Spirit Blood: Genesis of War

Jashel lead the way through the darkened streets hiding in every shadow available. Running down a pitch black and narrow alleyway, she stopped suddenly as they reached a thick wall at the end bearing only a small crevice in the center.

“Now what?” Makaylen asked the leading halfling. “You’re the only one small enough to fit through that crevice.”

“I know,” Jashel teasingly nodded. “I guess you’ll just have to trust I have a plan that includes you too, won’t you?”

Makaylen knew he was being put through a test by this impish young lady. Years ago when he left her in Cree on her way to prison, he knew she felt he was abandoning her and leaving her to her doom, and now she could only be testing to see if he feared she’d do the same to him. He stared into her beautiful eyes and could see the hurt she still wore in them, but there was also a glint of the old feelings she’d had for him at one time. These same feelings, which he knew in his heart he could never reciprocate, were the real reason he’d had to leave her so long ago. Jashel was not one to understand rejection, especially when he himself couldn’t understand why his heart failed at being able to fall in love again. Not since his beloved Alexis Wulf died had he ever been able to look at a woman in any other way than love for her in the same way Shiloh loved her. Now being face to face with Jashel again, he feared their inevitable separation someday would only hurt her as it had once before.

“Well?” Jashel spoke waiting for Makaylen’s delayed answer.

“I trust you Jashel,” he answered smoothly, actually putting more trust in Shiloh than in her.

“Well, okay then,” she remarked hesitantly, her stomach filling with butterflies before ducking into the

small crevice and out of sight.

Much time passed with no sign of the young thief as each of those left behind to wait for her shivered hidden in the dark and cramped alleyway. Knowing the children were safe for the time being, Jason’s nerves and temper were calmed, but the incessant waiting for someone he couldn’t be sure of returning was wearing at his already strained patience.

Walking up to Makaylen he whispered, “Are you sure you can trust that she’s coming back for us? She didn’t exactly look too trustworthy to me.”

“You’re right,” Makaylen quietly replied back, “she isn’t exactly the most trustworthy of people for us to put our faith into. However, her friend Iwo is still with us, so I know she’ll be back. Iwo is not one for trickery or lies. If she is still with us then Jashel is meant to return. There must be a reason for her delay. I only hope she hasn’t been caught.” Speaking now to the multitude, Makaylen slightly raised his voice to be heard, “Everyone! I realize the thoughts and doubts that may be running through your heads right now, but we must not lose faith that Jashel will shortly return with a plan for our escape. Keep an eye open!”

After only a few more moments the sound of a lock being unlatched came from behind the moss covered wall to their left. They each turned ready to fight when they noticed Jashel carrying a glow rod and waving them in the passageway from behind the hidden door in the wall.

“Let’s get going!” She ordered slightly above a whisper. “The guards are gathering in a larger mass in here, so we need to move now!”

Without hesitation the group filed into the entryway and followed Jashel down the dark passage. The area they walked was too small to stand up in for everyone except Jashel. Iwo, being extremely tall, was the most uncomfortable having to bend so far over she wondered if crawling would be easier for her. Jason was the last to enter the passage and shut the door securely behind him shutting out the last bit of

moonlight that barely illuminated the entry past the door. Quickly the companions followed the bouncing glowing orb up ahead of them moving swiftly down the corridor until it suddenly came to a stop several minutes into their escape.

“Wait here!” Jashel whispered. “I have to see if the drones are watching.” She peeked her head into a dimly lit corridor that crossed over theirs before saying, “Nothing. Let’s move!”

She set the glow rod on the ground and bounded off down the new corridor. Her movements around corners and knowledge of which passageways to turn down amazed Makaylen as she seemed to know exactly where she was going and where to be the most cautious of guards standing watch. After rounding a final turn Jashel halted and signaled with her raised fist to Iwo. Iwo motioned for everyone to hide pressing herself up against the corridor wall while everyone else dropped down. Makaylen crawled to where Jashel was trying to peek around another corner.

“Where are we?” He whispered in her ear.

“We’re right outside the armory. The entry door is just around this corner about five feet down. We are actually in a makeshift venting shaft right now, but with the numbers of drones growing, they’ve been starting to patrol the shafts for…well, intrusions such as this,” Jashel whispered back teasingly.

“How did you know the way to the armory and where the guards would be posted?” Makaylen curiously whispered to her.

She giggled before she replied, “I stole a blueprint from a poor slob of a security operator who was helping to put in a new security system and search for possible weaknesses in their defenses. Sad to say, he’s probably been fired by now.”

“We need to talk later,” he whispered before moving back into his hiding position.

Smiling, Jashel returned to peeking around the corner of the corridor waiting for the right time to jump

out of the shaft. Finally the last of the guards left the entryway and the group hastily jumped down behind her. Immediately Jashel went to a control panel on the wall and pulled out a small hand held object from her belt. With skill only a master thief possessed, she removed the face of the panel off the wall and plugged in her hand held decoder. After hitting a few random buttons the decoder sprang to life displaying a series of numbers rolling through the digital readout until they stopped to reveal a five digit code. With a soft beep the door to the armory unlocked and opened. Inside the large room were an assortment of weapons, armor, electronic devices and strange mechanisms appearing to be some sort of controlling instrument of sorts.

“What do you think these are for?” Lockefren asked Terrell regarding the shiny steel mechanisms.

“I’m not sure. Makaylen,” Terrell called out, “Come take a look at these.”

Makaylen ventured over to the large crate containing thousands of rounded orb shaped instruments.

“What do you think these are for?” Terrell asked handing one over to Makaylen.

Makaylen searched his mind of ever having seen a device such as this, but nothing jogged his memory. Jason and Bildan joined the gathered group to see if they could be of any help, but not one of them had ever seen nor heard of such a device or what it would be useful for.

“There are too many of them here for them not to have some great importance. I will take one with us. Maybe we will be able to ask Kenneth or someone else of its uses,” Makaylen pointed out.

“Hey, Mak! Over here!” Jashel called over from a well hidden corner in the room.

Behind boxes, crates and armory well hidden from a glancing view was a protected glass vault which contained the weapons and armor that had been stolen from the weapons building at the front gate just before the explosion.

“Why would they not just destroy the weapons?” Moira said aloud.

“Most of them can’t be destroyed,” Terrell stated as he began to dress in light armor he’d found in the room.

“Do you think you can get into that vault?” Makaylen asked Jashel. With only a ‘give me a break’ look returned to him by the thief, he retorted, “Sorry I asked.” Makaylen turned his attention to the others in the room, “Take whatever you can carry, but don’t weigh yourself down.”

“Alright!” Bildan exclaimed while excitedly grabbing armor, explosives and a pair of hand axes.

Lockefren, Moira, Chris and Iwo restocked themselves with weapons and gear while Terrell, Jason and Makaylen all waited patiently for Jashel to spring open the vault knowing their weapons were far better than anything else offered in the armory.

“I’ve never dealt with anything so complex before,” Jashel commented trying desperately to open the lock.

“You’ll be able to open it won’t you?” Terrell asked.

“I won’t give up until I do!” She answered back determinedly.

Bildan took it upon himself to set up explosives in various areas around the large room while the others gathering gear took defensive positions awaiting any possible intrusions. Finally Jashel was successful in opening the lock and crawled inside the small opening to fetch its contents. Hastily she handed the three waiting men the items they directed her to consisting of Makaylen’s sword, Jason’s special tech-armor and sword and Terrell’s Elvin sword-axes along with the items belonging to Ben, Davien, Bildan and Lockefren as well.

“What’s this?” Christopher asked holding up a handheld device sitting on a nearby table.

Iwo glanced down at the device before grabbing it out of Christopher’s hand and inspecting it.

“This is a Energy Scanner.” Iwo pointed out. “It analyzes the amounts of energy and technology being

used within a two mile radius and displays its findings. They come in handy when searching for power sources.”

“Great. Bring a few along. I think we may just need one,” Makaylen said as he readied himself.

“Okay, is everyone ready?” Jason asked receiving assuring nods in response. “Where to now?” He asked Jashel.

“The only safe way is back the way we came. I brought you here only for supplies. There is no other way out,” she told the entire group.

“Fine, then back the way we came. What’s the plan after that?” He inquired again.

Jashel looked to Makaylen, not sure exactly if a rescue was all they were interested in or if he intended to complete his original mission.

“I say we take our chances in annihilating some of this Dread Army,” Makaylen spoke up looking into all the faces of his comrades. “Not for revenge, but for justice. We must remember we are not the only ones that were, or worse, are currently being held captive by this tyranny. The people of Karza need our help just as the people of Talkain surely do,” he added knowing the mention of Talkain would surely help to spark Jason’s interest in his plan. “We have a chance right now to stand up against this powerful enemy. If we don’t then it will only be a matter of time before we will have to fight. The Dread Army is spreading its destruction in every part of Krysala. We can make a difference now!”

“Absolutely!” Jason exclaimed with a new kindled fire in his heart.

Makaylen was excited to hear Jason’s enthusiasm, but was uncertain to his actual motive. To right what was wrong and defend the helpless people of Krysala would be the ideal reason to fight, but revenge, as Makaylen feared was Jason’s ulterior motive, would only blind him to what truly needed to be accomplished.

“Alright, Jashel please lead us back out and we’ll discuss the plans of action outside,” Makaylen commanded.

Through the labyrinth of corridors and darkness the group traveled before finding their way back into the concealed and darkened alleyway. Outside was quiet as it had been before they had ventured into the building which troubled them some bit. Surely by now someone would have discovered their absence from the dungeon cells, especially the escape of the two children and Kenneth’s wife.

“Why is it so quiet?” Chris asked his comrades. “How exactly did you arrange our escape Miss Jashel?”

“Believe it or not, you guys weren’t very heavily guarded,” she answered. “It looked like you’d just been forgotten about or something. In fact, if it were not for the electrified bars holding your door shut, you could probably have busted yourselves out.”

“You mean I had to wear that dress while almost starving to death when I could have just busted down a wall?” Bildan asked speaking a bit too loudly.

“Not exactly. Without weapons you’d have been pretty hard pressed,” Jashel responded.

“How did you meet up with Kenneth and rescue the young prince and princess?” Chris inquired again.

“Luck of the draw!” She replied. “After I found Makaylen’s two friends on their way back here they told me what Mak’s mission entailed. I assumed that if my service’s were needed then that meant Mak knew he would possibly be captured, so I decided I’d sneak into Karza and search out the local jail. Well, when the four of us, that is Mak’s two friends and me and Iwo, were trying to sneak in we met up with some guy trying to sneak out. After talking to him for a minute we found out he was the king and was trying to get out of the town and find you,” she pointed at Makaylen, “of all people and get your help to rescue his wife.”

“Kenneth was trying to leave Karza to find me?” Makaylen asked her.

“Yeah, he said he knew you had been here, but he didn’t know what had happened to you afterwards,” she replied.

“Okay, so what happened after that?” Chris asked.

“Well,” she sighed, “after we told him what we were in Karza to do the five of us came up with a plan to search the dungeons to look for you guys, the kids and his wife. Luckily for us they had you all pinned up in about the same place. Not very smart if you ask me. As soon as Kenneth found his wife and the kids, Davien and Ben lead them to a safe underground hideout somewhere outside the city gates that only the king knew about while me and Iwo found you. The guards they had watching over the dungeons had to be the most inept fools possible.”

“Do you know where this underground hideout is located?!” Jason asked excitedly still quite concerned for the children’s welfare.

“I think so. Ken told all of us of its location in case we needed to regroup later or something,” Jashel shrugged.

“Jason, I trust Ken and believe with all my heart that Amon and TaeAnne are safe. Please don’t think of leaving us now. We need your help,” Makaylen pleaded fearing Jason may want to abandon them to find the children.

“Don’t worry,” Jason replied. “I’m not as confident about Ken as you are, but I also believe the children are safe. I’m here for the fight.”

Makaylen only grinned at the slightly smirking Jason.

“Iwo, do you have one of those Energy Scanners on you?” Makaylen asked.

“Sure,” she shrugged handing the device over to Makaylen.

“Okay,” he started as he turned the device on. “Bildan and Lockefren, I need for the two of you to place more of Bildan’s explosives around the city and take this with you.” He handed the scanner over adding, “I have a theory about the odd mechanisms we found in the armory. What if these things are a centralized power conductor controlled by a power source somewhere in this city?” He asked receiving confused stares in return. “The Dread Army is mainly manned by the dead looking soldiers we’ve had to face. If they are indeed dead beings then they would have to contain some kind of power that runs their bodies and minds, right? Remember the wires running all over them? Well, my theory is that perhaps the thousands of these devices we found act as the heart, or power conductor, to the drones. If that is true, then there has to be a power source of some kind that controls them. Using the scanner you may be able to pinpoint a location of such a source and, ultimately, shut it down.”

“I think I understand, but what if this power source isn’t in Karza at all? What then?” Lockefren asked.

“Let’s just pray it is in Karza, otherwise, I don’t know what,” he replied.

She nodded and hurried away with Bildan who was extra excited to be given the duty of blowing things up.

“Chris, Terrell, Moira and Jason,” Makaylen started again, “I think it would be best if you four began to evacuate the city before the distraction sets the alarms off.”

“Alarms? What distraction?” The battle inexperienced Moira asked.

“The distraction Bildan will be setting up with his explosives,” Makaylen answered with a smirk. “Iwo and Jashel, I need for you to find the underground hideout where Ben and Davien are hiding. If you could, please advise them to come here to help us and then stay there to help protect the rest.”

Jason stared at Makaylen, who was not a commander as he was, with scorn, “And just what are you

going to be doing?”

With an emotionless stare back at Jason, he commented, “I will be with you helping with the evacuation until Ben and Davien arrive. After they get here the three of us are going to deal with Simon and whoever else he is working with.”

Jason pounded his fist against the wall, “What makes you think I’m not going with you to find Simon?!”

Makaylen lowered his head before he walked up to Jason staring at him as close as he could. Jason raised his eyebrows ready for whatever Makaylen may have planned to do, but Makaylen only sighed.

“I’m not playing games with you Jason. You’re not in any frame of mind to help me with Simon. You’re only thinking of yourself and revenge right now, not the welfare of the people. As a soldier and a commander it is your duty to protect the people and this is what you are needed to do at this moment. Please, just take this time to focus on something other than hatred,” Makaylen stated never taking his eyes from off of Jason’s.

Jason stiffened his shoulders while wearing a smirk of attempted composure. Conviction surged through his heart hearing the wise and controlled words of Makaylen, but anger towards Simon coursed through his veins causing him to want to strike out at his friend instead.

“Fine!” Jason stated abruptly. “I’ll do what you want, but only if Terrell agrees with your plan. You are not the only one around here that knows how to hand out orders or handle himself in a fight.”

Jason sharply turned his head towards Terrell, fully confident that he’d agree with himself rather than Makaylen, but, to his dismay, Terrell returned his gaze with saddened eyes and a shaking of his head.

“I’m sorry my friend, but I believe Makaylen is right about this,” Terrell sadly stated. “You do need to stay with us and help to evacuate the city rather than chase down Simon.”

Jason’s eyes lowered feeling betrayed before he quickly threw his arms into the air and arrogantly shouted at Makaylen, “Well, there you go! I will help with the evacuation!”

Makaylen only stared as Jason stormed off to begin the evacuation of the city. Without words Makaylen nodded with a heavy laden smirk at Terrell. It pained Makaylen to have to demand this course of action when he knew Jason’s anger was rightful and the powerful spirit blood running through his body was only fueling his need for physical action against his enemies. Too many times in the past had he himself had to battle with such ferociousness towards others.

“Please Shiloh,” he whispered to himself, “help him to grow into what you need for him to be…quickly.”

The night was still and quiet until the sky was illuminated by the fierce orange flames of the city’s armory roof blasting off from the explosion. As the city alarms cried out in warning, the frightened residents of Karza scrambled out of their homes to see a man in full armor waving them towards the main gate and out of the city. Others were met with hooded or masked individuals that guided them towards the waving knight. Already making their way out of the city were swarms of men, women and children having been warned of the impending battle that was surely to take place in their very streets and led quietly towards the front gates by these same individuals before the first of Bildan’s explosions awakened the city.

In systematic succession more explosions took place in various parts of the city causing the poor woman and children to cry out in fear. As Ken rode closer towards the posts of his friends, working earnestly to evacuate his kingdom, he stopped to stare at a high tower tumbling to the ground in the far distance and the wicked glow of destruction and fire surrounding it. His only comfort at watching his

kingdom be destroyed was in his faith that Shiloh had things under control in some way. Shiloh gave me my kingdom and now it is his to take away, he thought to himself urging his horse to go once again.

Reaching the city gates, Ken leapt off his horse and quickly snatched up three children running aimlessly in his direction. Without haste he placed them upon the back of his steed giving them the reigns. Davien and Ben witnessed the heroic and selfless deeds of their new friend as they too approached the gate.

“Ken!” Ben yelled out as he and Davien dismounted their horses. “Take ours as well! Davien and I must find Makaylen!”

Ken took their horses reigns and continued his deed of helping alone children onto their backs and out of the city in haste even giving up his own regal fur lined cloak to cover up one shivering group of children. His valiant deeds did not go unnoticed as Jason happened to be able to see the King doing his part to help his people to safety. Finally what Jason had tried to ignore blared loudly in his heart: Makaylen had been right about Ken and he could no longer distrust him because of the actions of his brother Simon. Now with more energy and verve, Jason went back to his work of directing the people out of the city before he detected the distinct march of the Dread Army coming towards them from behind the billowing smoke.

“What do you need for us to do!?” Davien asked of his friend once he and Ben had reached Makaylen who was busily helping what appeared to be nearing the last of the people frantically attempting to escape the burning city.

“Good!” Makaylen exclaimed noticing his two brave comrades coming towards him.

He hastily, but whole-heartedly, embraced the two men who were responsible for finding Jashel, and ultimately, in rescuing him and their fellow comrades.

“Thank you for coming so quickly,” Makaylen exclaimed again, “but now I must ask you for another favor in helping me.”

“Whatever it is, we are here to help you my friend,” Ben answered back placing one hand upon Makaylen’s shoulder.

Davien responded with a hearty grin and nodding of his head.

“I am glad to hear it because this task will be dangerous and difficult to accomplish,” Makaylen warned while urging the two men to follow him. “Follow me and keep a sharp eye out for the drones. I don’t believe Bildan and Lockefren have been able to locate their energy source yet, so we may have them to contend with if they spot us before we spot them.”

Swiftly the three made their way through the darkness of the night trying desperately to avoid the Dread Army they could hear methodically approaching the front gates. Running at a steady pace, Makaylen tried to inform Ben and Davien of Bildan’s task of setting off various explosions in the city to try and thwart attention away from him and Lockefren while they attempted to find the power source controlling the lifeless soldiers.

“Ok, all that makes sense,” Davien breathlessly announced trying to keep up with Makaylen, “but my question isn’t what they’re doing, but more what is it you need for us to do? And where are we headed to anyway?”

“Of course,” Makaylen replied. “We are headed towards the castle. There may be a number of guards there, but I’m hoping the explosions at the front of the city will help to keep the castle under as little guard as necessary. We should be able to easily find a way around them.”

“Ok, so what exactly are we going to do at the castle?” Davien asked again.

“Oh, you are going after Simon,” Makaylen said nonchalantly. “I’m assuming he’s hidden away in

comfort right now while his dead army fights his battles for him.”

Both Davien and Ben mulled over this new information not realizing yet just how difficult a task it may turn out to be.

“Simon isn’t going to just bow down to you and come quietly. He will put up a fight and a good one at that,” Makaylen said wanting to warn his friends. “I trust that both of you will be able to defeat him if you just work together.”

“Why do you sound like you won’t be there to fight him too?” Davien wondered out loud.

“Because I won’t,” Makaylen started. “It would be too easy to turn his death or capture into a personal vendetta if I were to fight him. You two are the best choice having no affiliation or ties to him or his family.” Makaylen slowed his pace and came to a complete stop before placing his hands upon a shoulder of both Ben and Davien, “I must put my trust in you two once again to accomplish a most difficult task.”

With strength in their eyes and courage in their hearts, the trio reached the barely guarded castle and easily found a passage inside ready to face whatever stood in their way while eagerly searching for the traitorous Simon.

Lockefren cautiously peeked around each and every corner as they made their way through the streets and finally to a dark labyrinth of tunnels in the underbelly of the city. They’d followed the flashing beacon on the scanner hoping it was actually leading them to a centralized power source as Makaylen had suspected. Sporadically Bildan had placed explosives in places that would lead the army away from them once he had set them off and awakened the city in fire. His plan had been successful and neither of them had seen any evidence of the army as they quietly continued to follow the direction the scanner was leading them in.

“We need to hurry Bildan,” Lockefren said anxiously as the dwarf trotted behind her. “Set your charges and let’s get out of here. I have a bad feeling about this place.”

Bildan waved her anxiety away as if shooing a fly, “Don’t bother me now with your feelings lass. Just keep your elf eyes and pointy ears sharp.” Suddenly he leaned against the wall on one hand and took a few deep breaths. “This armor is heavier than I remembered it to be,” he spoke up catching his breath. “It must have been the malnourishment we received in the prison cell,” he quickly added wanting to shift any appearances of weakness away.

Lockefren turned around to see him panting. She attempted to make her way back to him to see if he needed help, but, seeing her approaching, he pushed himself from off the wall and waved her away.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. Just keep moving,” he announced hoping to ease the worried look upon her face.

Lockefren merely rolled her eyes at his stubbornness and turned back to walk down the narrow and dimly lit corridor. After a few more feet she lit a glow rod continuing their descent and following the blinking beacon on the scanner.

“Are you sure you’re reading that thing right?” She whispered.

“Lass, I’ve seen hundreds of blueprints and used many electrical devices. I’ve no doubt I’m reading it correctly,” Bildan spouted falsely as he wasn’t exactly positive he was reading the scanner accurately. “Besides, I’m a dwarf and I know what I’m doing when it comes to venturing down into cavernous type environments.”

Again Lockefren rolled her eyes fearing they just might be lost and this dwarf would never admit it.

“Well, either way, I hope we’re getting close. I’m not liking this place or the way it makes me feel even more than before,” Lockefren nervously replied.

This time Bildan had to agree.

With fury in his heart, Jason started towards the swarm of robotic-like dead making great haste to reach the last of the escaping people before they could flee the burning city. Jason’s adrenaline pumped ferociously as the thought of protecting the weak enveloped his mind. Yes! He thought to himself as he approached the drones. He hadn’t felt a rush like this since his battle with Léon years ago. Realizing he was currently going to be all alone in his fight with the drones, he desperately prayed that Lockefren and Bildan were close to finding their power source and putting an end to their destruction.

Jason could feel the slight exhaustion taking over him just from holding his large two handed sword. Too long had the group been malnourished and inactive while held captive in the cell. However, with one fell swoop of his sword on the first approaching drone, Jason felt a fire rekindled in his body. With a rush of renewed speed Jason leapt at a group of drones and split five of them in half with one long arched slash. The severed drones lay upon the ground displaying innards appearing to be more mechanical than human making it all the easier for Jason to battle them. As if an alarm had set off with the demise of the five soldiers, a horde of them rushed towards Jason with lifeless expressions upon their faces. With ease Jason parried one attempt by a soldier and then successfully decapitated three more standing close by. The drones were tough, however a normal warrior was much more of a threat, and none of them were a decent match against a commander wielding an ancient and enchanted blade. One by one the drones came at Jason from all sides trying to enclose him within their grasp. As Jason fell into a mental combat zone, TaeAnne and Amon were in his subconscious and his anger towards Simon had dissolved for the time being. Finally he was able to find some peace in all the decay and destruction he’d been surrounded by for so long just by being able to destroy his enemy.

Through quick glimpses towards the gate Jason could see that the last of the people were being safely evacuated outside the city gates by his friends and that he’d been successful in drawing the drones

attention to himself and away from the innocent people.

“Close the gates and block them with your life!” Ken shouted out his orders to Chris and Moira. “I’m going to help Jason!”

Ken took off for the increasing swarm of drones surrounding his long-time friend. In one hand his sword gleamed from the fire while his vibro-shield hummed in the other. With a battle cry Ken rushed the mass of soldiers easily slicing through them with every intention of making his way to Jason in the middle. Drones fell in succession one after another as Ken made his way through the crowd.

Jason’s sword was covered in a thick white chalky substance, as well as the ground around him. The dismembered bodies of the now twice dead men each seemed to have the same white sludge oozing from them. However, the sight of a white substance was much more welcome to Jason’s battle experienced eyes than the innocent blood of men, women and children. Scarcely Jason could make out what appeared to be another man fighting through the mass and making his way to the middle. Finally, after a few more moments of fighting, Ken was able to break through reaching Jason. Fiercely Ken tossed drones to one side and then the other as a quick grin reached his lips excited to see his old friend still fighting.

“Lean on me if you have to!” Ken shouted to Jason moving to stand back-to-back with him. “I haven’t been void of food or exercise my friend!”

Jason could have easily been offended, but he had to admit that his stamina was not what it used to be when he was on a regular regiment of exercise, sun and nourishment. Jason welcomed the assistance of his once again trusted comrade. He allowed the strength in Ken’s back to resuscitate his tired body just a bit while he continued to fight the onslaught of dead soldiers. After a few moments of fighting back-to-back Jason could feel a surge of renewed strength come over him empowering his limbs all the more.

“Let’s do this like we used to Ken!” Jason shouted out in excitement.

Suddenly the two men moved in almost synchronized movements impressively giving a show of shimmering blades, precise slashes, thrusts and parries. Both men moved as if reading one another’s mind maneuvering through the crowd with ease. They never separated from one another always leaning on their teammate if needed.

Chris and Moira stood helplessly at the gates not sure whether they were needed more to stand guard or to help their friends fight the drones. From the distance between them, and the battle before them, they could catch faint glimpses of soldiers from the middle of the mass being tossed here and there. Every drone soldier by now had joined the fight seeing that the two men were much more of a match than previously anticipated. In growing numbers the soldiers tried again to encircle and trap their two opponents which brought sly grins upon Jason’s and Ken’s vibrant faces.