Chapter 2:
The year was 1969 when humanity was given its answer to there being life in the greater galaxy. The apollo mission to the moon was but mankind's first step to the realm beyond the borders of our skies. It was mankind's step into the realms of the heavens. Though the heavens above were not so welcoming to the fledgling humans.
For the question of humanities supposed isolation in the wider universe was answered on that day. Upon the surface of the moon humanity was greeted by its heavenly neighbor in the form of the Space Monsters. Extra-terrestrial Creatures of unimaginable size of power soon descend upon the newly heavens faring humans, ripping them of their glorious step into the sky beyond their world.
For the next few decades to come, humanity has been locked into total war for survival against the heavenly invaders. Which each battle more of humanity was slowly being stripped away. Losing not just territories but lives as well. No matter what methods and technology mankind has thrown at them wasn't enough. Nothing was enough in the face of the invaders beyond the stars.
Mankind was pushed to the brink, with all collectives' will and voices crying out for a single hope of solvation. Yet though the heavens smit them back down to the ground their cries were heard and answered by the very same heavens that denied them before.
Current time 0630. Year 2116.
"Hey~! Hey Yin Wu Ying (Silver Martial Hero) wake the hell up man, we're going to be late you god damn sloth!" a loud voice boomed through the air. Yin Wu Ying the subject of the matter. Groaned and mumbled a swear under his breath. Turning away from the open window, where the crisp fresh breeze blew slighting against the thin curtains. Beams of sunlight pierced through the veil and illuminating the space within. Yin Wu Ying pulled his bed sheets over his head. In a desperate attempt to block out the noise coming from the outside world.
"Stop hibernating you damn bear and get up~!" The voice came again through the open window. through the opening leading into the medium size room. Filled with all the sorts of decorations and instruments that a young youth needs and desires. Weights, workout stations, a desk litter with literature instruments, along with other necessities one would have in their room. In the far end at the corner lay the bed, to which Yin Wu Ying hid underneath the bed sheets.
Yin Wu Ying who was being called upon, pulled his pillow over his ears in a futile attempt to block out the noise. However, the rumbling rabble continued with his assault.
"Come on Yin Wu Ying its way past the time that we all agree upon you as well!"
It seemed that there was more than just the one.
Groaning in frustration, Yin Wu Ying slowly shifted in his bed. Before finally after a few more seconds listening to the racket that was coming from the outside. Threw off his blanket rising from his bed letting out a huff frustration. He stomped on over to the open window, his footfalls resonating around the room.
Coming up to the window, his voice protruding through the open portal as he sighed. Looking over the vast scenery before him. the vast blue sky with spotted clouds. The sea of trees that littered outside the great outer walls of their academy standing tall and proud. Looking downward he gazed upon the source of the disturbance of his day. A party of equally young, aged men to him. The lead figure upon seeing Yin Wu Ying flashed a toothy grin. Even as Yin Wu Ying began to berate him.
"Oh, shut up Wu it's a weekend, and we're off today I can sleep as long as I want." Yin Wu Ying shouted to the figure below on the pavement grounds.
"It's precisely because it's a weekend and it's a day off that we should take our time and enjoy it. Why waste in just laying around in bed like you're."
"It's precisely because it's a day off that I want to sleep in, you know that I love my sleep and this place robs me of that, and now you are too." Yin Wu Ying retorted again, frustration being to build within him.
"All I hear are but excused and a lazy bastard who doesn't have any drive. Get off your ass and get down here already we're losing daylight chop-chop!" Wu spoke or rather practically shouting due to the distance.
"Rah~, alright~! Just give me a minute." Yin Wu Ying stepped away from the open window. then without ceasing in his stride. Began doffing his pajamas, basking in the cool breeze coming in from the window upon his nude form.
Tossing aside the PJs letting them fall upon one of the work bench stations. He strode towards the closet on the opposite side of the room. Opening it to reveal the neatly packed rows and hung uniforms. Brushing aside the clothes on the hangers he reaches deeper into the closet, picking out his intended articles.
Sometime later. After Yin Wu Ying had finished donning on his chosen dresswear. He heads down the stairs of the dormitory. Being on the third floor of the building it took some time for him to reach the first floor. Though he wasn't rushing to being with. He wasn't the sole occupant of the building dorm Afterall. Other souls walked and littered about the halls and stairs. The sheer amount hindering his progress. By the time he finally reached the door leading to the outside world the sun ray peeking through the glass doors. Carrying the voice of Wu through the glass screen.
"Well~! It seems that sleeping beauty has finally decided to grace us with her presence!"
Walking through the portal, came the chirpy voice of Wu greeting Yin Wu Ying before he had even come upon the group at the front.
"Oh, would you just shut up already I'm here alright. So quit your-"
Then came the roaring sound of an engine overhead. Then came the tidal wave of air current that sweep over the group, as a massive shadow loomed over the head of the group. Which then quickly passed the silhouette of a large humanoid flew over the dormitory building. Hovering overhead was a large mechanical humanoid. Thruster flaring behind it propelling it forward, rushing towards the open field close by.
"Hey~, you're not supposed to fly outside of the designated flying zone you ass~!" Yin Wu Ying screamed through the turbulence. Though his words were cut short due to the turbulence, thus his cries fell upon deaf ears.
"Damn bastards! Once the adrenaline gets to them it's like nothing else around them matters anymore!"
"Hey, it's not like you were any different." Wu retorted beside him, slapping his shoulder. A light try to comfort his friend.
"Yeah, who was it again that nearly crashed into the hanger bay at their first flight simulation?" another voice chimed in next.
"Oh, shut it Tony it was a onetime mistake, and it only happened at that time." Yin Wu Ying spat out flustered at this dark history of his past.
"Really? I also seem to recall that other incident where you---"
"Ah~! Are you all here just pick at my past at my expense after dragging me out of my bed on a day off, I'll Walk out on you guys right now." Yin Wu Ying threatened, even began walking off to show his intent.
"Alright-alright not harm was intended chill out bro." Wu pulled him back before Yin Wu Ying could step away. With that out of the way. They made their way down the walkways. The route littered with numerous other parties of young men whom all were going about their own adventures of the day. Yin Wu Ying's group continued on their merry way. Chattering about whatever was the hottest topic that came to their minds. Then suddenly a question came to his mind.
"So, who else is coming along and where exactly are we heading to?"
Yin Wu Ying then as though finally remembering requested the one thing out of his merry party of friends who so desired his presence.
"First, we're going to meet up with Hong at the gate, we're all hitting up the bar. Hong said he hooked us up with a date, they're already outside waiting on us because someone was taking his sweet time getting up."
Wu spoke sarcastically hinting it towards Yin Wu Ying. To which Yin Wu Ying replied back with an annoyed sign and a shrug.
"Didn't get an invite."
"Bullshit you simply forgot about it! You just forget about shit that you don't care about. We've discussed this for months now."
"Why would I bother remembering it if it wasn't important?" Yin Wu Ying retorted back as though it was such a ridiculed concept to consider to begin with.
"You-"
Before Wu could say his piece. His words were cut short with a slight tremor that vibrated the ground all around them.
"Woah~."
Everything then still as though the tremor didn't just happen. The group just stood still after catching their balance, not taking any other action. Aside from looking around their surroundings and towards each other. It wasn't just them others around the group was of the same mind. All movement had ceased almost at the same moment. Worried confused gazes darted around the area as if looking for a hidden threat in plain sight.
"What was that? An earthquake?"
"Could be there have a been quite a lot hitting Alaska lately."
At those words the world shifted and trembled violently. It was a though they suddenly found themselves in a bounce house.
"Woah it's a big one alright~!" Tony shouted. Alarm and worry bleeding from the tone of his voice.
"This is something else entirely~! There has never been one like this~!"
Yin Wu Ying screamed as then suddenly his sense kicked into overdrive by the tremors.
The world tumbled and turned. Everything was spinning now, objects twisted and melded together in a sick mixture of matter and colors. Yin Wu Ying didn't understand what he was looking at anymore. Then came the screams, not only his own but others. At first it was one, then many. Then back to one again this time an amalgamation, cacophony of different voices, sounds and other elements. Yin Wu Ying couldn't tell his senses were just not with him. He was on his feet, then he was in the air then back on the ground.
The next thing Yin Wu Ying saw was blurry images of his surroundings. Nothing seemed right, nor felt right. His head was spinning; all sensations were running haywire. He couldn't make heads or tails of anything. His head felt bloated, becoming numb from his brain trying to process what was happening. Yet the human mind was never capable of harnessing this type of information. Everything was distorted, before then finally darkness had claimed him. All sense then ceased leaving him in blissful nothingness.
Yin Wu Ying didn't know when he had awakened, though he felt sleepy so very sleepy. Nothing seemed to work right. The first being his eyes, his eyelids felt so heavy. He couldn't muster the strength to open them. It had taken a much greater strength than usually required to perform a simple feat. What greeted his eyes was the blaring sun, though fuzzy his sight was. That was the first thing that registered, even through the blur. Next came the sensation of his limbs, first his arms slowly but surely life was restored into those limbs.
He could now feel his entire body. It burned as life was slowly creeping back into each and every part of his mortal frame. Though he soon found that his lips weren't under the same spell.
"Hey, is everyone alright?!" Yin Wu Ying shouted with all his might in his vocal cords could muster, his voice carried by the wind to all those around him. The slightly muffled moans and groans of those nearby were all that answered him. To him though it was enough for now.
"What-what happened~? I think we just got hit by an earthquake or something." From the side the familiar voice of Wu answered.
Hefting his head up Yin Wu Ying groaned once more. He looked up to the sky, it seemed to be near dusk. Have they been unconscious for that long? Nothing felt right, he could feel it, smelled it, tasted it even, it was in the air itself. The stale tainted air of the city was far more pungent than before. Yet the taste was wrong, the taste was stronger yet also mixed in with a new flavor. The taste of ash and death. There was no denying that flavor.
"We need to get higher. We need more elevation to see." Pushing up to stand on his feet. Though life was slowly restored it was still difficult for him to retain his balance on the first try. Thus, he stumbled, though he caught himself just enough to stand. Before long he began to slowly waddle his way towards the nearest academy building in sight.
"Huh-what, what you mean?" Wu stuttered behind Yin Wu Ying, yet he followed without a second of hesitation or doubt. Wu and several others followed suit.
The climb up the stairs was painful, they never felt this way before. They knew they felt young men and they've climbed these same stairs for the last three years. There wasn't anything new to them, it was themselves personally. The toll of their bodies was evidently more severe than they had originally thought. Yet still they paid little heed to the aguish cries of their bodies and pushed onwards. Upon reaching the top of the building pushing aside the attic doors, the gust of air immediately assaulted their senses. They rushed to the side overlooking the outside perimeter of the academy grounds. The fears he had accumulated along the way had come to fruition. What he saw before sent all his fears and worries into overdrive.
Though not fully illuminated by the supposedly now rising daylight. The landscape was lit just enough before him to see. It was desolate and in ruin. The sea of trees that surround the academy grounds was gone. Then he could see in the far distance the once bustling city town in the distance that should be filled with lights and noise of life was all gone. The city before his eyes was nought but ruins. That was impossible, just moments before it had been a normal city. At least it should be in his mind and memory. How? How was the question that repeated in his mind. The city town before his eyes was now in ruins. Like those in movies and horror post apocalypse games scenarios. Yin Wu Ying stood in stunned silence. His mind was ajar; no thoughts or words could be formed in his mind. What could he even say?
"What-what happened? What-what is going on here. Why is everything in tatters?" Tony stammered beside him gazing upon the same sight. His body was beginning to tremble as if the first tell signs of a spasm.
"I don't know, the main question is where exactly are we anyway?" Yin Wu Ying replied back to Tony absentmildly. His eyes scanning the surroundings, looking for any indication or landmark that could tell him what he desired.
"This is a dream. It's all a sick dream this must be."
"Get a grip Tony this isn't a dream."
Yin Wu Ying heard beside him he didn't know who it was. Truthfully, he didn't care. His mind focused on the scenery before him. Soon he found the answer he sought. Pointing a single digit towards his target. Drawing the attention of his bickering friends to what he was indicating to.
"There, that's the Katmai National Park River right there." Yin Wu Ying then releases his arm letting it fall down unceremoniously. The shock and disbelief release the tension in his body. he would have fallen to his knee. If not for the fact his posture had locked his knees in place.
"Oh, shit. We're still in Alaska. Bu-but what happened? Were all the words he could muster in him. He simply didn't have any other words. What else could have been said. Not just him, everyone else in attendance was the same.
"Well, we won't know by simply staying here." Tony's voice cut into the silence lingering within the group. Drawing all eyes to him.
"We should send a team out to find any survivors out there." Wu pointing a single digit outward into the beyond.
"You want to send someone out there?" Tony asked incredulously of his friend. "Have you gone mad?"
"Oh, come now what other ideas do you have in mind?
"Enough! We will take any actions necessary for this situation but first we need help the others first."
Yin Wu Ying said out loud. Smothering the fire that was beginning to burn between them. There was no time for them to begin fighting amongst themselves. He then led his team back down the stairway and back to the chaos below.
Hours later, since the revelations with the sun high up above the clouds signaling the peak of noon. The academy grounds were riddled all sorts of activity. Many moving pieces littered the ground of the academy. Like ants moving about in their mounds, those that could move were rushing about the school grounds looking for others that have yet been found. Others tend to the few wounded uncovered. Those with technical skills worked tirelessly to restore whatever they could to academy.
Each team had their task and knew what needed to get done. Long would their work be. Yet that didn't dissuade them from their duties. For there was much that needed to be done. One small team was gathered near the front of the gate leading out into the world. A small gathering of the academy students to see the departing party that would their safe grounds. Yin Wu Ying at the head along with the rest of his party. After gathering their bearing, they made for the veil beyond.
"Ok take care out there guys, there no telling what's out there if anything really." Tony called out after the group. His voice carried through the air.
"Yes dad we will." Yin Wu Ying responded sarcastically. "Don't worry too much, you just keep focusing on fixing on the Nova Link we need that up pronto." He responded back as the group began their march towards the new outer world beyond.
Sometime later.
It had been hours since they began their trek, the sun beginning to set over the mountains in the horizon now. The exportation team had journeyed to the nearby small town or city that was near the hidden academy grounds. Since then, they had explored every nook and cranny of the space. There had not been any shred of life signs within the area. Not just the nonexistent wildlife, that ought to be lingering around. Even the vegetation was all but husk and dead. Even the air tasted stall and decayed. Fouled by the linger stench of death. Everything before them was in tatters and ruin with only the slightest hint of civilization being present here before.
"Gah~, this place sure has seen better days. Seriously though Pt-! Pt-! What happened here?" Wu gagged out his mouth. Fighting with the invisible enemy that's assaulting his mouth. Spitting out the foul air to no avail.
"It would usually take years for an environment to decay to such a state, no Hong?" he continued while wading through the dust filled field the group was trekking through. Each step only kicked up more dust. No matter how light he stepped. A puff of dust was kicked up along with each footfall. When the first few steps into this wasteland proved unachievable, he ceased his efforts.
"More like hundreds of years for things to turn out like this. Everything is dead or decaying around here. This didn't just happen just recently." Hong answered though not looking at Wu still looking off towards his line of sight where he stood at. He then squatted down his hand grasping at the dust cover ground. Picking up a handful of dust and what could be ash. Before releasing his digits letting the dust flow and carried off into the wind.
"Yeah, no shit sherlock we can see that." Another member of the group responded sarcastically, his eyes still scanning the surrounding scenery. Eyes focused like a hawk on a hunt.
"Alright we looked there's nothing here let's go back." Hong said, before turning on his heel. beginning the trek back the way they came.
"Dude we can't just give up now." Wu stopped Hong trying to reason his with friend out of this rash decision.
"Look there's nothing here, no point in us walking around like headless chickens, we're better off heading back to the academy and getting a signal out. If there's any shred of civilization remaining, they will receive it."
Hong replied before continuing. "It's getting late we really don't want to be out here when the light goes out." Everyone else in the group seemed to agree to this.
"I second that reasoning, alright lets-." Yin Wu Ying addressed his companions before he was cut off.
"What's that?" A member off to the edge of the group spoke now pointing towards something overhead. Drawing everyone else's attention toward that direction as well. Yin Wu Ying heard it before he even turned to face it. Over the horizon a cloud of dust could be seen. Then came familiar sound of tire tracks on dirt road. Carried by the air across the desolate plains. Over the hill in the distance the answer came. A plume of dust rising up into the sky in the distance. From that came a trail of vehicles, dust clouds tailed their backs. The vehicles speeded down the dirt trail, the nose of the lead vehicle was pointed at them.
"Well, seems like it's the locals and they're heading right for us alright." Hong said the urgency evident in his voice.
"So, what's the plan? Wu asked turning to Yin Wu Ying. The rest of the group, though initially relived now, also felt a sense of unease at the supposed reassuring sight.
"Just hold fast, let's not give them any reason to shoot us on sight." Yin Wu Ying said to ease the nerves of his comrades. Stepping forward, to take point at the head of the group. Soon the distance between them and the incoming convoy shortened in a manner of minutes. No one spoke and no one made any moves.
The convoy came to a quick halt. Breaks shrieking, lumen headlights basking the party. The brightness caused them to look away just briefly as their eyes adjusted. Then the doors flew out and out came the natives. Soldiers dressed in strange thick and bulky armor, wielding equally strange weapons that Yin Wu Ying didn't recognize. Covering over what appeared to be plated armor over military fatigues. The style and coloration matched with nothing that struck him as familiar.
'What kind of model is that rifle? Doesn't look familiar.' Hong asked from behind, not particularly loud just enough for the others to hear. Though of course no answer was given.
Those thoughts however were irrelevant, as it clearly wasn't a prop. Slowly, Yin Wu Ying and his party raised their hands up, realizing the severity of the situation they now found themselves in. They knew better than attempting any heroics. They would be shot dead on the spot should they try. Including the fact that, they themselves were unarmed. Cursing themselves for not arming themselves properly before setting on their journey.
The lead armored figure, who seemed to be the leader, took a stride forward their weapons still held up, its barrel pointed at them. Towards Yin Wu Ying in particular being at the head of his group. The duo now locked eyes, ones whose face was exposed, the other was obscured with a faceplate. No words were spoken, no actions taken, and no one made a move. The silence lasted for eternity, truthfully was only a few seconds, which was then broken by the armored figure in front of Yin Wu Ying.
"Who the hell are you?"