Rex was still a baby, but he was intelligent. He observed how his people lived in this godforsaken world. Every day, the people of his race formed groups and went deeper inside the caves to find food. What they usually brought back was always the same: a small amount of water and some red fruits. According to the elder of the tribe, these fruits were edible. There was not much choice.
So Rex drank water, a very small amount, and ate the red fruit every day. Days went like this, and with every passing day he grew more intelligent. Even the people of the tribe were shocked by his mind. They found him to be even more gifted than themselves.
At the age of only a few weeks, he was already different. By the time he was one year old, he had started to talk. At one and a half years, he could walk. Day by day, he learned new things and gained new knowledge. He also began to learn the history of his race, how they were once the most powerful on this planet, but then the Kanju came and began killing and enslaving them for their ability. Their minds had strange powers connected to time, sharper than any other race. He learned why they lived inside caves, and why he had never seen the sun everyone spoke of.
And so, years passed. Every day he ate, drank the little water they had, and learned. At the age of 5, Rex created a simple instrument using the limited resources they had. With it, he was able to increase the amount of water the tribe could collect.
Years went on. By the time Rex was 15, he was already considered a star among his people, though he was still just a child to them. Because of his inventions, he was given special rations. His mind was their greatest treasure. Everything was going smoothly, like every other day. His parents went to the deeper caves to search for food, just as they always did.
Now Rex was 16 years old. Like any other day, he used his mind to create new things for the tribe and proposed new concepts that intrigued everyone. While he worked, Lima, his aunt, was cooking food for the tribe. Some people slept, others chatted. The elder Arik was inside his cave, doing important work.
Then suddenly he heard a voice. At first, it was faint, so faint he almost dismissed it. But then it came again, louder this time. He stopped what he was doing, listening carefully. Then he heard it clearly.
"RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! THEY ARE COMINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!"
The voice echoed through the caves, over and over.
"RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! THEY ARE COMINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!"
"RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! THEY ARE COMINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!"
The voice grew louder and louder, until the entire Zeno tribe heard it. Everyone became tense.
Rex, who was busy with his work, heard it too.
"Hm? What's this? Someone is shouting." He stood up and walked out of his cave. He found all the people gathered around Arik's house. Rex also went there.
"What is go" Before he could finish, the voice roared again through the caves.
"RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! THEY ARE COMINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!"
Everyone froze, even Rex.
Hearing it, Rex did not need to ask. With his sharp mind, he understood. Something had happened to the food-gathering group. Fear filled him as he realized his mother and father were part of that group. He became nervous, hoping nothing bad had happened, but dread filled him. His eyes turned toward Arik's house.
Just then, Arik stepped out. The old elder leaned on a wooden stick. Around him were 58 people, all looking at him with fear and questions. Rex and Lima were among them.
Rex stepped forward and asked, "What is happening? Who is shouting?" He already knew, but his mind did not want to accept it. The others too began to question.
"What is happening?"
"Did something happen?"
"Run? Run where? If we go to the surface, we'll die from the sun. If it's night, we'll die from the cold winds. What should we do, Elder?"
The old man shouted, silencing them.
"STOP! Listen to me."
Everyone became quiet, even Rex.
Arik looked at them all and said, "Even I don't know exactly what's happening. But I hear it clearly. Run, they are coming. There is only one possibility. The Kanju have found us."
The people froze.
"Does that mean we are not safe here?" asked one.
The old man just lowered his head and said, "If the Kanju have found us, then we are done. We are the last of our race. Today might be the end of us. And so be it. I am happy to have you all as my family." He raised his voice. "I give you two choices. One, stay here and face what is coming. Two, go deeper into the caves. Choose whatever you want."
Some people ran back to their caves to gather their belongings, preparing to flee deeper into the caverns. Others stayed where they were, preparing to face whatever was coming.
Rex was among those who stayed. In his mind, one thought burned. Whatever comes, I will face it.
But then Lima came behind him. "Rex, come with me. You can't stay here."
Rex turned, angry. "What do you mean, Aunty? My mother and father are out there with the food group. I must wait for them."
Hearing him, Lima began to cry. She knew Rex was intelligent, but he had no experience with what was coming here. To her, he was still a child. She wasn't crying for Rex, but for her sister Nima. Deep down, she knew the truth. Her sister was either already dead or had been enslaved by the Kanju.
Thinking of this, she wept harder. But Rex, stubborn, argued again. "Aunty, I need to stay here. I need to wait for my mother"
"SLAP"
Lima slapped him across the face, then pulled him into a hug. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "Rex, please come with me. You are the last of my family in this world. I don't want to lose you too. Please. You are intelligent, the most intelligent person I have ever seen. I know you already understand the fate of your mother and father. Please, don't deny it. Please."
Rex's body froze. He knew what she said was true. His mind had already accepted it, but his heart refused.
After some hesitation, he finally followed her. Together, they ran deeper into the underground cave network, away from the tribe.
Back at the tribe, where Arik stood, the people took defensive stances.
Once again, the voice echoed.
"RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN! THEY ARE CO"
The voice cut off. Then, a new voice, a mocking girlish one, rang out from the caves.
"You shout too much, you bitch."
The Zeno tensed, surrounding the entrance where the sound came from.
Out of the darkness, a silhouette emerged. A girl stepped forward into the dim light of the Zeno tribe's base. She had long pink hair, white plated armor, and a slim suit beneath it. Her chest heaved with each confident step. In her hand, she dragged a chain.
At the other end of the chain was a Zeno girl, collared in white metal, dragged like an animal.
Arik's eyes widened. "Nimaaaaaa!"
The pink-haired girl looked at the Zeno people before her and smirked. "Finally. Found you fuckers. Do you know how many years it took me to track you down."
Behind her, more armored figures appeared. White armor, white helmets. All of them were dragging chained Zeno race people, conscious or unconscious.
Arik and his people stepped back. More and more soldiers poured into the cavern.
The pink-haired girl clicked her tongue. "Hmm. Fewer than I expected." She turned to the white-helmeted soldiers. "You shit heads, split into teams and search the caves. Find all the hiding ones and bring them here."
Then she looked back at Arik and the Zeno people. Her eyes glinted. "Capture them," she said.
Seeing that the end was coming, Arik's voice roared. "Fight. Today might be our last fight. Fight for our race"
His words cut short. The girl raised her right hand, and it morphed into a blaster. Without hesitation, she fired.
Arik's chest exploded, a hole burning straight through him. He dropped to his knees, falling to the ground.
Seeing this, the people were shocked and filled with fear.
The pink-haired girl sneered. "Capture these people alive. We need more slaves for the upcoming AI machines and ships. Their brains will make excellent material."