• “Dyne, how far are we from our destination?” Dyne looked at the large circular map in the middle of the helm. “About ten minutes.” Jeff thanked him and looked to Mark. “Slow the rockets some, give us a few more minutes to rest.” Mark did as told and crossed his arms, looking through the windows at the darkness that surrounded them. “Amazing, no? I’ve always loved flying out here.” “You’ve been here before?” Luca asked. Mark nodded with a smile. “Several times. It was a part of my job to go to many different planets and…” He stopped. “And what?” He shook his head. “It’s not important. What’s important is to think of a plan on what to do once we reach Makil. The planet’s a bit larger than Terra, so I’m thinking we split up into two groups. One group explores one side of the planet and another searches the remaining.” Luca put his elbow on the armrest of the chair and laid his cheek on his fist. “Okay, but how will we keep in contact?” Mark scratched his forehead, thinking. He walked to the back of the ship, looking all over and searching in every box. He came back several minutes later carrying small objects that looked like earphones.

    “Here, these are high-frequency communicators used to keep in contact with other shipments from across the galaxy.” He passed one out to each member, and then put his own in. “Now, adjust the volume and change the channel to seven. We don’t want to be trespassing somewhere, then get killed.” They all played with their earphones. “Now to use this little gizmo, just touch your finger to this piece here,” he said pointing to a small button in the middle of the communicator. “And it will allow you to talk to one another.” Luca touched the button. “Testing.” The earphones screeched and buzzed. Luca laughed nervously and turned the volume down. He then tested it again, the device working this time. “Alright, now to choose teams.” Jeff raised his hand. “I say the incompetent idiots go together.” Mark chuckled. “Alright, so Luca and Dyne will search the first area.” Luca growled and glared at Mark, and Dyne was not paying attention until he heard his name and Luca’s. “Jeff, two minutes until we reach Makil’s gravity pull.” Jeff nodded and looked to Mark. “Mark, pull down on that lever and get ready to make a bumpy landing.” Mark pulled down and the ship shot forward.

    As they reached the gravitational pull the ship began to rock and shake. “Alright, slow the engines down and push that green button.” Mark did as told, again, and the ship slowed some as they fell through the clouds. Jeff re-clicked the transformation button, returning the ship to its original form. “Alright. Dyne and Luca, get out. Every fifteen minutes check in and we will do the same.” The two nodded and headed out onto the deck. Luca jumped onto the rail, high above the green ground. “Uhm, Luca, how are we getting down?” Luca turned to Dyne and smiled. “We jump.” He lifted his arms and fell backwards off the ship, sticking his arms to his side and staring at the ground that continued to close in. Before he landed he reached his arms out and grabbed a tree branch, then flipping around it to land on the branch. He looked up at the ship and jumped from the tree. Dyne shook his head and backed up, racking over his head what to do. “Man. Well, I DID say I wanted to be brave like Luca…” He sighed and closed his eyes as he ran towards the railing, jumping over it and freefalling. He refused to open his eyes, but when he finally did he found himself hanging from a large branch. His desert-made belt was caught at the end of it.

    Jeff and Mark took the Dolphina and flew off to a different area of the planet. “Come to think of it, you sure those two imbeciles will be okay alone?” Mark smiled to Jeff. “Of course. I mean, Luca’s there. You know what that kid can do.” Jeff nodded and concentrated back on his flying. Luca walked through thick bushes, making his way to Dyne. He used his katana to slice his way through the plants. “So, what are we supposed to be looking for again?” Dyne asked. Luca just shrugged and continued his way until the brush ended and they saw a village. Luca sniffed the air and swooned, thinking of how hungry he was. “Dude, sweet!” Luca took off running for the village until an arrow landed right in front of his foot. “Stop right there, intruder!” Luca pulled the arrow from the ground and looked around him, trying to find his attacker.

    A shadow jumped from a high cliff, holding a large bow and walking forward. Luca put up his guard and held his katana in a stance. “Who do you think you are, barging in our village?” He saw that the shadow was a young girl, petite and small like Atoli. She had brown hair that reached to her shoulders, and she wore a striped shirt and normal jeans. “Weird to see a ‘warrior’ wearing such normal clothes.” Luca said, smiling. “Like you can talk?” The girl replied. Luca looked down at his clothes, noticing they were normal too, except for the large hole in his shoulder.

    “You’re under arrest for trespassing on our land.” Luca cocked his head to the side. “What?” The girl took out a hidden blade and put it to Luca’s neck. “You don’t hear very well, do you?” Luca smiled and shook his head. “Nope. Sorry. I was told never to listen to strangers.” The girl kicked Luca’s legs out from underneath him and knocked him to the ground. She cocked in an arrow into her bow and aimed at him. “You’re smart a** talk will get you killed before your trial. That might be bad. I don’t like killing such pretty faces.” “Oh, why thank you.” He smiled at her and she kicked him in the ribs. “Bring your partner in crime and follow me to the jail cells.”

    She stood to the side; her arms crossed, and watched Luca and Dyne slowly walk towards her, their heads down. She brought them to a large makeshift building made of metal and tin, and then threw them inside a small room with bars blocking the only way out. She went to leave and as she left the building a man came up from behind and picked her up into the air, hugging her. “Joey!” The man smiled as his name was called and the two shared a kiss. “Delilah, what were you doing with outsiders?” The girl shook her head. “I was bringing them to the cells, of course.” Her voice sounded much more sweeter than when she ‘greeted’ Luca and Dyne.

    Mark and Jeff wandered around the fields until they came to a large crater. Inside this crater was a different village, guarded by a large force field. “What’s this, now?” Mark began walking towards it. In unison, the two started feeling an odd presence. “Jeff…” “Yea, I feel it too.” Jeff put his hand on his weapon and Mark reached for his blades. A small group of soldiers appeared from beneath the ground and started on attack, quickly. Jeff back flipped out of the way of an attack and grabbed his weapon, swinging. The weapon had no effect though. It bounced right off of the soldier. “What the hell?” Mark had noticed the same thing as he used a slicing combo, which would’ve ended in a beheaded enemy, but not even a scratch formed on the warrior. “What is going on?” Jeff and Mark stood back-to-back. The soldiers stopped and made a tunnel for a larger soldier. “Who are you people? Were you sent by the Tills?” Mark tilted his head. “Tills?” A smaller soldier looked at the large one. “It seems they are new here, sir.” The larger soldier smiled and stared at Mark. “Bring them with us.” The large soldier left, leaving the smaller ones to grab hold of Mark and Jeff and drag them towards the crater town.

    Luca paced around in the cell, staring outside every few minutes. “C’mon! Can’t you just let us out for old times sake? Remember? You know we had a moment after you shot that arrow at me!” He shouted, hoping someone would hear him. “Luca, settle down. They won’t hear us, and even if they did they wouldn’t help.” Luca slammed his fists against the metal gate. “Calm yourself, trespasser.” The girl from before, and a new one, walked in through the door. This new girl was a bit shorter than the warrior Luca fought, and she wore almost the same clothes. Her hair was a bit darker and longer and she held a small knife to her side. “You’ve yet to tell us your names.” “I will tell you, if you let us go.” Luca gave a charming smile. Dyne stood up and walked to the gate. “I’m Dyne Musi and this is Luca Cross.” Luca stared at Dyne. “Traitor…” The girl smiled and looked at Dyne. “You don’t seem like a Slitt warrior. You can come free.”

    She opened the gate and let Dyne out, but threw Luca back when he tried to walk out. The girls both looked at Dyne. “My name is Delilah, and this here is Jenna.” Dyne looked at the newest girl and smiled, waving. Luca groaned and fell against the wall. Dyne followed the two warriors that seemed to be whispering to one another as they looked back at the cell, then to Dyne. They brought him into a large building, filled with torches and warriors, and at the far end sat a young boy with brown hair with some blonde in it. “Joey. I’ve brought one of the men from before. He doesn’t appear to be with the enemy. We can have him help us to fight.” Joey smiled and stood up, eyeing Dyne.

    Mark and Jeff were forced to their knees before the large soldier from before. “I am known as Red. That is how you will refer to me.” Mark rolled his eyes. “You think you can make us fight?” “You may try any method you wish of killing us, but your weapons will never break our shields.” Mark growled and looked at the ground. Red smiled. “Now stand. I give you an offer. Fight alongside my men, and we will allow you to go free.” Mark and Jeff looked at one another. “Alright… We will help.” Red smiled as the two stood up. “We DO get the same shields, right?” The soldier nodded. “Aye. It’s a special ability of the armor. Follow this soldier to the war room and you will be prepped for the battle ahead.” Mark and Jeff stood up, doing as they were told. They looked at one another one last time. “I hope Luca and Dyne are having better luck than we are.” Jeff said before they were led to a room full of weapons and armor.

    Luca sighed as he noticed the sky beginning to get dark. He pressed his finger to the communicator. “Mark. Do you copy?” No answer. “Mark! Hey, I’ve been captured and the little traitor left with the Amazon bitches that left me here. Where are you and Jeff?” Silence. “Damn thing…” Luca took the device and threw it against the hard wall, shattering it. He looked around him and his eyes fell upon the open flamed torch sitting on the wall outside of the cell. He smiled devilishly and stood up, holding his right hand towards the flame as they came to him. “Not enough… I wonder…” He pushed more power into his palm and used his left hand to hold his right arm still.

    Joey stood up, his white hoody swayed in the wind and he looked to Dyne. “Is your friend a member of the Slitt?” Dyne shook his head. “No. He’s a strong warrior and very brave, though.” Delilah chuckled. “Obviously not strong enough to break free of our cell.” The warriors snickered with her until they saw the torches begin to flicker. The flames were moving towards the cell. “What’s going on?” Joey asked as he followed after the flames. The warriors all stopped in front of the cell building as the flames went into the darkness. All they could see was a ball form in mid-air, then the flames glowed and showed off Luca’s red-eyes. “What is this?” “I asked nicely…” The glow of the fire showed Luca’s smile, then disappeared into the ground. Joey started to walk forward, but suddenly the building exploded. Some of the warriors fell back and some used their arms to cover their faces from the debris. Dyne fell to his knee and covered himself. Joey stared into the destruction and dust, seeing a shadow stand there. The shadow began moving and Luca appeared, putting his hand on his hip. Joey stared, smiling. “You are very powerful indeed.” “I know that. You should’ve let me out when I asked.” Luca gave a glare to Delilah. Joey began to chuckle. “I guess you’re right.” He stepped forward and put out his arm. “Warrior, I would like for you to aid us in our battle.” Luca looked at Dyne. “The kid doing it?” Joey looked at Dyne, and then nodded. “Sure, why not?” He smiled and took Joey’s arm, sealing the deal.