September 2nd, 2026. 22:00
In the darkest depths of an underground facility of Area 51, there lie many rooms not seen to any normal Human for many years. Outside the door, they are silent, like amber lights in the eyes of the dead; they are woven tight as a drum and without a sound in their chambers. Once inside, all sorts of activities can be seen among the Zlocan occupators, sometimes with some unfortunate guests present. The sounds of pain from the former Human guests can be heard from their chambers. Anything from an addicting drug to some of the Zlocan technology can be seen being used, some resulting in results that leave the subjects with even a mere mouth in their faces, or a trace of complete flesh in the skins. The lucky ones would be able to return to the "upper" Zlocan hierarchy, but the unlucky ones are never seen again.
Some of the chambers are kept for the storage of medicine, or for some of their experiments, some of them being quite interesting. Floors also have multiple entrances, each with a different use. Some floors are designed for defense and are rigged with various traps, while others are designed as a more restful location. Chambers usually have a proper desk and lamp, but some of them don't contain a proper "Human" chair, and instead have a foreign more metallic chair that none of the victims know what the purpose of it. Rooms also have common characteristics, such as an assortment of lights and wires that make up the walls, and a large glass window to view what's going on inside. The lights are usually green, but in some rooms, they're red as if to warn people of a hazard. The walls also have a series of lights on the floor every few centimeters, which when activated, will cause a shock to the victim.
For every empty hallway, there's always a Zlocan Knight carrying a subject or any Inquisitor at their command to another chamber. Even weapons or any sort of equipment favorable to the Zlocan cause. Images of the Zlocan hierarchy are always present, hanging on the walls or any other visible place. Closely watching over their comrades and their victims, some might say that they're watching over the Zlocu as well.
"Where are you taking me?" a man with short black hair asks one of the Knights as he closes one of the doors behind while escorting him.
"For your own purpose, so be quiet."
"What's the purpose?" the man asks, but the Knight didn't reply, as a Knight usually wouldn't speak to the victims, even if they're deemed as the lowest of their ideal image of a warriors. They only observe and report.
The man is escorted through the hallways, where the only sound that is heard are his footsteps, until a figure walks in front of him. A familiar figure who is none other than Kedris Horiq himself. His presence is enough for the Knight to salute him.
"At ease, fellow Knight. Is your task in order?"
"Yes sir, bringing the latest subject to be tested for the 2nd phase of the evolution process."
"Good. Report to the Major Colonel's office once done. He has something important to discuss with you."
"Yes sir."
The Knight salutes once again before leaving with the man again. But before he can completely leave, Kedris glances at the man's restless eyes, carefully observing him.
"You will be... satisfied in the process. After all, you didwitness your brothers' ascension at the hands of the Zlocu," Kedris said, his voice has a firm yet still uncertain tone to it.
The man doesn't reply, he can't even understand what Kedris was saying.
He watches him leave with no further words needed, and after a few minutes, he goes to the room near the operation room, where he finds himself all alone in the room, void of any action or sound. He stands there, in the middle of the room, in silence, closing his eyes while breathing normally.
After a few minutes of standing there in solitude, some footsteps are heard nearby..
"Have you ever wondered about your purpose, and why would you commit to it?"
"Yes, for survival," two voices reply in unison, one male and one female voice.
"Why would you want to survive, if any sort of deviation according to them will distinguish you from the rest?"
"We need to survive, so we can help our brothers and sisters," the male voice replies
"And Humanity?"
"They are our enemy, or so they say and should be eliminated for good," the female voice replies.
"But do you really think they are your enemies? Do you really think that it's true that we are the most evolved and the most advanced in this universe?"
"Yes, because we are Zlocans!" the male voice replies.
"But what if we're not the most evolved in this universe? What if they are the most evolved? And what if they are the ones who are all but what we are now? What if, we are the ones who are the only enemy to ourselves? Have you ever asked that?"
The male voice has a silence for a moment, as if he is pondering about what he just heard.
"When in doubt of ourselves..." the female voice says.
"We have to believe in ourselves outside of their teachings," the male voice completes.
"So it is."
Kedris then opens his eyes. He sees two figures in front of him. Both with jet black helmets and armor, one with the attributes of a male armor and female armor, both radiating darkness, yet some light pulling from them.
"Are you ready for the next step?" Kedris asks, with a voice that seems to radiate confidence.
"Yes, Master," both beings reply in unison.
"Good. Now let us begin." Kedris then unsheathes his sword, a long and dark one, not as futuristic as most light blades the Zlocu carry, but still carries the fine elegance one expects from veteran warriors, with a simple cross hilt and a circular cross guard, a hilt that is not ornate but deadly nonetheless. It's made out of a dark metal that is known to have a powerful grip, and a blade that can cut through almost anything, especially the skin of the normal Humans.
"Now, I will witness if you have what it takes to be more than a Zlocan."
"Yes, Master Kedris," both voices reply
"Good. Ready your weapons."
A dark electric sound is heard within the room as the two figures draw out their blades. Thin, yet sharp blades that seem to be almost invisible. One black, the other white. The blades seem to be as if they're a part of their hands, almost like they were constructed for their suits. They are Kedris's creations, not just Knight-level Zlocu warriors. They his Vanguard.
"And which one of you wants to go first?" Kedris asks, as if he was enjoying himself.
"I'll go first, Master," the female figure says.
"Good. Begin," Kedris says.
The female warrior then moves to a corner of the room, where she prepares herself. She lifts her arms and her legs, and kneels down. Her suit starts to glow a bit, as if the dark energy of the room is now being absorbed by the suit itself. She then starts to move forward. The only sound is a vibration from her blade as it cuts through the air, and her breathing that is still white, her arms raised, with her body showing her intention to attack. She tries to strike Kedris' blade, only for him to throw a quick parry in her direction.
"Very good, my dear. But it seems that you still lack the strength to defeat me."
"No, I won't lose to you, Master!"
"You may have the same faith in yourself, but that does not mean that you will be able to defeat me."
She then follows with swings in an arc, then in a diagonal slash very quickly, to which Kedris deflects with ease, giving him the chance to make the first move. She jumps back, avoiding his blade as it cuts through the air in a diagonal path. She's about to attack again when Kedris' blade quickly cuts through the air, in an attempt to hit her. She jumps backwards, but to her surprise, his blade cuts through her arm armor and cuts her arm.
She doesn't scream in pain, but begins to strike with the same determination, with Kedris parrying her every attack. In one of her attempted strikes, her blade cuts through his arm armor, cutting his arm. Still, he doesn't scream. He simply smiles, before he concentrates more dark energy into his blade. He swipes, and his blade cuts through her chest armor, cutting her in the process. He watches her fall to the ground, as blood slowly drips from her chest.
"Is that all you got?" he asks
"No, Master," she replies, her voice still strong and determined, all while her arm regenerates by itself.
"C'mon sis, give him what you got!" the male voice says, it's her brother it seems. She just shakes her head.
"You want to win? To prove me wrong?"
The female's eyes then glow red, as if saying that she's ready to attack. Kedris smiles at this. He then unsheathes his blade once again, as she raises her blade to attack. She then strikes first, with Kedris parrying her attacks, blocking and redirecting her blows. She then lifts her left leg and begins kicking Kedris, and he dodges with ease. She then tries again, and as she kicks, Kedris's blade quickly cuts through the air, and cuts deep into her foot.
She then falls down to the ground, slowly regenerating her foot, while Kedris approaches her, slowly, as if he was going to finish the job. Once he approaches her, he strikes down, only to have her dodge it with ease, and she tries to slash him from behind. He redirects her blow, and strikes with the same force. She, however, lifts her sword to block. She then tries to strike, only to have Kedris block, and counter with a quick strike. She then quickly jumps back, avoiding his blow.
After a few seconds of standing there and watching her patiently, he raises his blade and swipes at her again. She moves to the left, and attempts to strike, only to have Kedris completely dodge her attack. She then gets closer to him, going on an all-out offensive, knowing that she doesn't have the luxury of taking a step back, lest she wants to be killed. After a few swings, she then attempts an overhead strike, only to have Kedris dodge it by moving to the back, and then quickly strikes her again with the same attack.
He then watches as she falls to the ground, but still tries to stand up.
"Enough. I see that you are improving a lot, but you still have much to learn, Mora Quripeno."
"I'll get you next time, Master," she says, still with a strong voice.
"If you do, then I will be happy to see that."
"Yes, Master."
"Now, it's your turn, Rioso," he says he glances towards Rioso, the other one of the sibling team.
"Let's do this! I won't lose to you!" he exclaims.
"Let's do this! I won't lose to you!" he exclaims.
"As you wish," Kedris replies, before he turns back to Mora. "Now, you can go back to your room and regenerate your injuries."
"Yes, Master," she says, then gets up, and walks out of the room, leaving the two of them alone.
They both draw their blades, and move to stand in the middle of the room, feeling each other out, waiting for the right moment to strike. The room is completely silent, as if nothing else exists but the two brothers facing off.
Rioso then moves forward, and with a quick thrust, tries to cut Kedris. He then dodges and strikes back, only to have Rioso dodge it. They then engage in an all out duel, with no quarter given. Their swords clash, and try to cut each other. Kedris tries to strike Rioso's blade, but he blocks it easily, then strikes back with the same force.
"Impressive, my dear pupil," Kedris says, as he tries to dodge Rioso's attack.
"I'm always impressive," Rioso replies, only to have Kedris dodge his attack once again.
"Then prove me wrong," Kedris says, as he tries to cut Rioso.
"You think I can't?" Rioso asks, as he tries to slash Kedris.
"I want to see if you have what it takes to beat me."
"Let's see if you can take this!" Rioso says, as he tries to strike Kedris.
Kedris quickly parries the attack and strikes back, only for Rioso to counter, and strike him with the same force. Kedris then strikes back, and Rioso moves out of the way, before he can strike him. They then engage in a quick duel, with neither of them giving any quarter or making any mistakes, as they try to cut each other down. Rioso, however, quickly pushes Kedris back, and tries to strike him. Kedris, however, blocks his attack, and counters with a quick slash.
Rioso, however, moves sideways, avoiding Kedris' blade, before going for a thrust, only to have Kedris parry the attack with ease. Rioso then goes for an overhead strike, only to have Kedris parry it, before striking him again. They then engage in a flurry of slashes, parries and thrusts, with neither of them giving up, both knowing that if they make a mistake, they will die. They both pause, and take a step back, watching each other carefully, before resuming their fight.
Kedris' blade goes for a strike, only to have Rioso parry it. Rioso then tries to strike, only to have Kedris redirect his attack. Kedris then tries to strike, only for Rioso to parry it, and strike back. Kedris quickly retreats, dodging Rioso's attack.
Rioso, however, chases after Kedris, and tries to strike him, only to have Kedris dodge it, as well as Rioso's second strike.
Kedris then goes for a slash, only to have Rioso parry it, before striking back, and going for another strike. Kedris blocks it, then goes for a slash. The slash is strong enough to send him flying across the room, crashing to a wall. He recovers, and looks across the room, seeing Kedris panting, but still in one piece.
"Good job, Rioso. If you were a little stronger, I might have been forced to go all out," Kedris says.
"That was still impressive," Rioso says, as he breathes heavily.
"I know. I'm still impressed," he replies before he walks towards the panting Rioso. Mora enters once more, this time with all limbs intact.
"So, did you beat him?"
"Almost..." Mora at least lets out a chuckle before patting him on the shoulder.
"But I'm sure you studied well to make it this far compared to me."
"That's right, Mora. I study as hard as I can, to be able to show my teacher that I've improved, watching every move of his and such, it's in my blood to always observe what clicks me" Rioso says, while he puffs his chest out in pride.
"I'm sure Master Kedris will be pleased when he sees your improvements."
"I hope so."
"Well, Master Kedris, I got him working hard," she says, and gives him a thumb's up. Their helmets then disassemble, revealing two youths, with Mora having long red hair and Rioso having short blue hair while keeping the Zlocan appearance. Her eyes are a warm hazel while Rioso's are just as green as the prettiest limes in the field.
"You are getting better," Kedris says, as he walks over to them.
"I am, Master," Mora replies.
"I am glad to hear that," Kedris says, before turning to Rioso.
"I hope you continue to improve in the future, Rioso."
"I will master. I never want to let my sister and my teacher down."
"Indeed. Because of this, I will plan out a future assignment for you for battle, the first you will ever face on this planet. I will not be always present you, so you have to rely on each if you want to survive."
"Yes, of course, Master!"
"Another thing, I know that Earth is still unknown to you so, best to make sure your eyes are focused on what's at hand without focusing too much on all the things that catches your eye."
"Well, I could try, but even for one tiny bit to see it?" Rioso asks, trying to understand what Kedris means.
"Yes, that is why you should focus on the important things, like your opponent, their weapon, his movements, and so forth."
"Well, I meant...Human books and culture and all those things that the rest of us haven't heard of."
"You can, but do not overdo it." Mora chuckles for a bit, she knows quite well the implications of this. Rioso just gives a sheepish smile for this
"I am still working on the details for your mission, so for now, go back to your room and gather your things. You might need it for the future."
"Yes, Master," the twins answer before both leave the room.
"And remember, with great power."
"Follows great salvation," the twins reply in unison once more as they leave. Kedris merely smiles at them as he walks away too. Such pride does indeed carry the future for a generation far beyond what the Zlocu can control for all they know. Kedris knows it, and he will keep this secret as much as he can.
UEF F.O.B Jefferson
At the same time, in the evening with darkness still as vast as the ocean, Amira sits outside on top of a rooftop, overlooking the starry night. Her eyes look puffy as she holds her head, and stares at the sky with nothing else in sight. A few tears fall from her eyes, Rian's words still got through her more than she expected. Would it still be right to work for the UEF even with people like Colonel Sylvester on board? Or what Rian said is still the only truth?
What are we really? Do we even deserve our title as "Guardians of the everlasting peace"...?
The luscious sky blinks at her as she tries to regain control of her emotions. She lowers her head before sighing, she'll try to get some sleep, but with his words still echoing inside of her in moments like these, it will be difficult.
No...I will not give up...We will not. I...we will still try, even if it means going through everything that can shatter us...