4: War Unravels (1/3)

"I think we need to talk." Moments later, Cal woke up to find several bounty hunters blocking his view, "what does Markuz want?" Cal didn't think about what he was going to say thoroughly but he needed answers in search them, he realise that he already has his answer, or so he thought, "ah finally, allow me to introduce myself, Markuz Chappelwhite, the notorious bounty hunter who wishes to collect his... (Clears throat) OUR bounty, it was easy thanks to your friends Marshall and Scura... You might want this." Markuz threw Marshall's helmet to the ground, in front of Cal, "don't act scared, they're safe, we just had to rough them up, now straight to business..." Cal wanted to know where Phen was, Markuz punched the boy leaving a huge dent on his cheek, "be more cooperative and it will save not just yours but your friend as well."

Cal spat at Markuz's shoe and this angered him, Markuz punched him again but threw him to the ground and stomped on him, "these are 900,000 worth of Zonium that you spat on, who will be paying for this? I know I won't unless you give me what I want!" Cal still refused to give in to his demands and this led Markuz to stop and chuckle demonically. "I had to go through idiots who weren't a man like yourself, tell me... What makes you special corporal?" Cal looked him dead in the eyes and said, "because I'm your worst nightmare and you know those nightmares you have as a youngling? I create them and do you want to know what I can do? I can make your nightmares into your demons, demons that will follow you until you leave this world!" Markuz felt a slight shiver and punched Cal unconscious.

"Oi Oxmall, you all right? ... Oxmall? Markuz (snaps his fingers) snap out of it, the kid was only trying to scare you, nothing special." Markuz was still intimidated by what he had heard, (whispers) I create them, and do you want to know what I can do? I can make your nightmares into your demons, demons that will follow you until you leave this world! Those words haunted Markuz as to wherever he and the hunters were taking Cal, they arrived on the planet of Aaakwla, the hunters grabbed Cal while Markuz went to deal with Phen, "Don't worry about me, I have someone that needs to see my presence." As they dragged him outside of the ship, they were in the middle of a war between Aachkaawian and the fleet, it seems they were after the planet's resources, "we'll be alright as long as we don't go into battle."

All three of the hunters were attacked by an Archmain (A giant lizard-like fish able to inject rage in their foes). It stung all three of them and grabbed the already weak Cal, Cal with his bruised sight, watched all three of the bounty hunters as they ripped each other from limb to limb. The Archmain roared and went back to its lair and when putting Cal on the ground of its water, it began examing Cal and started to inject Cal with what it gave the hunters. Cal found himself regaining his energy, he looked at the Archmain and he thanked it, the Archmain looked outside and showed Cal what was happening on the fleets side, "there are others like you but they're being caged, why?" Cal then looked at the area that the Archmain injected him in and realized, "they're after you because you and they have capabilities of healing others, am I right?" The Archmain shook its head.

Cal left the Archmain's Cave but it stopped him, "they shouldn't be doing this to you or anyone else, don't worry, I'm making sure that they get out of there alive." Cal left the Archmain and went to the fleet's base, he witnessed two guards as they were coming in his direction, he knocked down one of them while he shot the other one, he stripped the guard of his uniform and went inside the base when the commander came up to him and questioned him, "Three questions, answer them in the same sentence, Why are you here? What happened to your partner? And finally, shouldn't you be at the prison gate?" Cal answered, "I was with my partner when he was attacked by an Ããchkaawian and yes I am supposed to be at the prison gate so I must get a move on." The commander looked into Cal's eyes and said, "move along."

Cal made his way to the prison gate until he was stopped again, "1625, go along with 0132 to the prison gate." Cal now had to go to the prison gate with another soldier, he was worried that he would be seen or exposed, when they got to the prison gate, Cal saw how more than hundreds of Archmain were being caged like animals, "I honestly don't understand why we need these animals, they are nothing but useless tissue..." Cal threw 1625 off a cliff hitting his head on the way down. Cal saw as one of the Archmain too weak to move, "don't worry, I'm here to rescue you." Then out of nowhere, a security bot came up behind Cal and scanned him, "identity confirmed, you are Soldier 0132, how may I be of service?"