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Chapter 15: The Start of the War

It had been three months now that Wriik, Talus, and I arrived on the planet Atarii. For three months, we had to stay away from other people's sight. We did not dare to venture out into the complex city of the rebel planet. Any actions, any movements were done at night where the security was at its lowest. It was strange, really. To think that the defense of the only city on the entire planet would fall to its lowest strength at twilight, that was just illogical. Then again, nighttime was the only time when a person could rest peacefully. In daytime, it was scorching hot. Not as warm as Detarii, the home star of the Cave People, nevertheless it was still scalding enough to roast a person's body that had no protection of some kind. The temperature was demented. It fluctuated wildly, turning the air freezing cold one minute, and burning hot the next.

To be able to survive on this widespread dust ball was hard. Though considering that the climate here was harsh, Atarii sustained a population more than sixteen million people, all came from other regions of space.

The day that we had arrived using the teleportation device of Talus', we instantly hid ourselves. Out of all the events happened on Atarii, the first day was the day that I had finally witnessed Talus' incredible agility and attack...

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The first time that we had set our feet on the boorish land, we had a lot of things to do. The list just went on and on. But we had managed to narrow down the topics to three main categories: information, equipment, and of course, a place to stay.

The equipment part wasn't hard. By selling some of our stuff, we were able to obtain three blaster handguns with super chargers (Wriik's own weapon was lost somewhere in our journey), six fusion grenades, and two pairs of communication radio. In addition, we got one of those motion sensor detectors, where we could place near the entrance of where we were staying.

We rented a room in an old inn constructed with cheap wood. The inn was called Six Pack Beer, which was funny in a way. Our resting-place was on the sixth floor. The building had ten levels in total. Talus told us that he would stay in the room and guard our stuff, while Wriik and I went out to gather information about the giant city that we were currently in. I had a radio in my cloak, Talus had forced me into taking it with us.

Walking in the sand-covered street, I constantly glanced left and right, refusing to let my guard down. Wriik had a firm hold on his blaster gun, which was inside a leather holster that was located on his left hip. Most people in front of us dodged out of the way when they sensed our presence. We were taller, bigger, and more menace looking.

"Well, so much for not attracting unwanted attention," Wriik pulled his large, white cloak closer to his face. His green eyes slid over to look at me.

Sighing, I too, huddled my cloak tighter around me as if I was having pyrexia. Even though the huge sun in the sky heated the ground, but I somehow had this nippy feeling. I felt as if someone was monitoring us. "I just wish we can get what we want and go back to the inn. I feel bad about leaving the tiny Talus alone."

Suddenly, my large legs slammed against a figure below my shoulder. Looking down through my hood, I gazed at the person in front of me.

He was skinny, with four extremely long limbs. He had silver-colored skin, moderate height, with a fairly large, egg shaped head. He didn't have ears or a mouth, nor did he have a nose. He looked up at us with his giant, round, black eyes.

*I'm sorry.*

"Huh?" Wriik blinked a few times as he observed the creature in front of us.

*I said I'm sorry. I guess my mind must have wandered off.*

"Did I just hear-" Wriik started with confusion. He placed his large hands on the sides of his head.

"Yes," I interrupted while I crouched down. "Do we know you?"

The alien tilted his head a little. His eyes narrowed to a slit. *No. I don't think so.*

Nodding, I said: "You are from a psychic race, aren't you?" A gentle wind brushed against us. My cloak flapped behind me.

*Yes.* He replied.

"No wonder there's a voice in my head. Sounded like a young child though," Wriik managed a stiff laugh. The creature, however, was not amused.

"Hey! Get out of the middle of the road! You are holding up the traffic here, you dumbass!" An angry merchant shouted from his cargo truck behind us.

I looked back, only to find a long snake of various kinds of transportation vehicle lining up one after another. Our massive bodies had blocked up the lane. The first truck revved up its combustion engines.

"Oops. Let's get out of here," I said as I got up and began to leave the scene. People were now watching us. Way too much attention.

Wriik followed me. When we had reached a dark alley, we both breathed a sigh of relieve. The byway was small. It could barely fit both of us. Our shoulders were scouring the defiled walls and my spikes had punched a few holes in the concrete.

"You know, Jake," Wriik said, "Just how are we going to attain data about the surrounding environment?"

*I can help you.*

"What in the-" Both of us jumped at the voice in our heads.

The small alien was standing beside us. His eyes were slightly arced, almost as if he was laughing.

*You guys are not from here, are you? You must be outsiders. You need a guide, and I can help you navigating around the Chrono City.*

"Chrono City?" I muttered under my breath. Looking out from the side street, I saw the sun was starting to dip low.

More people were appearing near the markets, where we were right now. The air started to fill with the smell of food. The roar of the crowds had increased significantly. All of them wore long cloaks, just like the people in Detarii. The only difference was that the garments had different designs and colors, painting the boulevards with rich tinctures. With the daystar sinking lower and lower, the air became somewhat cooler.

I welcomed the chilliness. Inside my cloak, I was soaking with sweat. Wriik, the same thing.

*Yeah. Chrono City. The only big city on this entire planet. Us rebels against the Federation don't need a huge mass of smaller, contrasted colonies. One single area of gathering is enough. That way, we can focus most of our firepower in case the filthy Federation attacks us.*

"He give us good information," Wriik whispered to me. He still kept his left hand on the blaster gun. His sharp claws caressed the metal handle.

"What is your name?" I asked as I bent down again to meet the strange fellow face to face.

*My name is Orican. People call me Orb instead.* The silver guy's eyes sparkled with intensity.

"Alright. Orb. Can you tell us more about this planet? We've just arrived here today."

Bobbing his head up and down, Orb said, or rather, thought: *Of course. But, we are not going to spend two hours standing in this foul-smelling place, are we?*

"No way. Let's go back to the inn and we'll talk this over, okay?" I suggested. Wriik agreed silently, though he hesitated a little.

Before we left the area, I noticed that Orb's eyes were... I was not sure... radiating a strong killing aura...

When we reached the hostelry, the inn master greeted us warmly. His meaty hands were rubbing together, anticipating good tips from us. There were a few customers around, sitting on benches ordering drinks and food.

"So, my wonderful patrons. What would you like to eat? Do you want me to bring the food up to your room?" His chubby face was slightly red from a day's work.

Wriik contemplated the idea for a second near the stairway. Finally, meeting the inn master's golden colored eyes with his verdant eyes, he said: "Sure. We'll order seven pounds of steak with four bowls of fresh Tak'e Salads. Also, include four glasses of Plateton Beer. Please bring those to room four seven four."

"Well do!" The man whistled a few notes to himself as he scribbled down the mandates. He accosted other clients along the way to the kitchen. He then disappeared in the dim, light orange light.

*You people eat this much? Seven pounds of steak can easily stuff six people to full!* Orb exclaimed in our heads.

"Whoa! Dude! Don't shout in my brain! I needed it!" Wriik grimaced as he rubbed his temple.

*Sorry.*

We reached our floor and walked down the old corridor. The wood creaked and cracked under our immense weight. Orb glanced around, wondering if the floor would give away beneath us.

Just when my clawed hand was barely touching the doorknob, the door crashed open and out flew Talus with teeth bearing. His movements were so fast and fluent that Wriik and I didn't have time to stop our friend from attacking Orb.

Orb, who was stunned at the display, slammed hard onto the wooden floorboards. He grunted in our minds. Talus flashed out a short dagger. The metal weapon glinted in the murky light. Just as he was going to pierce the dazed alien through the heart, my hand flew out and caught the blade between my thumb and index finger. With a twist, it snapped in half.

Talus was surprised at my speed. He was panting from the excitement.

"How... How did you catch the knife that fast?" His eyes were wide.

"I can go even faster than that. Don't let my size deceit you, my friend." I closed my eyes for a moment, then I reopened them. Sucking in a deep breath, I shouted: "Now what the HELL do you think you are doing?"

It was quiet. No one was talking. Talus sighed as he got up. Glaring at me, he took out his communicator.

"You two are so easily tricked," he hissed with anger.

"Explain." Wriik had recovered from the shock. He too, was as annoyed as I was... maybe.

Orb was trying to help us, yet Talus just had to act like a jerk.

"I've heard your conversations from the radio. Now think this: why would a guy that you've never met before suddenly come forward and volunteered to become our 'guide'?"

I placed my hands at the sides of my hip. "It's obvious, isn't it? Orb just wants to help us! He is kind in nature, unlike those losers back on Earth!"

"Idiots... bunch of naive guys," Talus said under his breath. "This guy never wants to help us from the start! He is the Federation spy!"

"What?" I shouted. Whirling around hoping to see a poor friend trembling in fear, I, instead, was met by a guy whose facial expression didn't express anything. Nothing at all. His eyes were cold, like ice.

With a blaster gun drawn, Talus pointed at Orb. "Tell them! Tell them that you are nothing but a spy on the rebel planet, that you are just a henchman for the Federation!"

Snickering, Orb began to laugh. His laughter rang throughout the floor. A few people from the other rooms were shouting curse at us, telling us to shut up or get out.

Finally, Orb stopped himself from laughing too hard. Wiping the tears away, he sneered. "So, you've found out." His hand was reaching into the right pocket on his long trouser.

"Looking for this?" Wriik presented a grenade. He waggled his hand. This grenade was different from the others that I had ever seen before. It had uncanny spikes around its metal body, and was slightly bigger.

Traumatized mentally, Orb's face had gone ashen. "But... how?"

My feeling right there then was the same as the traitor. "Yeah, how did you know, Wriik?"

Grinning, showing his fangs, Wriik carefully construed the situation:

"The minute that we've met Orb, I've already smelled trouble. Rule number one: in a normal circumstances, a stranger would never approach another stranger, unless with a hostile intention in mind. No matter how 'accidental' the meeting it may look, this rule still applies."

Wriik pointed at the trembling alien. His claws slashing at the air, threatening to cut the undercover agent into pieces. "The moment that you've 'collided' into us, I already knew there was something odd about you. And my suspicion became stronger, when you've volunteered to 'help us, guide us'.

"Rule two: a person would never help another person, unless he would gain some kind of rewards in the end. You, my friend, are acting just like how a person with fake benevolence would act: by talking warmly yet with a cold stare and a frightening aura. This is what has given you away.

"When the wise Talus came rushing at you through the door, I searched your pockets briefly, and found this grenade." Wriik tossed the bomb up and down in his palm. "A tactical thermo nuclear grenade. A handheld-sized explosive with a blast radius of half a mile. Shrapnel numbers go up to two thousand and could instantly peel off the meat and the skin from a person's skeletal structure. A powerful weapon. What were you planning to do? A suicide bombing?"

Gritting his teeth, Orb spat at Wriik's face. "President Mak has told me to kill you if we've ever found you. He has ordered all the elite troops to look out for you. Aslo, according to the last message, our newest gun ship has arrived at the planet Detarii. We've seen your Starflyer and we've found out about the Detarii People that are underground. Now, I guess there's nothing left on that humdrum star; the invincible ship of ours has already blew the round planet into a cheese with holes!" He began to crack up.

I could feel my rage began to appear. "What have you done to Talus' people?" I was going to grab the moron by the throat when Talus appeared in front of me.

With a barely contained wrath, he punched the alien in the face. The impact was so strong that Orb was lifted off his feet and flew a good distance before toppling onto the floor.

"You fucking asshole. What have you done to my people?"

Bleeding from the cut on his face, Orb staggered onto his feet. Suddenly, he doubled over and collapsed onto the ground once again. I only blinked my eyes once and Talus had disappeared. I looked around and saw where he was. He was at the side of the heavily injured spy. What speed!

Wriik tossed the grenade into his pocket and strolled into our room.

The Detarii People's Elder tossed me a thick coil of rope from a few feet away. "Tie him up and bring him in. He may still be useful to us."

I jumped aside when Talus was coming near. His face was blank. I could feel his animosity toward the Federation now. His people, even his planet, were probably dead by now.

Walking slowly toward the fallen figure, I was on my guard. The moment that Orb lunged at me, I would seriously blow his head off with my power. I bounded the silver alien up tightly, and carried him on my shoulder and headed into our room. The door closed with a bang, and the hallway was quiet once again.

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That was what had happened on the first day. The first time that I had actually seen just how strong Talus was. I guessed that I was relieved, somewhat. With another strong ally assisting us in our quest, I was sure we could accomplish our goal: to destroy the Federation and their power to influence other innocent souls.

"What are you thinking?" Wriik asked me as I snapped back into reality. We were now walking down the street, heading toward a theater a few blocks away.

"Nothing much. I hope Talus is okay with Orb. I still don't trust that fellow."

Smiling, Wriik laid an assuring hand on my shoulder. "Hey. Don't worry. Orb is one of us now, and I trust his word."

Looking up into the sky, I said: "I hope you're right..."

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The ether was not obscured with clouds today, with the brilliant sun shining down onto the solid ground. Along the surface of the Earth, destruction roamed throughout the place. Dome Cities, one after another exploded into flames, as the massive army of five million troops stomped through the urban sectors.

The army of Mak Empire had destroyed all the opposing foes, and anyone else who were foolish enough to challenge them. The stout shields of the Cities were no match against the firepower of the Mak Empire Army. Bombs, cannons, missiles, mines, tanks, guns... all arsenals were pounding against each layer of the armors, completely shattering the protection zones, and wiped out all the defenders with thunderous explosions, with radiation fireballs that extended miles beyond miles.

The Center Com was the place where the worse fighting took place. Bodies littered along the blood-drenched ground. Empty shells and cartridges bouncing across the barren land. There was a huge, empty space between the two armies, which was termed: No Man's Land. It was where the most casualties took place. Shells flew back and forth across the sector.

The Center Com was a facility, with thirty super generators to power up the safeguarding buffers. Gun ports were all along the entire compound, all were protected with multi-duplex, twenty inches armor plating to protect the gunners. The compound housed nearly sixty thousand people, with forty percent of the population were soldiers.

The Mak Empire Army (also called as MEA for short) was having a difficult time to penetrate the defense of the complex. The soldiers were brave. They were determined. They wanted their great leader, Mak, to liberate the whole planet, where poverty and all other petty crimes were no longer a threat. Mak had promised them. Mak could and would do what he had promised.

The sun was nearly blocked off by the black haze that was gradually rising off from the battle field. A T-41 fighter plane roared across the smoke-filled sky. On its belly, missiles and bombs could be seen. The Air Striker guns of the Center Com suddenly appeared on the top of the roofs. Flashes appeared throughout the land and the air exploded with bangs and booms. The plane dipped, veered, and righted itself as it was approaching its target.

The pilot flipped the controls and unleashed a dense wave of air to ground rockets. The warheads came in contact with the Multi Shields and detonated with series of cracks. The projectiles were different than the others. Instead of just exploding into harmless dusts, these missiles had an extra built in feature: the experimental electro beam. When the central compartment of each rocket was set off, the components within that little chamber combined together and formed a straight line of laser beam. The beams' temperature could easily rise up to a few million degrees, melting everything within their paths. This was the probationary weapon of the Tyr Department. And Mak had gotten his dirty hands on them.

Another interesting feature of the beams was that they could pass through any shields and attack the enemy on the other side.

The first ten lasers missed, hitting the ground and burning deep holes. The last twenty, however, were dead on target. They all punched through the generators that were basically the heart of the Center Com, and blew them up.

The shields disappeared. The army of Mak Empire charged in with a fulminating roar. Now the gunfire resumed on the ground, and all hell broke loose.

Center Com was defeated.

~End Chapter 15~

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