The Disintegration of humanity

The First Assault

Chapter 1: A new peril arises

Light lays down on the Kitrinous. A blue star rises in the distance. Followed by a purple one. The sky turns to a mix of blue and purple. The place below comes to life. The city of Kitrinous is swarmed by busy people, minding their own business. Enormous yellow buildings flood the city. And towards the outskirts, lays a small yellow house. A black door, one giant, glossy window, and a person sitting on the lawn drinking frothy, creamy coffee.

“Signs of danger on the outskirts of the Golden galaxy, eh?” He says to himself as he deeply intakes the news article on his phone.

The Golden galaxy, or also known as the Immortalis galaxias, is the place where humanity is firmly stabilized. Whereas the rest of humanity lives in unthinkable conditions and faces unimaginable problems. Though in the far future, humans still possess the same feelings, emotions, thoughts. And thus, the humans not living in Immortalis galaxias tend to hate the inhabitants of this Golden galaxy.

In the distance, a tiny speck of black comes down from the sky to the land beyond. Landing in the harsh desert where settlement was impossible. The tiny speck turned out to be a P-V501 transport vessel used by the U.H.P.F - or the United Humanity Peace Force. Its metallic grey surface shined as the light of the day fell on it. Out came a squad of six Titanium defenders. A special group in the U.H.P.F that plays a role in protecting high officials. Dressed in silvery armor, a helmet with a red visor, and Hawk guns, they stood around the vessel. A man in the same armor came out. Except for no helmet. A crest of an eagle on his chest. And a mighty sword that glowed red.

A patrol vehicle approached the vessel. With two local police officers. Curiosity flood them as they got out of the vehicle.

“Who is the one to talk to amongst you two?”

The police were taken back as the man asked in a heavy voice. The feeling of danger rushed in around the group. One of the officers, who had a silver crest of a sun on his shoulder, stepped forward, indicating that he was the person to discuss the matters with.

“A new peril has rose. The foul Nebula Flux have infiltrated the Immortalis galaxias. All is almost lost. They are almost here. But retreat is not an option. We will fight to the last man. And any reinforcements we get will be accepted”

The police officer, hearing this, understood one thing only. That he was to join the fight and gather as many as possible. For deserting the battlefield was to betray humanity and leave brothers to die.

The officer looked up at the man’s face. Focusing, he could see dried bloodstains on the man’s stern face. Scars on his face that could not be seen by the naked eye. But to those who understood reality and had seen things that most people don’t. And in the man’s eye, he could see love and loyalty for humanity. The absence of betrayal, fear, regret.

The officer nodded his head. With courage and the same loyalty. The man smiled and said,

“Loyal is something you are or are not, leaving your back open to be protected by the ones who are true. I am Sabdellion, you can address me”

The officer nodded slightly again.

A muffled, electrical murmur is heard from Sabdellion’s ear. He turns his head slightly to the left. His expression changes. The danger visible in his eyes. Turning back to the officer, he gives him a nod.

The officer understands. Not much time is left. And certainly, no time left to waste. Sabdellion turns around, signals the squad of six, and hurries back in the P-V501. The vessel takes off immediately and zooms out towards the sky. The officer looks upon the vessel. A squadron of P-V501 meets with the vessel that just took off. The officer looks upon the squadron one last time, before hurrying back to his vehicle.

And unexpectedly, an explosion takes place. The squadron is almost immediately turned into dust and ashes. The officer foresees the danger and flows back to the Kitrinous city. The one and only dwelling on this planet.

“Loyal is something you are or are not, leaving your back open to be protected by the ones who are true”

The officer’s excitement and nervousness could not be held back. He thought about the Nebula Flux. A foul alien race that devours on flesh. Kills. Extinguishes. Crushes. He has already informed the headquarters back in Kitrinous about the danger. Though tough as anyone can be, a humane brain is still exposed to fright.

“Who knew death could arrive at your door and knock any moment”

He tried to remove all thoughts of death from his mind. But that cannot be possible for a human to do. Images of dead bodies, gore, blood, flesh, violence engulfed his head.

“Alas, death has to come to everyone. All anyone can do is delay the inevitable”

He finally saw the Kitrinous city emerge from the horizon. One glance at his partner driving and saw him in the same condition as himself. Frightened, uncomfortable but a sense of loyalty.

The empty mug of coffee sat still on the floating table. The person wakes up from a long sleep on the lawn. He hears a high-pitched alarm blaring through the city. The alarm had only been used once. His face changes expression from confusion to dread. Sweat runs down his face as he sees a big, mobile fortress made of magramite arrives and parks in the middle of the massive road. The giant fortress is surrounded by tanks, military vehicles, and soldiers on all sides. Fighter jets and aircraft swarm the sky.

A person on the fortress climbs to the top and presses a small blue switch on his ear.

Chapter 2: An unexpected turn

“Attention all citizens, humanity is in critical condition. It is yet again faced with the most vicious danger. The foul Nebula Flux have penetrated our outer defenses of the Immortalis galaxias. And soon, they will arrive here. Though our military is in mass amounts, we need volunteers. Volunteers who are willing to take weapons and walk up to death’s face”

 The citizens of that area are struck by terror as they apprehend what the man says.

“We know that many will not be ready for a sacrifice, but understand our situation, Weapons are available for you. Anyone willing, kindly proceed forward and equip yourself”

Nearly every single man from the surrounding area comes forward. A transport vehicle drives forward, filled with weaponry. A soldier wearing a gas mask, a coat, and green, silvery armor equips the people with the weapons.

“H-How do you work this out?”

“This is a Lasshooter. You will need to change out the batteries when the gun doesn’t shoot anymore. Now go, we don’t have time!”

The soldier pushes along the person. With the taste of coffee still in his mouth, he proceeds to an armored transport vehicle.

“Hey, Clao!”

Someone shouts from the crowd. Clao turns around, trying to spot the person who called out. Though he tried his best to see who had called, the swarm of armed, inexperienced, terrified civilians pushed him to flow along with the wave. He was forced into one of the armored transport vehicles. A soldier closed the door. Darkness took over inside. Clao could smell sweat inside. A low humming and the random shouts from outside. Light took over again as a switch was flicked and a soldier standing inside with the same gun as the civilians had.

“We’re heading to the north of the city. There, we will regroup with the rest of the military forces. The Nebula have already reached this planet and they won’t leave us alive. I need you guys to be ready, this isn’t gon-”

The vehicle is rammed against the side. Everyone inside falls over.

“We have a Flux on our six!” The driver shouts.

“Damn!” The soldier inside angrily yells. He opens a latch on the roof of the vehicle.

“Come on! Someone get up and help me get rid of them!”

The soldier climbs up and starts shooting at the beasts chasing them. A monster shaped like a spider, but with fifteen spiky, long legs. And a foul mouth with jagged teeth stained with blood. One of the civilians climbs up with the soldier and joins him in the fight. A small Flux jumps up in the air and lands on the civilian’s head. Opening its mouth, it bites down on the head underneath it. The soldier shoots the Flux in the head. Causing it to die. But the unfortunate civilian could not be saved. The lifeless body slid back down inside. Clao turns his head as he sees the corpse fall on the vehicle floor. No head. But blood gushing out of the throat. The soldier came back in.

“Casualties are a part of the war. And cannot be avoided. Be careful out there”

The soldier goes back out. But no gunshots are heard. Clao, disgusted by what he had seen, regrets his choice. Though courage and the love for humanity were born in him at the time of the choice, it had certainly fled from his heart right now.

The soldier comes back down. One last look at the lifeless body. He sets his gun aside. And picks up the body. One of the civilians gets up to help him. Both together climb up and deposit the body. Leaving it behind on a dry field. To be swarmed by a colony of Flux. Ingurgitating on the fresh human flesh.

Inside the vehicle, the remaining group of 6 civilians waits impatiently. Sweat rolling down their faces. Terror, curiosity, and horror flooding their heart. The soldier, climbed up and aware with his gun, too waits.

“Ay, do we have many soldiers where we’re going?” one of the civilians asks the soldier.

“Loads” comes a quick, uninterested answer.

“And what about tanks and stuff?”

“Mhm”

“Then what’s the need of us, ay?”

The soldier slides down, a threatening expression on his stern face. The civilian, taken back by the hostility, remains silent and does not proceed to ask further.

“You better keep quiet, before my gun sews your mouth shut” The soldier climbs back up.

Clao, surprised by the aggression of the soldier, decided not to ask the questions that were resting in his head, eager to slip out of his tongue.

“We’re close, ready up!”

Everyone in the vehicle looks up. The soldier slides back down.

“Make sure the batteries in your guns are loaded and full. The meter on the side of the battery will tell you how much juice it has left. Or simply put, shoot at those damn creatures until you can’t anymore. Then switch the batteries. Understood?”

Everyone in the vehicle nods. Consuming the information they were just provided with. Clao, the person who had never used nor seen a gun in real life, was the most confused among all the others.

“Three small Flux in the distance, you think you can handle ‘em, Claire?” The driver shouts.

“Nothing I can’t handle” the soldier with the civilians replies.

“You sure? need any help from me?”

“All you do is wolf down food and sit all day long in the car”

The driver chuckles back in response. The soldier climbs back up. Gunshots are heard above the civilians’ heads.

“Two already dead, you worthless person!” the soldier above cries out loud. The driver chuckles hard and long. The civilians inside are amused by this. Finally relieving the stress they had for the time being. But this amusement would not last long.

“Oh crap! Everybody get down!”

The shout flows into the civilians’ ears.

Everybody ducks their head. Hands-on their weapons. Ready for something to happen. Anything. Except that. Nothing happens. Complete silence for a few seconds. As time slowly passes.

Tick Tock

The watch on Clao's hand ticks away. The soldier inside gets up. Confusion on his face. Then it hits.

The vehicle nearly tilts almost all the way to the left. The soldier goes back up and starts shooting wildly. A couple of civilians get up to join the soldier. The giant Flux wildly tries to bite at the peoples’ heads. With its massive, long legs scraping against the surface of the vehicle. The bullets penetrate through the Flux’s body. Causing it to fall back and lay on the desert. Lifeless. Dead. The civilians and the soldier come back down. Sweat and purple blood stuck on their faces and clothing.

“Where’s the third guy that was with us?” the soldier asks as he monitors the group of people in front of him.

“It took him with itself” was the reply from one of the civilians.

Silence fell upon the vehicle.

Chapter 3: The chain of time

“Run, Clao Run!”

Clao’s small legs take him running through the streets. Deafening gunshots are heard behind him. A squadron of giant fighter jets passes above him. Clao looks behind him. Fire reaching up to the sky in the distance. All the buildings, houses, markets, everything brought down to dust and rubble.

The Nebula Flux had killed his family in front of his eyes. His father sacrificed himself to make an escape way for his ten-year-old son.

Clao, still a child, could not comprehend the events that were taking place. Walking slowly backward, he saw a massive explosion in the distance. Getting back up from falling down, he runs over to a pile of debris and sits down behind it. Tears roll down his face as he sobs uncontrollably. Then, out of thin air, a Flux comes crashing down in front of him Clao manages to get back up and start running. Running for his life. Hearing only footsteps. And the occasional snarl of the Flux behind him. But his ankle twisted. Causing him to fall. The Flux gained upon him.

Clao looked back at the gaining Flux. As large as Clao himself. Clao’s heart was replenished with terror and horror. The Flux was close. Close as it could ever get.

But Clao, being the fortunate child he was, did not fall into the pit of death. The Flux was thrown away from Clao. A man. A normal man with no combat experience and had no idea who the child getting attacked by the Flux was. His face was stained with fresh blood. Clothes with mud. And figure with scars. His dark green eyes showed no remorse. As if he had lost everything there was to lose. And wanted to make his last drops of life count. And took the chance when he saw a child nearly being consumed by a Flux.

Clao arduously got up to his feet. Staring at the person as if he had never seen someone alive before

“Get…out…son!”

The man cried out as he lay beneath the deathly Flux. Its sharp claws at the end of its legs millimeters away from the man’s forehead. His hands were bloodied from holding the sharp blade away from puncturing through his head. And sending his soul up.

Clao started to run. Run as much as he could. As far as his little legs could take him. But curiosity took over him. He turned back. One last time. To take a look at his savior.

Blood dripped from the man’s hands onto his face. Sweat and Blood on his almost devastated hands were causing them to slip. Slip and let the blade fall down.

“You damned beast!”

His hands were starting to slip. The blade edged closer. And closer. And closer. And closer until it marked a small cut on his head. The man’s hands were starting to tremble. He knew he couldn’t keep up with the vigor contained in this beast. Who was starving for flesh. Thirsty for blood.

Clao could see the man’s struggle. He wanted to do something. Anything. As long as he could help the man. But there was nothing he could do. He found himself useless. And at last, witnessed the death of another person.

The man’s hands were slipping more. Blood from his hands was pouring down on his face. Blinding him. And at last. His hands slipped. The blade punctured through. Forcing its way down his head. Blood came oozing out of the hole. His eyes rolled back in his head. The blood made a little lake around him. And the Flux could now quench his thirst and fulfill his hunger.

Clao screamed at the top of his lungs. Turned around. And ran. He wanted to be away from this m******e. Wanted to live a peaceful life. He screamed as he ran. But no one heard him. Even the Flux. It was too busy in its butchery. Clao managed to get to his house. A small yellow house. Clao sprinted inside. Locked the door. And sat down. Crying.

If not for his loud sobs, he would not have been found by a scout squad searching for survivors. Rescued from the chaotic events occurring. He still had the images of all the deaths he saw flashing in his head.

“Wake up mate, we’ve arrived”

Clao opened his eyes. He was back in the vehicle. With the group civilians and the soldier that accompanied them. He looked at the person that had awakened him. It was the same person that had angered the soldier. His bushy eyebrows and small black eyes stared at the soldier.

“You all better get ready. I think we’ve seen enough of what the hellish beasts are capable of. In small amounts”

Clao could hear distant gunshots. Shouting, explosions, crying. Everything could be heard. The vehicle shook a bit when a loud shot was heard. Dust and particles on the floor jumped when the vehicle drove over something. Possibly a corpse of a Flux. Or perhaps a human.

“You all ready?”

A silent nod was the response. As if nobody was enthusiastic about it. Which was clear and did not need any reason asked.

The soldier gave them one last look. Then approached the back of the vehicle. Opening the door to possibly hell.