Premonition 2: The Battle for Earth

Chapter #2: Doubts

***Meanwhile, Mecha Station Hospital***

As a feeling of dread set in, Keiji Duranheim knew that he had made a monumental error. Stryker was a type of person that he had never encountered before. Cunning, deceitful, and willing to sacrifice anything for his cause. Keiji had been outmatched and outplayed in the game of Premonition’s. To make matters even more abundantly clear, his team; the New Mecha Warriors, were looking to him for advice – yet he had none. There was no call back from Fox, and he usually answered Keiji right away. The only thing was to assume that Zeta Society had gotten to Fox. Looking away from his team, Keiji felt doubful he could come back from such a blunder. There were too many factors to consider. For once, he felt helpless. Yet….he knew, even if had let himself down, he could not bring the rest of the team down with him. Straightening himself, he tried to forge some sort of plan forward – albeit lacking his usual confidence.

Keiji thought the matter through as much as possible. The first thing they needed to do was to make sure they kept Stryker in custody. If Zeta society had Fox, then maybe they could bargain with them for a release. Second, was the public. He would have to address them as well, since they were now in the know of what was happening. Keiji made sure to hide his lack of confidence and spoke up to his New Mecha Warriors.

“Are you sure there’s no answer from Fox?” Keiji asked Duke.

“No,” Duke said. “Nothing but empty static.”

“Were definitely in a pickle now…..assuming they have Fox,” Hella said.

“What’s the plan Keiji?” Ricky asked. Keiji gulped and responded.

“The first thing we should do is secure Stryker. I was thinking we could bargain for Fox’s release with custody of Stryker,” Keiji said. As soon as Keiji said this, there came a crackle on a radio. The sound emanated from Stryker belt. The entire team looked towards Stryker, who was sitting down, some paces away.

“William here, I have Fox, send word to Stryker….” said the radio communication. Stryker smirked and spoke up.

“You really cannot win at this game Keiji. Give me up now, and rouse my other comrades. Otherwise….if you do not respond to my second in command, William, within a couple of minutes; they have orders to execute Fox,” Stryker said.

“Great….” Ricky said. “Were at a high disadvantage now…”

“It’s your choice, Keiji,” Duke said. Keiji looked at his team, then back at Stryker. He knew Stryker was not going to play around, and so made his decision.

“Alright Stryker you win, you have your freedom,” Keiji lamented. “Duke, Hella, Ricky, take the zip ties off him and rouse the other Zeta Society members.”

“Damn….” Hella said. “Alright then.”

“I am sorry guys, but it needs to be done. Otherwise, we risk Fox’s life,” Keiji said trying to repair the situation. The rest of the team nodded and got to work undoing Stryker’s zip ties and rousing the unconscious Zeta Society members. Stryker then got up, massaged his hands from the zip ties, and walked to Keiji.

“Don’t follow us Keiji, this is your one and only warning. Give up and go home. Mind your own business, and Zeta Society will not kill Fox,” Stryker said. Stryker then motioned to his awakened comrades and they made their exit from the hospital – leaving the New Mecha Warriors reeling with a huge loss.