Chapter 1: Beginners Luck

It's the distant future. The Human race has colonized Sol, and has focused its attention to expand to other solar systems. It was the newest Age. Man had wrought steel from the flames, and harvested grain from the bosom of the lands for centuries. Nature takes care of her own, and man has left the fold. Man has dared to dream beyond the safety of what nature provides. In turn, Man in its quest to tame the world around him and when that was done they moved to the stars. Mans insolence had caught the interest of beings elsewhere, and it would have been better if that interest had been ignored. It wasn't. Man fought for his own survival just to prove a right to exist and succeeded. They thrived, they advanced, they were prepared for anything. Uncontested, man has flourished. Man's cities now rise into the skies high above the tallest trees. surpassing some of nature's most imposing structures. Mans cities have grown beyond just being a place to hide from nature. They are now a place to rival her.
Man’s success has made him ignorant to the growing threat that has been gathering beyond. War was on the horizon. But this war was like any other war man has seen. This was a war wrought by their very own wish. A war fueled by mans very desire in the face of his wish.



They say that when you are about to die your life flashes before your eyes, well I didn’t know it happened when your were driving to a hot zone as well. This being my first official deployment with the Retrieval Squad code name Jinx that I dedicated my training too. My squad was to head in and collect a battleships black box when it landed but unfortunately it was attacked and is now making an emergency crash landing. We have to get to it before the enemy lands or continue blowing it up.

I gripped my handle bar ready to head into the fray but as I was moving with the group, I was ordered to head back to our transport ship with Nephila our teams specialist and Paragon our squad leader; while Blare, Cauldron, Penny and the ever cheerful Doc Smiles made their way to the predicted crash site by way of ground transport. Honestly this decision made me a little jealous. I trained and was ready for action, just be to sent to extraction duty. That is until I saw the enemies ship still firing on one of our own, it’s flaming wreck reminding me of a Horsemen of the old apocalypse tales and I silently thanked my luck. I trembled, every nerve in my body on alert, sparks of electricity combing over my brow, this was my first mission with this team but a sight like that makes one think it would be the last, no matter how the team looked.
Blare was a True human with a wimpy looking face and body, who is a wiz for technology and held way to many grenades on him. He made a joke to me when I asked him about it, “It’s to compensate for my lack of balls.” he chuckled. I didn’t quite get it. Cauldron on the other hand is a living tank, they don't leave their power armor and it’s fully enclosed, though later I was informed they can’t leave, again I didn’t push the issue. Doc and Penny were a strange duo, Doc a Contracted who is a officer who thinks he’s the hottest shit and has skills far above his station, doesn’t help that he’s the medic. While penny is his quote bodyguard. She’s one of those Dolls it’s my first time seeing one. I tell you seeing a cybernetic child is creepy, but I hear cybernetics are very effective, hopefully that would be enough I thought.
Meanwhile I had Nephilla, a spider Former who really does not fit into a military image, not because she’s half arachnid. But she’ll put up a military front until she doesn’t need too, and her normal behavior doesn’t show any signs that she received any military discipline but she’s nice enough. Meanwhile there’s Paragon, where do I start with him. Well he’s a Super Human, with a natural charisma and speaks like he received a full education, not just the one the military provides to orphans like me. If I were to compare myself there would be no contest. Though I did have one thing over him. I shoot lightning from my hands. I took pride in that, believing that after my first mission the team would see me and be like “You’re like a GOD!.” and I would smite the Xenos or pirates or whatever with lightning. I really wanted a cool nickname. But as per tradition the new guy is always called...
“Look alive Rookie!” Nephila mused as she knocked on my helmet before holstering 4 small pistols to her bandolier and a collapsing sniper rifle on the back of her light form fitting armor, that only place it actually armored was her torso and shoulders. Normally this would be extremely stupid but her limbs were covered with hard black exoskeleton all 6 of them. It was very unnerving at first, but an extra pair of arms which held 4 fingers per hand. Where nothing compared to her 4 blood red eyes, while on the flipside Paragon wore a medium combat armor focused on mobility and held onto a sub-machine gun with a pair of power gauntlets. To keep him from hurting his hands when he got serious in close quarters combat. I wore a light armor as well keeping my hands the most exposed so I can direct my power. A reverse to paragon and Nephilla’s choices, I carried one side arm and a sword. Though I didn’t get to check myself out in a mirror when that ship finally crashed, and Alien drop pods rained down on it. I remember thinking their tactics were a bit...excessive but at the time I didn’t know they were after the same thing. Regardless the plan was to load the transport ship with enough useful equipment and be prepare to extract our team when they radio call to get them.
Each minute that went by made me more and more tense as I watched that poor ship get swarmed fearing the worst. Looking to my team's faces they showed no signs of worry only steeled determination. I breathed a sigh of relief when I finally heard the call. “GO!” ordered Paragon as we flew in to extract the others. The enemy ships attention was split, so Nephila was able to avoid the shots fired upon us until we got close. I opened the cargo bay door and was to cover them coming in along with Paragon. First out was Blare, then Doc, Cauldron carrying a block of metal as big as they were, and penny covering the rear surprisingly. I thought everything was good as I saw no enemies...and I lowered my hand for just a moment. Which is when a tall creature clad in black armor, surrounded by a purple aura came out of the side of the ship and soon was joined by another in black armor with heavier weapons.
The aura flew from the creature and latched itself onto the black box and forced Cauldron to stop and the enemy gunner took aim at them. Paragon moved in but I was there collectively losing my shit I reflexively pulled out my pistol and fired at the armor gunner. If there was a part of me that still had it’s senses it would be screaming at that moment, as I forgoed using my most powerful weapon in place of my side arm. The pistol shots did nothing while the gunners attack hit Cauldron full force. Penny fired upon the one controlling the aura disrupting his concentration enough to let go. Blare entered the cargo hold and took up cover and a firing position. Doc seemed to speak but I couldn’t register what he was saying but any holes made in Cauldron armor where soon filled with ice. Paragon took over carrying the box though noticeably more hindered by it. “Shield!” he bellowed as Cauldron turned lifted up their arm and expanded a force field.

My mind was finally starting to come together when a 3rd creature emerged clad in the same black armor but with glowing green pauldrons, this time I didn’t waste a moment lifting my hand towards it, I fire a bolt of lightning as strong as I could muster. “Fuck yea!” I cheered as my bolt hit but any joy was soon replaced with dread as it took the blow, looked to me and then aimed at Penny. I was too stunned to react when “Fioria ICE SHELL!” I heard from Doc as a 2 story tall half dome of ice appeared between the two groups “HAUL ASS!” yelled doc noticeably winded. Though just as soon as he finished the 3 creatures appear at the top of the dome. Adrenaline pumping I fired wildly at them. Paragon and the others were almost in. Blare and Doc gave additional covering fire as I tried desperately to hit. Finally luck would have it I hit the gunner who seemed stunned.

It was just what we needed as soon as the others ran in Paragon gave the order to escape, it was then the creature reared back his hand and channeled lightning, his target, Paragon. Channeling as much speed as I could, I dove in the way to take the lightning. I had been hit by other Mancers lightning before, it’s unavoidable in training it’s why we train in essence guard including my natural resistance, but I’ve never was hit by one that was intending on killing someone, the pain was unbearable and soon I lost consciousness. I awoke to the soft sound of medical equipment each muscle of me ached and the only sight I could see were two blue glowing sensors scanning me bo- “Holy shit!.” I jerked my body and immediately regretted it. See penny staring at me with 2 unblinking glowing blue eyes.
“You’re awake.” she said flatly as she hit her comm and called the Doctor informing me of my status eyes never looking away from me. “Pen-ny? What are you doing, where is everyone?” I groaned, a little surprised that I was alive. Closing her comms she took care to fix any wires I pulled out of place and answered. “We are currently on route to Wayfarer 7-B to refuel and get rearmed.” I looked at her confused “Wait what happened to the mission, Cauldron, those things?!”

A male voice interrupted. “Those things are long behind us.” Doc Smiles stepped into the room. “Cauldron is alive, and the mission is completed. We delivered the Black box while you slept like a princess.” He delivered the last bit sarcastically.
Despite his name this man never smiles I thought to myself before apologizing. “Don’t be sorry, anyway if your awake your free to move or you can stay here and sleep Princess.” I prayed to whatever cosmic deity was out there and summoned all my strength to stand out of bed. I would not be given the name Princess for the rest of my career. “No Sir I’m ready and able.”
Doc gave me a flat look before waving a hand to Penny “Get ‘em unhooked and clothed, then you’ll have free time till we reach dock, Understood?” Penny gave a nod before unhooking me from the machines “Yes Handler.”
Doc gave a nod and left the room and I quickly exhaled and sat back on the bed while Penny finished and went to the nearby closet and pulled out a fresh set of fatigues for me.
“Um sorry for making you have to do this, how long was I out?” taking the new outfit off it’s hanger and gingerly began putting it on.
“It’s alright, and you were unconscious for 12 hours, 11 of which I watched over you. Would you be needing anything else.” she asked with no emotion in her voice.
“Um no, I’ll be fine.” I wanted to ask her more questions but honestly having someone stare at you getting dressed was freaky enough. “Thank you.”
She nodded “Very well, I’ll be in the armory sleeping if I am needed. “ and like that she left, once gone I spent 5 minutes composing myself figuring out what i would say to the Captain and the others.