New friends Old enemies

Apollo grunted, trying to move. “You guys really took some damage; just lay down for now,” said Blake.

“I can’t let that same fucking power show me up again, never again. Not that power,” Apollo said, looking up to Pai’s fading flare. Blake put Apollo's arm over her shoulder. “Then let me heal you.”

“I gotta listen to my brother, so I can’t let those people just die after helping me,” told Apollo.

“So that’s why?”

“Don’t get the wrong idea, Blake. I’m here for one thing: to get the strength to end my brother's murderer. I feel like if I stick with them, I’ll naturally become stronger. Yeah, staying with these monsters will help for sure.”

Mr. Z hopped out, checking the broken wing. “Hey, it’s been a long time, hasn’t it Z?” said Vanula.

“Has it really been fifteen years?”

“Those boys of yours are something; I knew at least one of them would inherit Nova’s Seekers. You know what must be done, right?”

“Yeah, I kinda figured this would happen."

“Vaders, move out!” Choppers flew down, troops scouted for the wounded, picking up sleeping Sola. Kel dragged her body, knocking tall grass over. “Fuck, my leg is snapped up,” said Kel. Taro picked Kel up in his arms.

“Taro, what happened to your arm!”

“Don’t worry about it. I can feel spirit energy flowing back in. It was far worse earlier.” What the hell was that voice? Let me borrow some of your soul. Now my arm is healing; there's more to ghost trigger for sure.

Taro's nose bled, dropping to his knees, still holding Kel. “Stop, let’s just wait here for a second, okay, somebody will come. Did it get a little cold to you, Kel?” Crunching leaves one by one, even the crumbles could freeze in the air.

“You’re coming with us; you kids have any problems with that?” Wearing a black suit, his spiky algae hair frosted on top. Earrings hung down his black-brown skin, complementing his morning sky eyes. “Just a bunch more kids I’m probably gonna have to train. High-Rank Guard First Class Juzu reporting in. You're all coming to the Vader corps.”

“Vader corps? Who are all these people showing up?”

“You're in good hands now." The forest around the farmhouse soaked in fire. “Let me put all this out,” said Juzu, pulling his hands out both pockets. Cold fog faded out his palms. All the forest fires froze into beautiful cold twisted structures.

Pai whispered, coughing up blood, "Finally over."

“Well, I won’t say it’s over; this shows you all have a shot, maybe to walk the path with us,” Vanula replied.

“Huh? Let's just chill for now,” Pai laughed.

“My King, still a wonderful job you all did.” Danika flowed into the air. Pai laid in the crater, the feather-style sword transforming into the holy ring. His sought marking faded, and Vanula jumped down to Pai. “Your father still looks in good shape. Good shit, kid; however, you and your friends wouldn’t have lasted without us. What would you have done?”

“I know, dammit! I know, we barely survived; I haven’t stopped thinking about it. Thanks, but with or without you, we were gonna win. I can’t die yet!” Pai reached for the morning sky, his worn out hazel eyes shining with determination.

“Only when we can stomp all over Nova ourselves… Then we can die.”

“We, that's funny coming from you. You got power. Bombast was sent to deal with you, but we sent a message. Here’s us giving a warning to them. You’ll be here to fight in the galactic war of Nova. Don't think everything will go your way.”

Pai smiled. “For most of my life, I always felt something’s been left out; I’m glad I went through these feelings, because now all these emotions are burning up. I’ve never thought I’d want to kill people so bad.”

“You'll be tested some more if you really mean what you say.”

Everyone was brought onto the aircraft, gliding away. Apollo had lost almost half of his blood, Kel’s left arm was broken, and Pai’s body was broken all over. Sola had been unconscious for over one day; still, everyone was healed by Blake.

“That's a good skill to have. I can’t promise this will be the last time you heal me,” said Kel. Blake's essence coated Taro, but it didn’t work. "I sense nothing wrong with this arm; why isn’t my healing reading his decaying arm?"

"He'll bounce back; his spirit energy is depleted right now."

“Dad, why are they holding us in here, but not you? What’s going on with Sola?”

“How else do you think I served in the Disappearing War? The Vader corps has been around for a long time.”

“How haven’t I heard anything about this, why isn’t anyone covering this?”

“Where do I start? Listen up, kids, half the people on this planet C-Three today, their ancestors came from off-world,” informed Mr.Z

“Ancestors, not from C-Three? My brother told me something about that. I never believed him. I shouldn’t have doubted him at all,” said Apollo.

“He’s not lying; you all need to be informed about the basics,” said Vanula.

“I was thrown into war from an early age,” told the old teacher

“Dad, are you finally gonna tell us about your time serving?”

“Yes, it’s time you learn a little bit about it.”

“I know exactly the cause of this war because my people were the ones protecting everything. Briefly, a few memories come back over time.” answered Sola, picking herself from bed.

"Sola, you know those people who wanted you so bad won’t stop unless you were killed; you are the last of your bloodline.” Mr. Z dropped to one knee. “I’m sorry, Sola, I couldn’t save you or my own wife from this war.”

“There’s no reason for you to kneel for me; I’m the failure, please, Z. You did nothing wrong. I really can’t remember, however, I can feel you were by my side,” said Sola.

Mr. Z sniffed his nose. “Thank you. Shall we start, Sola?”

“Yes, I need to remember.”

CHERRY VOL.1

Many years earlier on planet C-three, cars passed by a Diner as the aroma of burgers filled the air. Hands gripped burgers, and pickles fell clumsily. “Hey, man, didn’t you hear about the war? It’s getting closer to this area. I’m not sure what to do with all the shit I got at home right now.”

“What the hell is our army doing? So fucking useless.” A burger launched past the two men, slapping the wall next to them. “Shut the fuck up, low lives; you're too weak to join anyway, so sit there like good kids!”

“What the hell did you say to us, boy?" The two half-drunks stood up.

“Yeah, who the fuck are you, little shit?"

Pushing back his charcoal hair, Z licked mustard off his hand. “You can call me Z, although I doubt you'll remember it after I smash both your faces.”

It was Mr. Z from twenty years ago, at the age of thirty. “Dammit, got mustard on my suit again.” The two men rushed Z; he unbuttoned his jacket, throwing it aside. Z swiftly uppercut one man to the stomach, sending him crashing to the floor unconscious.

The other assailant managed to uncover his face, but it was too late. Z jumped and dropped an elbow on top of his head.

“Hey, get the hell out of here,” said a worker.

“What you say, you bitch! I just cleaned up these two assholes for you!”

“Z, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” said a woman, walking inside.

“Oh shit, why are you here, Kash? I thought you were scouting the area first?”

“I could just tell you were causing trouble somewhere, and I’m your sister." Kash's black curly hair matched her black little suit. She and Z shared the same gray-blue eyes. Light-yellow essence followed her trail. Shaking lights filtered over her powder skin.

"I’m so sorry for my brother causing you trouble. Is it possible you could forgive him, for me please, sir?”

The worker blushed. “Yeah, sure, there’s no problem. Hey, you loiterers on the ground, get the hell out of here!”

The two men left for the exit. “Z is your name right?”

“What’s it to you?”

“If you're strong, why don’t you join the war and die, actually? How about I kill you now!" Pulling out an old rusty piece. “Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing? Get out of my shop!” The lowlife shot the workers brains out, blood leaking out the back. Another bullet ricocheted off the metal ceiling, heading for Kash. The bullet faded into smoke.

“Where’s my shot?”

Z rushed the shooter; bullets were shot at Z, but they disappeared again. “How am I not hitting this kid?” The shooter's gun faded to smoke. My gun, it’s gone. Z pointed ghost trigger to his neck. “Ghost out,” said Z. A dainty black beam with a white razor edge pushed out flesh. "This is war.”

Sirens went off outside. “Don’t worry, Kash, this was an operation. Those guys were on our radar. The team outside already had their friend confiscated. Sorry I didn’t tell you.”

"Don't worry about it, there's no need to inform me about the mission. Come give your sister a big hug.” Kash embraced her big brother.

"Yeah, that's what you want me to say, except I'm not that kind of sibling!” Kash kicked Z in his privates, and he hit face first upon the glossy greasy floor. “Fuck, I think I lost one.”

“You know I told you not to leave me out on a mission anymore!”

“You crazy bitch, I just saved you, and you're worried about the kill."

“Look, you got the worker killed because you couldn’t handle the problem; look, blood is leaking towards us from the contender. Hey, can somebody clean this shit up? Damn, I guess no one's here?”

“Let’s go; we gotta report this to the corps, Kash.”

“Yeah, no shit, and you’re doing all the paperwork.” Z and Kash walked out of the diner. “Damn, I love this place,” said Z. Welcome to Tonko Town; it’s known for one of the highest crime rates from the west bank.

From the street over, people fought on the roads and buildings burned down. “It’s a good day today. Let’s take these assholes out.”

Other Vader corp members walked next to Z and Kash. Snipers were posted on rooftops firing taser rounds with auto-aim for the head. Looters were knocked out as drones picked up their unconscious bodies, dropping them inside caged trucks. Kash balled up her fist, and light yellow transparent essence boxing gloves grew upon her.

“You look friendly; I’d love to play with you,” said the thug. Through the man’s vision, Kash disappeared in front of his eyes. She was too fast for him; a blow blasted him flying away. Blood flew on the pavement as cars sped down the road.

Two girls hung out swinging bats, while another passenger held an RPG. Swipes from the bat dropped troops; the RPG fired off, igniting flames. “Sis, keep swinging for their heads! Make them all crack like eggs.”

Turning around, Kash appeared by her sister, striking the woman's face. Falling out of the car, rotten teeth fled into the gutters. “Sis!” the girl screamed. Reloading the rocket launcher, a white beam went through the missile, blowing up everyone inside.

“Kash, let's hurry this up, I still have paperwork to do at headquarters.”

“Whatever, not my problem. Let’s see who can get the most people.”

“You're on."