has many names but the most popular one being... Valhalla." She says.

"Valhalla... isn't that a myth?" She asks.

"Well it was but so was other shit in our world like vampires and werewolves, remember?" Redd says.

Kristin looks on to see many women training and fighting and it leads her recall her death and sends her on a frantic panic of her, Bren, and how she has to get back because of the baby. Redd calms her down enough to show her a small fountain. In it Kristin sees her child, alive and well. She asks about Bren but Redd avoids the question.

"You have to forget about that life...especially if you are going to lead this one." Redd says.

"There is nothing more important than my family... take me back Redd!" She demands.

"Whoa! Calm down.... what if I told you there was." Kristin then gets quiet as Redd speaks. "Something big is coming...it will change everything... do you want your daughter to live in hell on Earth… or peace like it could be, so she doesn’t have to fight as we did? Live as we did? I know you do...we died for peace. I know it’s the last thing you’d want for your child."

Kristin thinks to herself for what seems like hours and says "Yes... Yes I do."

"Then fight for it... with us! Train as one of us! Answer the call of the Valkyrie." She says as the two look into all of Valhalla.

The End...?