The Third Breed

The reason

They still decided to have a feast since they were able to cook a decent meal. Everything was still working in the camp. From the water pump, the power, even the greenhouse was well maintained. Their stocks would be able to last up to a year or more, plus they had a steady supply of fresh food.

They became much more livelier after having a scrumptious meal of fried chicken with gravy, burgers and a side of fries. Ariel even found a chocolate cake in the refrigerator that really made Max happy.

After stuffing themselves full, they decided to have a nice bath before sleeping in soft warm beds.

Like before, they woke up before sunrise to roam around some more, Max separated from them wanting to check on something himself which they both agreed. While they on the other hand went back to the front gate, when Lance remembered about the notice board were orders are usually posted.

“Why didn’t we see this yesterday?” Lance felt irritated, he couldn’t believe what they were looking at right now.

There was an order of retreat posted on the board with a set of schedule and location for extraction. No reason nor explanation was indicated just a letter stating for all personnel's to evacuate immediately.

“Why would they order a return all of a sudden? I mean, look at this place, it’s like a small town.” Ariel was quite annoyed seeing as how much work was put on the camp.

Lance just glared at the paper, he was really pissed right now because he knew something happened within the high council again.

“Where did Max go?” He turns to Ariel.

“He went to the watch tower, he says he wanted to see the top.” Ariel immediately straightened noticing the sudden change in his manner.

“Is the gate locked?” Lance said as his lips formed a straight line trying to keep his calm.

“Yes.”

“Good, go to Max, there should be scopes at the tower, I want you to survey our surroundings for anything unusual,” He orders before turning his back on the young man.

“Okay,” Ariel answers but was feeling quite uneasy. He swallowed hard before talking. “Uhm Lance, is there something wrong?”

Lance just let out a sigh without looking back. “I have a hunch, but I’m not sure yet. Anyway, the communicators should probably be working by now, so I’m going to make a call, I’ll try to get to the bottom of this.” He gritted his teeth, fist clenched as he took heavy steps toward the main hall.

“Got it.” Ariel raised his hand in a salute before running.

Lance couldn’t help his blood from boiling just thinking of all the wasted efforts they’ve done because of some one from the higher up decided something on a whim again.

*****

“It’s me,” He says with a low weakened voice. He clenched tightly on the receiver as he waited for an answer.

“Lance?” A mans surprised voice can be heard from the other line.

He let out a smile upon hearing the old man’s voice.“Yes dad, it’s me.”

“Oh my god, I’m so glad you made it back to the camp, are you alright, did you read the notice, so when are you coming back? I can request for an escort to come and get you if you like.” His fathers voice was raspy and fast.

He could see the worried face of his dad when he felt that caring voice again. Yet it did not lessen his anger and disappointment.

“I’m fine dad, what I want right now, is to know why did they suddenly decide to abandon everything? After all our hard work and the lives that we lost,” he say with gritted teeth.

A heavy breath was heard from the other line as if someone was suddenly in remorse. “A few days ago, there was a report saying that the number of hordes recently increased in that area, they came up with the idea that the few remaining survivors there have been totally wiped out. In order to avoid any further casualties, the other council members decided best to immediately stop any remaining missions.”

“Is that the reason why there’s nobody here anymore.”

“Yes, they ordered an immediate retreat, without any prior discussions.” The man seemed to be phasing back and forth as he can hear footsteps.

“But, they can’t be sure of that, I mean we haven’t even manage to cover a percentage of the mountains here, let alone the other provinces.” He scoffs.

“Lance, I know this is hard for you, but it would be for the best.” his father says in a low and assuring manner as if talking to a little child.

“Then how the hell do you think will humanity survive?” Lance could not help raising his voice in utter frustration.

“We will think of a way, for now it would be good for everyone to go back here. Besides, it’s not like you’re going to find anyone if your unable to go any further than where you are now,” his father reasons out.

His lips straightened in a line. “We found one, we found a survivor.”

“What! Are you serious?”

He could here a bit of sarcasm from his fathers voice in disbelief. There was a long silence between them for a while.

“That’s great, that’s good news.” the old man finally says after a few more moments.

“And there may even be more of them,” Lance adds.

“Do you know what this means,” excitement and enthusiasm was suddenly in his fathers tone.

“Yes, that’s why we can’t give up now.” He says once more, pointing out the sudden withdrawal of the troops in the camp.

“But the horde, it’s...it’s still too dangerous. And I doubt the council would allow losing anymore men.” his father explains.

“A few more years and there wouldn’t be anyone at all.” His voice was shaking and deep, as he clenched the receiver tighter.

Lance could feel his blood boiling from such hypocrisy. He knew full well that the high council only worried about themselves, not actually giving a damn about the people under them. That was the only reason they called the troops back.

Again there was a long pause on the other line.

“Lance it’s just…,” his father heaved for a moment realizing what was about to come.

“I understand dad, that’s why I called you. I want you to make sure that they continue sending supplies here in the camp every month.”

He knew full well what his father could and couldn’t do, that’s why he already planned ahead of what they can do for the time being.

“Lance, you can’t .”

“I need to dad,” he cuts him off. “There are still people out there who need our help and we need them, if we want to avoid total extinction.”

“I’ll do what I can,” his fathers voice was now low and meek, a sign of defeat.

“And another thing dad, can you make sure that we’d have a rule in regards with survivors, I don’ want to make sure that no one would be able to touch him when we get back, I don’t want any stupid ideas from those in the lab.” He says in a much more warm and low voice.

His father let out a sarcastic chuckle. “So, It’s a he.”

Lance could hear a bit of disappointment from the old mans tone.

“Yes dad, and he’s about my age. And from what he has told me, I can assume there are still others, more in fact,” he says back at him.

Again he could hear a heavy sigh from him, Lance could see the old man wiping his eyes in disapproval and a possible headache.

“Dad?” he says in a sweet and mild manner. Trying to lighten up the mood again.

“Yeah, I’m here.” The man now sounded a bit calmer.

“Don’t worry, I can take care of myself,”

“Just make sure you come back, alright.” The man’s voice was a little shaky again.

Lance could not help but smile. “I will dad.”

“Lance we have a big problem!” Ariel burst into the door, eyes wide and sweating heavily while gasping for air.

“I need to go dad.” Lance bit his lip and closed his eyes.

“Lance what’s .”

He ended the call before his father could even finish. He didn’t want to worry him anymore nor did he want to waste anymore time.

“Whats wrong?” He stands and looks Ariel in the eye, face straight as he tries to make sure his emotions remain unruffled.

Ariel composed himself. “A...A horde is marching towards our location, coming from the north, and from what Max said its a different group.”

His forehead creased, he wasn’t anticipating an encounter this fast and of all the places here in their camp. “And where is Max right now?”

“He wanted to go and confront it, but, I manage to stop him. I told him to wait for your orders since you might have an idea, so he’s waiting at the gate right now.” Ariel was being uneasy now as he was walking in place from the tension.

“That’s good, we better make sure he’s still there,” Lance taps his friends shoulder to calm him down.

Ariel nods and he quickly moves ahead of the young man. They both ran fast towards the gate and felt relieve when they saw their companion impatiently waiting.

“Max,” Lance calls out when they were near him.

The man turns, eyes fierce and his face was quite grim. “We need to stop the horde.”

“Yes, I know, but we need to plan first, okay,” he says in a calming manner.

He needed to make sure to keep everyone of them as safe as possible, specially now that they all had come so far.

“Okay,” Max just nods.

He turns to Ariel. “How far are they?”

“With their speed, I’d say half a day or more, but it’s different for the ones that have manage to wander off into the road, those things could get here faster.” Ariel states.

“And how many do you think there are?”

“Less than a thousand.”

“Their fewer than the once we encountered.” Somewhat he felt relax, after hearing that.

“Yeah.” Ariel seem to also have the same feeling.

“Alright then, Me and Max will secure our perimeter first, Ariel you go back to the watch tower and be on the look out for any other groups, raise the red flag if you see anything suspicious,”

“Got it,” Ariel did a salute then hurriedly runs to his post.

He signals Max to follow him. He was not going to let anything happen to the camp, besides it being a safe place for them, he knew very well that there might still be other scouts that were headed their way.

He needed to make sure that the place remained free from any infected as possible.

They immediately went to the warehouse, he was already going through somethings that they were going to take when he hears Max scurry, when he looked, the man was in an attack position, swords already out and ready to s***h.

“Max, what’s the problem,” he hurriedly runs beside him.

“Beast!” Max hisses pointing both katanas in the corner between two huge supply crates.

“What the…,” Lance mouth opened upon seeing the thing that startled the man.

The wind blew a tarpaulin cover, revealing a part of the huge almost human like thing kneeling in front of them.

“I can’t believe it, they actually have it here!” He runs toward it, touching the huge mechanical beauty as if to make sure it was real.

Though still frowning, Max seemed less wary after seeing how excited Lance was.

“What is that?” Max asks still keeping a short distance.

Lance faces him with a very wide grin. “This is what will help us save the base.” he pulls its cover to show the full form of what was hidden beneath it.

Max eyes grew larger, a mix of amazement and fear upon seeing the whole thing.