BOOOOM!
CRASH!
They could hear the screams of terror traveling throughout the mansion. The microphones on the cameras distorted the cries into ghastly wails as the pair listened in silent horror.
The dust cleared, and from the screens could be seen the towering figure of an abomination, a monster that parents would tell their kids stories of to keep them in bed at night. The creature's dark scales reflected an ominous red glow from the two protruding horns on its head. It observed its surroundings, taking relish in the destruction around it.
The once beautiful mansion now lay in ruins with furniture and stone spread about in an area filled with corpses. Anguished cries could be heard from under fallen rubble as the maids and soldiers struggled to regain their senses.
The young boy watched, frozen in terror and apprehension, the smell of ammonia filling the pod he was in. He turned and looked at his grandmother only to be greeted with the sight of the once confident and gentle woman trembling in fear; despair molded her face as the daunting realization of what the being in front of her represented.
Time seemed to stop as the unknown figure's gaze surveyed the room, locking eyes with the remaining survivors. It licked its lips as its stomach grumbled.
Suddenly, something stirred under the hungry beast; the dark figure looked down and noticed a metallic hand grabbing its leg. A grin appeared on its face, showing its sharp and lacerated teeth as it raised its leg, ready to stomp the being under it out of existence.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Just as the creature was ready to bring its foot down, it was sent flying back by blasts of blue energy, crashing against the broken mansion wall, dust and debris enveloping the area.
The boy looked on as hope resurfaced on his face. From the screens in the safe room, he saw the two soldiers donned in silver and black metallic armor turn the corner into what used to be a lavish living room.
Weapons in hand, they approached the metallic figure buried under piles of stone. Helping the figure up, it first looked toward the safe room, the walls no longer matching its surroundings; instead, blue light traveled between gaps in the metal wall, forming intricate carvings. It then turned its attention to the cloud of dust slowly dissipating.
"Grandpa, Grandpa"
The boy called out in glee, recognizing the Black metallic armor with gold engravings as his grandfather's Origin armor.
Awakening from her stupor, the old lady quickly turned back to the pod, hands shaking, and with unsteady movements, she interacted with a small screen on the side of the pod, blocking out all distractions.
Noticing his grandmother's indifference and lack of joy, the boy quieted down. Seemingly feeling an invisible pressure and urgency coming from her.
Outside the safe room, the surrounding maids hugged and cheered, glad the monstrous beast was finally gone.
The same couldn't be said for the remaining soldiers and the three individuals standing in the middle of the room. They all saw the two horns atop its head and the four arms bulging with strength; they couldn't mistake them for anything else except signs that death was near. But for the ordinary maids, all they saw was the extermination of a being that brought fear and chaos to their everyday lives and that this horrible nightmare was finally coming to an end.
"Kekeke, that almost hurt."
A raspy, deep, malevolent voice echoed from behind the dust. A foreboding sense of crisis enveloped everyone as a red light abruptly erupted, causing those nearby to shut their eyes.
VOOOM!
A red beam shot across the room, tearing through everything in its way; those standing would be considered lucky as their bodies were cut in half and quickly disintegrated. The not-so-lucky ones slowly felt their skin peel and blister as their boiling blood slowly brought them closer to death.
As the smoke cleared, only one individual was left standing, with a blue cracked shield of energy floating defiantly before the old man.
At his feet were the two soldiers who had previously helped him; their armor melted with red staining the areas around them, what seemed to be innards falling out of their midsection, charred, and the smell of cooked flesh wafting through the air.
The beast inhaled
"Ah, I love that smell... Delicious"
At the same time, inside the safe room, the boy shivered as he looked on at the gruesome happenings just beyond the metal walls.
[Devensive shields at 41%] A robotic voice sounded.
The lights dimmed, several of the screens turned black, and an eerie silence enveloped the room as the boy desperately clung to the restraints holding him in his seat, finding solace in their pressure.
[Corordiantes set-destination: Solaris Family Estate]
[Occupied Seats: one]
[Warning]
[Warning]
[Hatch opening obstructed. Please Clear the area before luanch]
A blaring cry came from around the room as the automated system sent out loud warnings.
"Grandma, what's going on."
The old lady turned to her grandson, unwillingness in her eyes.
She looked at the boy, seemingly trying to engrave his every feature into her mind as she pressed a button on the pod's screen. The lights inside started flashing red while the door began to close.
Darkness engulfs the pod as the boy stares confusedly at his grandmother on the other side of the door.
"Remember my sweet boy," the old lady said, "Your grandfather and I love you sooo much, but no matter what you see or hear, I want you to stay quiet, okay? Can you do that for me?" On the verge of tears, the old lady looked at the boy, waiting for his answer.
"NO!" The boy shouted.
"Grandma, come inside, please."
"Is it because of the smell?"
"I'll try to clean it," The boy fired off as he struggled in his seat, trying to take off the restraints that kept him from opening the door and letting his grandmother in.
"I'll clean it, then you and Grandpa won't have to worry about the smell, and we can go home, okay?"
The young boy pulled and bit on the resilient fabric, hoping it would let him lose. He kicked on the pod door, pushing him into his seat and tightening the restraints around him.
The old lady watched as tears fell from her eyes.
"ELIJAH!" she yelled.
The boy looked through the transparent window on the pod door. Seeing his grandmother's smile, tears falling down her cheeks, her lips quivering as she opened and closed her mouth, struggling to find the right words.
"Be good and wait for us, okay."
"I'll be just a minute. I need to go and clear the hatch doors."
"Remember, no matter what, do not make any noise. I'll be gone for just a second, and when I come back, we can leave."
Taking one last look at her grandson, his eyes puffy with tears and snot streaming down his face, a stark contrast from the smiling boy not long ago, she gave a wide and bright smile before turning around and shutting off the screens in the room and walking away.
"GRANDMA!"
"DONT LEAVE ME PLEASE"
"I'M SORRY I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE."
The muffled Screaming and banging of the young boy echoed in the darkroom with no one around to hear.
Seconds passed as loud bangs could be heard coming from outside. The very building itself began to shake with dust falling from the ceiling.
Minutes felt like hours as the young boy waited in the dark pod—the shaking escalating before a loud explosion sounded.
BOOOM!
Looking through the window, the boy could see a figure crashing through the metal wall of the safe room; the blue light from the wall slowly faded till it fully extinguished.
[Defenisve shields at 0%]
[Power saving mode initiated]
[Automated system offline, please activate launch manually]
The robotic voice sounded again as the boy looked at the figure of his grandfather struggling to stand. A frightened expression surfaced on his face as he saw his grandfather's injured body and bits of broken armor, showing raw flesh with blood seeping out and onto the floor.
Low whimpers escaped the boy's mouth as he got ready to call out to the old man; as he opened his mouth, the man put his finger up, signaling him to stay quiet. From the opening in the wall came a condescending voice that sent chills down the boy's spine.
"So this is where the roach was hiding before she ran."
"It must be sad old man, fighting to protect her just for her to run away the first chance she got."
"KEKEKE"
A grating laugh sounded.
Heavy steps could be heard as the living incarnation of death itself approached. Its features were hidden behind the blinding light leaking in from the hole in the wall, its dark body perfectly blending into its shadow.
The boy reclined into his seat, hoping the darkness would hide him from the prying eyes of the beast outside. His little mind trying to comprehend what was said.
'Grandma left us?'
'Why?'
'Was it because of me?'
'Why didn't she take me?'
'Will grandpa leave me?'
Despairing questions clouded the boy's mind as he sat in silence, listening to the happenings outside the pod with a vacant look in his eyes.
Looking around the room, the dark figure gazed past the escape pod only to stop after an acidic smell hit its nose. Walking toward the pod to take a closer look, a hammer made of glowing blue energy came crashing down, and the floor the being stood on cracked like a web in all directions.
Its two right arms raised in the air, blocking the large hammer from continuing its descent. Looking at the old man, the creature snickered before casually motioning sideways with its arms and sending the hammer flying in the air with the old man stumbling backward.
"So eager to die, huh? Let me help you."
The dark figure dashed to the old man, kicking up dust and causing the cracked floor to break even further.
Before the boy could even register what was happening, a large shockwave hit the pod, causing it to shake uncontrollably.
In the middle of the room, he could see his grandfather glowing blue as an armor made of energy surrounded him, exchanging blows with the monster.
For every hit the old man landed, the creature would land two more in retaliation. Its four muscular arms gave it a numerical advantage as it toyed with the man. Its dark scales began to be covered with white scratches as the fight continued.
The boy only saw blurs of blue and red as the two fought, with the occasional pause in between. He could see the smirk on the monster's face as it toyed with his grandfather. Even someone as young as him could see the difference in their strength.
It would periodically look toward his direction as if it knew he was there. It was taunting the old man as it started moving closer to the pod, purposefully taking hits as it slowly brought their fight nearer.
"So this is why someone of your rank is easily defeated."
"Worried about breaking this little pod?"
The fight stopped as they both looked each other in the eye. The dark figure turned to the window with a toothy grin plastered on its face
the boy flinched in fear the moment they locked eyes.
"In that case, let me help you let loose."
Glowing red energy gathered between its two horns, forming a swirling ball that expanded in size.
The old man quickly stood before the pod, his body radiating more blue energy as he conjured a giant shield.
Above them, loud banging noises began to sound as the hatch doors shook as if someone was attempting to break in from above.
Noticing the changes above them, both parties resolved themselves; the energy radiating from them increased, and the surrounding area began to shake as a whirlwind of dust and broken rocks formed.
Clank! Clank!Clank!
Hearing the clanking noises coming from behind him, the old man turned and saw rocks and other debris flying into the pod, creating scratches on its surface. Immediately, he covered the pod in a thin layer of energy, resulting in the shield in front of him decreasing in thickness.
VOOOOOM!
A giant red ray blasted into the blue shield; Cracks slowly formed as the surroundings lit up. The metal walls started changing colors as the heat from the ray grew hotter and hotter.
The boy fought to stay conscious inside the pod as the barrier around it struggled to repair itself, slowly cooking him inside.
CREAK!
A loud creaking sound came from above as the hatch doors were forcefully pried open, allowing the blaring sunlight into the room.
The blinding flash of light caused those in the room to close their eyes.
WHOOSH!
BANG!
A giant rock was hurled at the being opposite the blue shield, sending it crashing into the ground. The ray burned through the surroundings before slowly disappearing. A slim being in silver metallic armor landed beside the old man as it looked worriedly at the inside of the pod. Seeing the boy sweating and struggling to stay awake, it tapped on the pod's screen, and immediately after, gushes of cooling air released into the pod.
The boy's eyes snapped open, feeling the cooling air, and saw the figure in front of the window. A smile slowly came to his face as he mumbled softly, "You didn't leave us."
Hearing the boy's voice, the figure raised its hand and touched the glass, saying softly in a shaking voice, "I would never abandon you."
"How touching it almost makes me want to cry."
The dark figure said as it stood up and looked on as the duo faced it.
Annoyed, it looked up and then down and said, "Tsk. It looks like our fun has to end here. Times almost up."
After the last word left its mouth, it dashed forward; the splitting air could be heard as it moved. The old man moved to meet him as he yelled, "LAUNCH THE POD."
BOOM!
The sound of their clash reverberated in the room; the old lady covered herself and the pod in a dome of energy as she hurriedly interacted with the pod's screen.
ARGH!
From behind came the loud cry of a man in pain; as the duo looked on, they could see the old man standing still before the dark creature, a hand coming out from his back. In the hand was a beating piece of meat stained red; it was his heart.
The body dropped to the floor lifeless as the creature brought its hand to its mouth and licked it, blood dripping from the side of its lips.
"GRANDPAAAA!"
A shrill cry of the young boy sounded as the old lady hurridly fiddled with the pod's screen. Her body was shaking as light sobs could be heard coming from her as she finally backed away from the pod.
FSHHH!
The pod slowly rose from the ground; as the boy realized what was happening, he pounded and screamed, trying to break free from the restraints.
"NOOO!"
"YOU PROMISED YOU WOULDN'T LEAVE ME"
"GRANDMA, PLEASE NOT YOU TOO"
"D-DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE PLEASE"
The boy pleaded as his voice cracked, his little fists hitting the window as hard as he could, drawing blood as his skin cut and bones cracked.
He could see his grandmother looking up, tears in her eyes as she watched him pleading to her, smiling as her armor came off. Her frail body looked small, her back hunched over like he'd never seen before.
"I-I'm sorry, my little guppy."
"Grandma can't keep her promise."
"I love you so much."
As the pod took off further in the air, he looked through the window as the dark figure steadily approached his grandmother and grabbed her by the head. He watched in horror as the being crushed her head between his hands, and blood splattered all over its body.
"GRANDMAAAA!"
The boy wailed as red tears fell from his eyes. His eyes were blurry, and his breathing ragged. Through his faded vision, he saw the being he hated the most in the world flying toward the pod before coming to a stop.
He saw white clouds as multiple ships flew downwards and people fought in the air. As he started to lose consciousness, his vision flickered from seeing giant spaceships heading to a nearby planet to people of unimaginable strength fighting in space.
The pod started filling with smoke as the little boy said his last words, succumbing to exhaustion.
"Grandma Grandpa, where are you?"
"I'm scared."
"I don't like the dark."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."