Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Science Fiction

Its the year AE 671. Many millennia since the great war, Now things are quite different... We soldiers are heavily trained to fight an enemy we know nothing about, We just know them as Styxians. They are described to be humanoid in appearance, and is extremely hostile and deadly. As soldiers we don't question what the higher ups make us do. Its just right to fight for what we believe in. And its a privilege for me to enforce it. Until I learned the truth.  -Pvt. Janella Pierce

Chapter 1 Soldiers of fortune

I usually start my routine In a military fashion... I wake up, prepare my gear breakfast then go. But not today... I have my gear, just not a camp to go to. I've been discharged with shame from failing to protect the high general from a Styxian attack... How was I supposed to know that person is a Styxian. It looked human. More so than the Wardens and Undine. I guess its the bar today again. (Janella gets up from the couch that she slept in and took her gear from the table nearby, she looked back at her shabby room) haha... I only have a couch for a bed and a table with a single plate. Today is gonna be a good day of drinking. (Janella opens the door and slams it) She gets out to a  tight hallway where other people wearing ragged clothing pass by. She was in a home for the homeless. Janella stretched her arms and walked down the hall. Passing by other soldiers who are also homeless and people who look like they would Rob you if they get the chance. New planet still the same poverty. They said Planet Aurora would provide everyone's needs. They Lied... When we left earth in search of a new home, our ancestors found a planet full of life and the locals welcomed them. But things always change. They said the Styxians mounted an attack on all of the other races. Gurkha, Warden, Undine, and us Humans. That's what my people people say. But whenever I hear the story from an Undine or a Warden they say different stuff. Its confusing. As I went on and on I quickly felt a tap on my left shoulder. I looked back and checked. Its my friend who is also on the way to the bar. She tagged along with me, Her name is Diva, a Private who was also discharged from the army. We're both looking for work. And we heard in the bar someone was looking for adventures to hire and join them on an expedition. This is money, we need money. The bar is located beneath the establishment Diva and I live in. For some reason the bar earns from the poor. And the poor always had enough money to drink until drunk. We took the service elevator going down, its faster that way. When we got to the basement the smell of fermented garbage filled the air. We both wore our gas masks and readied our weapons in case we meet trouble. Down here its kill or be killed. No matter what your position is... Its pretty dark here, and the only thing illuminating it is the red light that's shining on the bar backdoor. I banged on the door while Diva covers my 6:00. The bouncer opened the small eye window on the door and looked at us. The bouncer then told us "He's in the back, still looking for more people"
The bouncer opened the iron door and let us in. The bar has blue and red strobing lights, we both took our gas masks off and inhaled the fresh scent of High quality wine and beer in the air. The Bouncer then tapped us both and pointed us to a man wearing a black cloak and is talking to a lot of people. "That's him over there" I told him thanks and proceeded to approach the well dressed man, The man is standing near a corner table while 5 other people sitting down and listening to him talk. The table had 2 extra chairs available and I thought what luck for Diva and me. The corner is isolated from the party and the noise of the bar. As we get close the man suddenly looked at us and smiled. "I've been expecting you, Please sit down." Diva was surprised to see the people who applied were different species, but they were different from normal. A warden without wings, A red Undine instead of blue. A Scaleless Gurkha, A Morpher with form. And the last guy was hard to tell. He was wearing full body armor from head to toe. As we sit, Diva nudges me and slowly tilts her head and whispers. "These people are wanted criminals" The Gurkha heard Diva and put his firearm on the table, and replied to her, "Do you have a problem with that?" Knowing who these people are now I immediately apologized on Divas' Behalf. The man suddenly sat down with us and told all of us to listen. "Now that all of you are acquainted... Let's get down to business. I need you all to keep me safe while we explore and excavate a tomb, located near an ancient castle on the north of the floating continent."
"How much will you pay us for it?" The Warden asked. "A million Global currency each" the man said, and immediately slid a blue card on all of us. "What is this?" I asked him. "I pay in advance" the man replied. "Now take it and be ready, we will depart tonight" the man said. The rest did not hesitate and took the cards and walked towards the bar counter to buy beer. I wanted to follow next but curiosity hit me. I asked the man "What is your race, You are not from here aren't you?" Diva stopped me and told me not to ask questions about our employer. The man smiled and told her its alright. "I am a Praetorian born on planet Sigma praetor" "why did you come here" I asked him. He replied to me "To find out what happened to my friends and colleagues" and I told him lastly "Can you tell us your name?" He smiled and told me "when we are done with this then I will tell you" Diva kept tugging me to go already. We excused ourselves and went to the bar as well to talk to the other hired guns. This job has a different feel to it. Like its not right. The day is still hot and early. Tonight we depart. Best to suit up and rest.