Chapters:

Chapter 0

“You can’t let them take him, there has to be another way!”

The room was small; it wasn’t an interrogation room, but for the time being it would serve as one. Steel panels formed the walls, uniform and cold save for the few recessed lights in the ceiling. They bathed the optional storage facility in a brightness meant for utility rather than comfort.

Two chairs sat facing one another several feet apart, their backs close to the walls. In one sat a young man, his head hung low and obscured by his messy auburn hair. Around his neck hung a red gemstone that gave off a faint glow that would fade and return in pulses as if in tandem with his heartbeat.

Across from him was a young woman, her fierce eyes focused on him, her face fighting to hold back the emotion that threatened to burst forward with every passing minute. She was not shackled or bound to the chair but felt rooted to it. She wanted to spring forward and rush to his side, to hold him tight and tell him everything was going to be ok, to finally tell him she loved him and always had and always would, even in the face of the oblivion they had faced only hours ago.

Until they had both been captured and placed in the cold, empty box they now resided in.

The young lover slowly placed her hand on her stomach and winced. She looked to her left at the uniformed figure that had delivered a crippling kick to her midsection earlier in the day before slinging her over his shoulder and placing her where she now sat. The figure did not return to meet her gaze and instead focused at his two compatriots on the other side of the room standing behind the statuesque boy.

All three men were clad in gray and black fatigues reminiscent of Special Operations soldiers, pinpoint sections of armor visible throughout. Black utility pouches hung from heavy duty belts on their waists, dark boots with deep treads on their feet. The apparent soldiers were all of similar builds and size, their bodies fit and trim as if sculpted from and built for years of combat. Their young faces were unique but carried with them a shared same-ness that seemed too similar to be siblings. The single soldier next to the girl wore a slightly different belt than the others, with what appeared to be two holstered pistols at his sides. A backpack hung on his back, seemingly integrated into his uniform. He sucked on his teeth for a moment, his brow furrowed in annoyance.

One of the uniforms across the room sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. As he readjusted his stance a quartet of thin, sheathed blades on his hips swayed. The third man did not have any visible armaments, but like the others was beginning to reach his wits’ end.

“Look,” the swordsman began, “I know this is a lot to process, and I’ll admit we haven’t been the most hospitable during these proceedings.”

“I would like to apologize again on Vince’s behalf for, well, kicking your ass,” the unarmed man added. The gun-toting soldier scoffed at his comrade’s apology.

“But we’re running out of time,” the first unit continued. “We’ve already checked the temple and the libraries and we’re kind of out of options. That’s why we need you to cooperate.”

“You can’t just hand him over!” the seated youth shouted as she shot up from her seat only to be shoved back into it by the one called Vince.

“Then what would you have us do?” the sword-wielder returned. “He’s tied to the planet itself, and I don’t have to remind you that it’s not exactly a calm spring morn out there. Everything’s going to hell, and we need to figure out how to keep this place together, and fast. So again, cooperation is key.”

“We’re all upset that this mess has gotten as far as it has,” the calmer of the three said. “The world outside is crumbling… literally. The planet is tearing itself asunder, or it will before the sun rises tomorrow.”

“If there is a tomorrow,” Vince said under his breath.

“Tim,” the apologetic soldier shot sternly.

“Alex,” Vince replied sarcastically.

“Enough,” the swordsman growled. “Now is not the time.”

It’s never the time, he thought to himself. The universe rarely is so accommodating. Why else would children, young lovers no less be involved in this mess?

“Handing him over to the Council won’t save us!” the young woman shouted.

“Actually, it will,” Vince chimed in. “Provided we read the translations properly.”

“I’m surprised you’re capable of reading at all, brute.”

Alex and the other soldier both snickered, a look of amusement appearing briefly on their faces. “Need some cold water for that burn, Vince?” Alex smiled. “I’ve got a charm that can whip some up.”

“Beneton,” the lead soldier said curtly.

“Sorry, Kenshin.”

The young woman sat bewildered before the three men: Kenshin, Alex Beneton and Tim. Or Vince. Whatever his name was. When they had first appeared they seemed like militaristic monsters, wholly dedicated to capturing the boy across from her. But now, now they seemed like children, their arguing almost like that of her and her younger siblings.

“What… what are you?” she asked quietly.

“What?” Vince returned as he glanced at her without moving his head.

“What are you all?” she repeated.

“A team of super powered teens with attitude,” Kenshin said dryly.

“Are we actually teens?” Alex asked.

“Technically,” Vince answered.

“And technically,” Kenshin continued, annoyed, “we’re running out of time. Look, I know this is hard, but if we want any chance of saving you, your boyfriend and this planet, we need you to cooperate.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” the young lover stammered as she broke eye contact with the swordsman, her cheeks turning red. The seated man across the room perked up ever so slightly, his head still hanging, the crystal’s pulse speeding up for a moment.

“Well whatever he is, he may be this world’s only hope.”

She sat quietly, her head spinning. Were they exaggerating? No, no they weren’t. The worst was happening outside, and countless lives were in danger: her friends, her parents, her siblings. Her breath became rapid as the realization sunk in. It had been a mad rush for days, with several members of the Council denying that anything was wrong.

But it was. Everything was wrong.

She had never stopped to let it all sink in, the gravity of the situation. They’d been running nonstop, fighting, chasing, being chased, struggling against extremes no person should ever have to face. All for one reason: to save him.

Him.

The girl looked up at the boy, trying to catch his eye. His head was still hung, his body language that of defeat and surrender. She then focused on each of the three uniforms, holding eye contact with them as she did.

“Let’s say that what you’re saying is true, and that you are here to help,” she began calmly. “Let’s say it’s true and that I believe you; believe that you’re not with the Council or the Priests or anyone who wants to use him like some sacrifice to a volcano deity. Why haven’t you done it?” The men were silent. “Why take us both? What do you want?”

“Confirmation,” Kenshin said matter-of-factly.

“Of what?”

“You.”

She stared at him quizzically, trying to dig through what he had just said; what little there was. “Me?”

“Just a formality, really,” Alex interjected. “We’re pretty sure we’re spot on, but given the circumstances, we’d rather be sure.”

“What are you talking about?”

The soldier smiled as he started to walk towards her. “This isn’t our first rodeo, madam. In fact, things like this are pretty standard. Not necessarily on this scale, but still. Personally, I’ve dealt with this many a time given my focus on the mystical and arcane and, well… magical.” He drew what appeared to be a wooden stick from behind his back and held it with care, his fingers running along the intricate details carved into its neck and handle. “Without bogging you down with too much of an info-dump, think of us as a specialized wrecking crew for situations just like this.”

“With a capital ‘W,’” Vince added. “That’s important.”

“Quite,” Beneton continued. “Now, we’re well read on the current goings-on, unfortunate as they may be. Your planet is tearing itself apart, and because of an ancient bloodline tied to this world’s natural ores, the task of saving it falls squarely on our young lad here.” He gestured to the boy, whose breathing was far too calm for the situation at hand. “On paper, that means he has the unfortunate luck of being responsible for saving this world and its people’s lives; namely, with his own.” The gem around the boy’s neck paused mid-pulse as his heart skipped a beat, the reality of the circumstances brought into the light.

“However,” Alex said, still handling what the girl assumed was a magic wand – absurd as the notion was, “as I said, we’ve dealt with this type of thing before. And usually – which mind you, isn’t always – there’s usually a workaround to the, how did you put it? ‘Volcano sacrifice.’ And we’re here, young lady, to confirm that that workaround is indeed an option. That’s where you come in.”

“Why?” she stammered. “What do I have to do with any of this?”

Beneton smiled again. It was unnerving to her how he could be legitimately joyful with everything going on. Was he some kind of psychopath?

“How long have you known him?” the grinning soldier asked.

She hesitated for a moment. If these guys were for real, truth would be the best course of action. But this was all too weird, all too surreal. All too risky.

“Nearly all my life.”

“We figured. And how do you know him, exactly?”

“We’ve been… we’ve been friends for a long time,” she said, a lump forming in her throat.

“Good, good. Have you met his parents? Has he met yours?”

“What does this have to do –”

“Please answer the question.”

The young woman paused, remembering the shared loss that was one of the many bonds that tied them together. “Many times,” she answered, tears welling in her eyes.

Beneton knew how far he was pressing, but couldn’t let up now. As much as a formality as this all was, it had to be done. They couldn’t leave anything to chance. He glanced at his wand behind his back; the tip had discretely produced a small, low white light.

“Would you die for him?”

“What?” she stammered, catching his gaze.

“Would you die for him?”

She could barely hold back her tears. What was going on? Why was he asking these questions?

“Ma’am –”

“YES!” she blurted out, rising from her seat. “Yes, of course I would! He’s been with me since the beginning, and I for him. We’ve been through so much together; not just today, but for years! I would gladly give my life if it meant saving his, and I know he’d do the same for me. But…” she paused, her chest heaving, her fists clenched. “But I don’t want to.” Across the room, the boy slowly lifted his head, an eye peeking out from behind his mop of hair. “I don’t want to give up my life for him, because I couldn’t imagine life without him. That’s why we’ve been running. That’s why I fought you all and tried to keep him away from you!”

The light at the end of his wand slowly changed from white to blue, then flashed a warm crimson before disappearing. Alex smiled.

“Very good, then.” He stowed his wand and placed a hand on her shoulder. She felt a new warmth in her chest, almost as if it was being passed on from him directly to her body. “Sorry for the back and forth; we really can’t be too careful in these types of scenarios.”

Vince moved away from the girl and her chair and made his way towards the door as Kenshin adjusted the weapons on his hips. Beneton removed a handkerchief from one of the pouches on his belt and handed it to the woman, who took it hesitantly.

“You’re strong,” Alex said quietly. “You’ve been fighting for a long time, looking out for him and many others, I’m sure. I know quite a few people who would be very proud of what you’ve done so far – and your impressive combat skills - especially in this crisis. And I’m dating one of them.” He winked, and she swore a spark or two danced on his eyelid. “Don’t falter, even for a moment. There’s still quite a bit of work to do, but your heavy lifting is done, okay?”

“We’ll take it from here, darling,” Vince intoned from across the room.

“Stay here; we’ll send someone to get you and keep you two safe.”

“My family –” she began.

“We’ve got it covered,” Beneton laughed. “This is old hat for us. Not that we’re taking this lightly. We understand the gravity of the situation, considering gravity is one of the issues we’re dealing with.” The young lover chuckled. “Also,” the wizard said, leaning in to whisper in her ear. “Tell him how you feel. It’s pretty obvious, but let me say from experience: guys are dumb. Sometimes – and by sometimes, I mean every time – we need things to be a little blunt. Mmkay? Because that workaround we always look for in these missions? It’s the most powerful force in the universe.”

He smiled and stood tall, straightening the collar of his uniform before turning around and making for the door. The steel barrier slid open on its track with a hiss, and let the three men out before slipping shut again.

The woman looked up at the young man whose eyes were shining even in the dimly lit glorified storage closet. The gem around his chest was pulsing rapidly as his chest rose and fell. She smiled and ran to him, throwing her arms around him.

***

“That was cute, gents; real cute,” a monotone voice said in the ears of the three soldiers. They each placed a finger to the comm link in their ears and accessed the open channel.

“Gee, thanks Gheist,” Kenshin said. “Glad you enjoyed it.”

“As much as I can enjoy useless banter that not only wastes precious time but also puts several innocents at risk,” the Communications Officer shot dryly. “You all wasted too much time.”

“We had to be certain,” Alex countered. “You know how these things work. True love –”

“Don’t quote scripture to me,” the comm operator hissed. “There is a procedure.”

“Geez, Ghost Boy, you’re more of a buzzkill than usual today,” Vince chimed in. “Lighten up, will you? Everything’s going to be fine.”

Gheist was silent on the other end of the line for a moment, though the three could hear his fingers typing away. “Twenty-six percent and climbing at a rate of thirty-three miles per minute. Unless you all have some secret plan I wasn’t made aware of, this whole planet is going to disintegrate in a matter of hours.”

“Do people invite you to parties?” Vince asked.

“Can it, cheerleader. This is a Guardian mission, not one of our little side-escapades, and I am in no mood for going bareback on this thing. We’re on a tight schedule here, as are the other missions. I’m stretched across three other instances, none of which are going particularly well, and the last thing I want is for us to let six billion people die because Beneton had to verify that two kids had the hots for one another!” Gheist’s breath was heavy as he panted over the comm.

“Hots?”

“Enough,” Kenshin said in a commanding tone the group only reserved for infighting. Or when they were drunk. “Gheist, we know this is atypical, and we know you’re pushed to your limits right now, but we had to make sure.”

“We’re throwing the Guardian playbook out,” Alex added. He held up his wand, knowing that although Gheist wasn’t standing with them, he could see it through the myriad of cameras stationed in the hallway. “On paper, the only way to save this world is to kill the kid, and for once, killing isn’t going to be our first instinct. My charm was able to verify that their feelings are true and requited, meaning we’re in the clear to deviate from standard for a bit.”

Gheist sighed. “How much of a deviation?”

“A little bit of ‘Show & Tell,’” the wizard said with a smirk. “I’ll head back to the Council’s hold and see if any of the Elders will be more… cooperative than last time.”

“What, you’re going to apprivoise over there?” Vince asked. “We’re nowhere near the capitol.”

“That’s…” Alex sighed. “That’s not, that’s not what it’s called or remotely close to what it is.”

“Lesson later,” Kenshin interrupted. “Gheist, how much ground did we cover?”

“I’ll say this about your confirmation,” he said from the control room, “it ate up quite a bit of travel time. We’re right over the old temple. Beneton should be in range to warp without issue.”

“Then I’ll help him zero in. I’m going with you,” the swordsman said, turning to the wizard.

“And I’ll form the head?” Vince said, raising an eyebrow. “Am I staying to babysit?”

“You know how these things go,” Kenshin said, placing a hand on Beneton’s shoulder. “Usually if things don’t add up then there’s a second way out of the maze that someone doesn’t want anyone else to know about. Head back to the temple and see if we missed anything in translation. Be on the lookout for secret rooms or missing blocks of text.”

“Anything that could explain why the Elders and the police have been acting so odd,” Alex added. “If killing the kid really is the way to save this world, why didn’t they do it when he was in custody? None of this has added up from the start.” And with that the two soldiers vanished with a pop, their forms swirling together and collapsing as if into a singularity. Vince sighed and adjusted the straps on his backpack.

“Worst case scenario?” he asked.

“The gravity drives are prepped,” Gheist answered. “That being said, soon there won’t be much for them to root too, much less pull back together.”

“Guess that means I should get going. Personal portals?”

“No dice,” the Communications Officer replied. “No way to pinpoint starts or finishes on the ground. You’re going in Point Break.”

“Stellar.”

Vince quickly made his way down the hall and stopped at a pair of heavy set doors with yellow and black caution stripes, red text running along their edges. He stared straight forward and waited. With the press of a button on his shoulder a flap slid open on his pack and expelled a series of telescoping panels that quickly fit themselves around his head and neck, tightening to form a custom-fit helmet. He checked the pistols at his hips and reached for one of the safety handles recessed into the wall.

“HAL,” he said with a hint of glee in his voice.

The doors hissed and sprang out, moving away from him and parting. Wind rushed over his face and filled the hall as clouds rushed by as far as the eye could see.

Several thousand feet above the crumbling planet’s surface, the large airborne carrier stood still, maintaining its position in the sky. Its engines roared as it hovered, the planet’s old Grand Temple a barely visible speck below.

“Don’t be too long, hon,” Gheist chimed over the comm, a rare moment during any mission when he would indulge in the humor his fellow soldiers were more than fond of. “If we can find a way to pull this off, we get our pick of escort missions. There are a few good ones, too. One’s got a spoiled heir and heiress who according to the intel files hate each other, but have to wed for the sake of their kingdoms.”

“And let me guess: by the end of the journey – surely fraught with danger and intrigue – they’ll learn to respect one another, and maybe just a bit more?”

“It’d be the third one this month. And the romantic comedy event of the summer.”

The two shared a laugh as Vince slid the mouth guard and visor shut on his helmet. He loved how sarcasm was somehow the glue that held them together in even the direst of times, be it cities or whole worlds on fire. He cracked his neck and stretched, jumping from foot to foot, knowing he wouldn’t be getting a good night’s rest anytime soon.

“God, I love this job,” he said with a smirk. And with that, he let go of the handle, placed one foot through the doorway, and stepped out into the sky.