“For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—”
In the middle of a nowhere forest in the shades of autumn was blown away by bombardments from above. The raining cannon-fire was breaking ground, digging closer the underground refuge- a shelter for runaways and victims of the fight against machines. The station was fortunate enough to be found by the enemy in the middle of transport.
Void zoomed on his light brown military motorbike through the chaotic fire. He has a bullet scar on his cheek that never healed after his nova transformation. The autumn season powered Void, he was cloaked in a flowing silver essence. His grayish black hair in a long ponytail, wrapped with white bandana- a memento from stubborn war-sister. He wore his U.N. night camo military jacket, even though United Nations was deceased for decades.
He was dodging trees and hopping over bumps, through the enemy’s barrage of fire and black smoke, closing the distance on the blazing artillery. The blast crept in closer until The ballistic fire showered over him. Void remained charging forward as his muscle tightened, his body emitted an incandescent silver, and the blast warped into Void’s silver essence.
He is a true vanguard taking the brunt as his squadron hopefully followed his order, flanking the enemy’s backlines. Void made it out the forest into the yellow grassy field, in the distance where three white behemoth-like howitzers were unloading blue hell-fire at rapid speeds. The cannons change trajectory no longer aiming at him and overclock their rate of fire obliterating the woods, desperately looking for direct blow on the base.
Void accelerated, and then he hopped on the seat, crouching on his bike. He caressed the dashboard of the motorbike, his oldest companion. He reluctantly leaped off with all his magnified strength. The sudden force destroyed his faithful ride- her name was Lola. Void propelled over monster cannons, at the top of the barrel. He stretched his hand wide to coruscate a group of small glowing silver spheres. He absorbed all of the cannons’ volley, clapped his hands together into a grip to command the silver-light cluster into to colossal silver glimmering black hole- obliterated the humongous weaponry instantly within its instant vacuum.
A rocket roared behind him, he slapped the bazooka rocket away. It was friendly-fire, his elite squad was seconds late. When they fire the heavy-weapon, Void already destroyed the enemy and was conveniently in the way of the attack.
He landed on the ground and left a crater where he stood. His tardy squad rushed to him, but he didn’t see regret or disappointment but apathy.
“You have nothing to say?” Void asked They all stood there with nothing to say, hiding behind silence. “You lot, are an embarrassment to idiots.” Void said as he turned away.
“I’m sorry… For the friendly fire,” one of troops retort, “but if you have given us one more second, we would have hit its intended target.”
“One second? just one huh… Canard, I would rather you intended to hit man than be incompetent”
“Sir,” sarcastically said, “I thought this was the worst plan. You clearly can handle it, we not able to keep up with you and we left the base with fewer men. This is not your military unit.”
“Yeah, a militia would have completed the flank successfully,” He shouted, “let get back to base. Don’t get lost.”
They travel through the fallen tree and craters making their way to the secret entrance to the refuge. Ahead were holes, breaches into the station- the enemy made contact. Void jump through the busted gaps. The open space with beds and food was in ruins; debris everywhere, thick smoke in the air, and survivors servilely hurt or panicking.
Void inhale, filling his vocal cord with power and he yelled, “Stop!” His voice shook the ground getting everyone’s attention and calmly spoke, ”Okay, first help the injured. Second, we practice our emergency action plans, Follow that. If you’re new, follow someone who knows it. Remember the first part. Calmly evacuate to the hover units which is that way.” He pointed to his left, at the concrete corridor. Everyone moved with purpose, helping the injured, salvaging supplies, and walked in orderly line. The B-Squad came to him.
“Why didn’t you call me?” Void asked.
“It was complete chaos…” One of them replied.
“That’s why you call me.” Void said.
They responded with silence and regret, Canard and the remainder of the Squadron-A caught up. Canard glared at Void as if the boldness of his eye said you were wrong. “I know,” Void said, “ But now you need to assist with the transport, we’re moving out.” Void’s team ran out as Void was scanning the area.
Screeches of drones echoed from the exit. Void darted to the hangar. Several flying white sphere drones equipped with laser guns on its sides, forcing Void’s troop to peeled back behind the entrance. The old soldier charged ahead like a battering ram, hopped up and clapped the forefront drone like a bug. His Troops rushed in after him, shooting with their armored rifles at the other drones.
Young women in flowing white trench coat, long hair that was blue as the glaciers, and snow colored skin stood on top of the hover unit. Energy flowing like a shifting crystal emitted from hand and as she gripped it formed into a glimmering blade. Void’s still had a hard time seeing Zero as the enemy, but here she stood before him with her sword drawn.
Canard fired at her. Void ordered him to stop him but Zero dove as swift as flying predator. She went through the gunfire and was inches of striking him down. Void quickly spawn a tiny silver black hole at her head. She dashed into the sky as an elegant blue swallow, avoiding the attack. Void scrambled more glowing sphere vacuums at the remaining drones destroying them; including the one Zero was about land on but she was forced to fly back.
“I know you guys are not soldiers but now is time follow my orders like escort these civilians out of this hell!” Void demanded. Canard and group without questions for the first time followed orders. Zero aggressively swooped down at his squad. She was so fast that he could only block the high-speed lunged by body shielding.
Her blade pierced him through his abdomen. Instantly he felt the bite of her freezing aura. It was more than cold, very being was slowing to a still, crystallizing his reality. The hover units were ascending, and the troops were hopping on the back of them- the motion was slurred. He felt the blade sawing out of him; however, he overpowers the aura only to grabbed her wrist- the grip was as tight as can be. Zero couldn’t pull herself away. “Why did you quit on us-on me?” Void question but Zero looked away, “You could have this back….”
Void with his other hand torn her gray bandana off his hair and discarded to her as a teardrop slipped out. He imposed one last silver-lit sucking abyss on the world; it wasn’t massive, but the attack was big enough to destroy Zero and himself. Gone into nothingness.
Zero survived with arm but Void’s last attack, his sacrifice, enabled the refugees and fighters to escape.
Peculiar Parables 