The Apprentice Assassin (Complete but editing) MxM

War Zone

The cloaked figure let out a small sigh and returned his head to its original direction with a sickening crack. "Well well, seems you're a big boy after all. Though you don't have the whole picture. You see-" The hooded man paused before splitting into two copies of the same creature, then both spoke in unison. "What you don't get is that the two of us can cut through the sound barrier. I can have my clone rush forward and kill you, then taking your corpse so far away, that we won't even see the explosion from here. Therefore removing both you, and the bundle of explosive playdough your kind seem to enjoy using."

"What's so important about this journal that your masters would send you to go get it? Seems like a milk run to me, maybe you pissed off the wrong person with your snarky attitude?" Thomas joked, trying to keep calm as he tried to think of a countermeasure.

"That's none of your concern." The Cantorian voices replied in unison with a disgruntled growl.

Not good... Thomas thought before pressing his palm to his knuckles, popping them all at the same time activating the emergency contact. Then popped the others to continue the charade. "Well I think, it is my concern. I'm sure am curious to find out about this journal that you're willing to kill for. But I think you should be leaving about now. I have friends coming, and no matter how fast you Cantorian doubles think you are, my friends know how to carpet-bomb places so fast that not even the sound barrier can keep up. So even if you can speed your way out of the range of my playdough, those bombs will destroy you and your freaky twin here." A small acknowledged beep was made as the line disconnected. The Cantorians both looked at the helmet with annoyance, the same distasteful glare in their eyes. Thomas smiled sheepishly as they continued to look at the helmet. "I assume since your hearing is so good, you both heard that. I'd say you have about thirty seconds before a fifty-mile carpet bombing takes place. I suggest you get out of here while you can."

The creatures looked at each other, then nodded their heads as unspoken words passed between them, then looked back over to him with obvious displeasure. "This isn't over soldier boy," They both spoke in unison before merging back into one, then turned around and began running in the other direction so quickly that it seemed like it had simply vanished from view.

"You've killed us both!" The spy cried out in despair. "That journal is worth more than you can even know!"

Thomas glared over at him and unshouldered his backpack. Unzipping the front pocket, he revealed a small silver box. It had a large button on the center, and it glowed with magical power. "Don't shit your pants yet, I still have this. Where's this book you almost died for?"

"The spy looked at the silver box greedily, quickly recognizing it. The man scrambled to his feet,  then sprinted towards Thomas. "I'll go get it, give me the box and we can get out of here!"

"Ha, I'm not stupid!" Thomas replied as he slid the strap back over his shoulder and adjusted his backpack. "We're running out of time traitor. Get the book and come back here. This portable shield will fit us both if we get close." The spy growled, then raced over to a small tent. He pressed what looked like a piece of tent, and a small compartment slid open revealing, a small brown box.

"Ok I got it, let's go!" The spy exclaimed before he raced back towards Thomas, his brown robes flowing. "This is the Flara's greatest weakness, and we finally got it!"

"The Flara? What do the Flara have to do with any of this?" Thomas questioned as he looked at the spy with skepticism.

"That's not important right now! Listen, we knew that if we wanted to root out something as big as the Flara corporation, we needed to go big. So we denounced the allied forces, then infiltrated the company in one big tactical job." He finally got to Thomas as the sound of engines went barreling overhead.

"Good timing," Thomas chided as the spy came to a stop a few steps away. "Another few seconds and you would have been toast!" Thomas put the box on the floor, then tapped the button on top with his foot. The box started to unfasten as a small object protruded from the center before surrounding them with a large energy force that created a large bubble of protection around them. The space was cramped for the two, but it didn't matter.

The second that the bubble fully formed, the whistle of falling bombs began to echo around them. As the bombs connected with the ground and detonated, the device was flung into the air sending the two of them spiraling. "Ow!" The spy cried out as Thomas's body crashed into him, shoving the wooden box into his stomach.

The noise-canceling effect from the inside the beam protected the two as the bombs detonated around them. "Where... are we going?" The spy yelled out between explosions as a bomb detonated directly above them.

"Home!" Thomas shouted out making, the spies face pale. "What's wrong? Scared of going on trial?"

"No!" The spy cried out terrified, "Both sides are corrupted! We can't take the journal to them! We-" A small round ball of green light pierced through the energy field and shot through the spies chest splattering blood onto Thomas's visor. The spy fell to the ground as the bolt of light hit Thomas's armor. The green bolt began to hiss and fizzle as it began melting the protective plating directly in front of his heart. The bolt continued to force its way through the armor until it suddenly blinked out of existence. The spy suddenly began to laugh as blood began to leak down his chin. "I guess they got me too, I shouldn't have expected to get out of this alive!" He laughed out before forcefully shoving the box up into Thomas's hands. "Don't. Trust. Anyone...!"

Thomas accepted the old wooden box and looked down at the spy. "What did you mean that both sides were corrupted?" The spy was silent. His breathing had stopped, and blood dripped down out of the field, passing through the magic barricade. "Damn it!" Thomas screamed out as the bombs started to detonate further away. Lifting his free hand up, he pressed his fingers together and unlocked the device before pressing the call button. "Alpha One to nest, this is a code one. A Cantorian has been spotted in the area. He seems to be able to split himself into two, and can move at the speed of sound. We need to evacuate now!"

"Negative, Alpha One," A sinister voice growled into the com before a guttural laugh sent shivers down his spine. "I don't think your friends can hear you anymore."

"Run, Thomas!" A weak voice in the background cried out before a sickening crunch broke through the coms, then a thump as the body hit the ground.

"You shouldn't have messed with us Thomas..." The voice came again, closer to the microphone. "I'll see you soon!" It said before the Cantorian hung up and left Thomas to sit there. 

He took down our base? All by himself? What could possibly be in this journal that he would kill an entire organization of spies and a military base for? He thought, looking down at the locked box.

Trying unsuccessfully to open the box, a small clink of metal bounced against his glove pulling his attention. A tiny padlock clinked as it bounced against his finger. Thomas reached into his combat pouch and pulled out a thick plasma knife. Forcing it into the metal lock, a loud hissing sound began to whine out as the smell of melting metal began to leak out of the hole. Waiting a few seconds for the metal to heat up, Thomas quickly twisted the blade to the right, melting the keyhole and unlocking it.

Inside the box was an ancient-looking black journal, filled end to end with writing in dark black ink. "What the hell?" Thomas mumbled, looking at the book, then down at the shield's power meter. The shield won't let me out for another twenty minutes. I should read some of this, see what I can glean from it. He paused for a moment, thinking about the dead spy in front of him, then decided to read it. His eyes began to water, but he quickly forced them away as he tried to ignore the frustration and despair that washed over him at the death of his squad. Delicately opening the journal, Thomas turned to the first page and sat down on the beam next to the spy before reading the first page.

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Hello friends, make sure to drink lots of water! If you want to make my day how about leaving a few comments? Maybe even vote for the story? It really would make my day! I hope you have a fantastic day, and I hope you enjoy the next chapter! 

-Asted!