“You ever wonder if

  we’re on someone’s horizon?

  Like, somewhere out there,

  there’s someone wishing

  they were at where we

  are now?”

  - Miles McClintock

  Chapter 16: A New Day

  The sun’s appearing ushered in a new day. Over the calm ocean, its rays shone brightly, beaming down onto the island paradise. The horizon was nearly as beautiful to look at as it had been all those years ago. Though a distant memory, Red could still remember how she felt as she flew away on the ship now sitting beside her. That sheer moment of ecstasy and relief was one she would never forget. Sadly, that feeling was far from her now.

  She had not slept a wink that evening. R.U.D.E., as usual, had been by her side all night. Uncharacteristically, however, he had said nothing. Typically, a sarcastic quip or insult would have run through his processors by now, but not since the escape. Not since that strange, terrible moment.

  She could not fathom why a perfect stranger, one whose neck had her sword against it a little earlier, gave his life up in such a fashion. He had close friends aboard her ship, that much was clear. She could have argued that it was for them, and try to dismiss it as such: a sacrifice for a friend. Try as she might, that reasoning, or any other line of reasoning she concocted could not put herself past what he did. The sacrifice he made, in part, for her.

  Despite having left the campfire earlier, she could still hear the group’s topics of conversation throughout the evening before they went to bed. Some of them felt just as she did: guilty and remorseful they had not done more. After some reflection, she had come to realize that her anger, specifically towards Pickett, was dealt to him because of her own guilt. She had kept her sword and aid from him, while Koga had offered him aid freely. Yet another thing she felt guilty about. The question was, why?

  Her world was cruel. Unforgiving. Dog eat dog. For such a character as herself to break the mold was against everything she believed. Everything she was taught. Everything she had experienced. People did not do things for other people based off concepts of “right and wrong.” Neither for conscience’ sake, for standards of morality, or for any other foolhardy reason. People acted to gain. To have. Anyone preaching anything different was either a fool or a con artist. Yet, this man, Koga Kane, had proved to be neither.

  All she had wanted to do was enjoy her life of freedom. To make enough to earn herself an early retirement, and spend the rest of her days in leisure and peace, forgotten by the rest of the rat race. She could still do that, she supposed. The Horizon was right there, ready for takeoff. At Dellapoor, there were plenty of smuggling runs to be made, and down south in the Krilligan islands, there were thousands of bounties just waiting to be filled. Yet her conscience disallowed her of that choice. She thought she had silenced the tiresome little voice in her head, yet it was still there, louder than ever.

  She heard footsteps approaching from behind her. The talents she had fostered as a child always kept her aware, and had given her skills few people possessed. Without having to turn around, she knew it to be Maria, the woman who had introduced herself earlier. She did not bother to get up.

  “Good morning,” Maria began, greeting her. Red made no response.

  “Did you sleep okay?”

  Still, Red remained silent. She stared uncaringly out onto the ocean, not seeing the point in answering. Maria now stood beside her.

  “I know this must be a difficult time for you. Seems like everyone is a little lost right now,” Maria stated, trying to sympathize with her. After a long pause, it seemed Maria had finally given up.

  “I’ll leave you to your thoughts then. Let me know if you need anything.”

  As Maria began to walk away, Red found her voice.

  “Tell me your story, Maria.”

  Maria turned around.

  “I’m sorry?”

  “What brought you to this… place? Why are you here?”

  Maria sat down next to Red on the beach.

  “Do you want the short version, or the long one?”

  “The short one. For now.”

  Maria brushed her hair back as she looked off onto the horizon. R.U.D.E. remained behind the two, standing guard. Quickly, Maria gave a short, yet heartfelt synopsis of how she got to Rosari. Red could not help but feel sorry for her.

  “And now what?” Red asked.

  “Now, I fight to ensure something like that never happens again.”

  Red shook her head.

  “Sorry to burst your bubble, but stuff like that has been happening since the dawn of time. I doubt a rag tag group of misfits is going to stop people from being the monsters they really are.”

  “Perhaps not,” Maria admitted, “but everyone has got their own evils to fight in their own time. All I can do is fight mine, and hopefully prepare the next generation to fight their’s.”

  “And what do you think that will accomplish?” Red asked, cynically. “People are dying and suffering every day. No matter how much good you might do, you can never change that.”

  Maria gave Red a small smile, and took to her feet. Stepping towards the ocean, she reached down and grabbed a small, star-like object.

  “Do you know what this is?” Maria asked.

  “A Zaper star… I think? Why?”

  “Precisely. They used to wash up onto the Noncandon shores all the time. By the thousands in fact. Sad thing is, these little creatures will die without water in a matter of hours.”

  “Sounds about right,” Red scoffed.

  “James and I used to always start our days with a stroll on the beachside. These little stars would always be there, freshly washed up by the tide. And every morning, without fail, a little girl would be on the beachside with them, throwing the stars back into the ocean.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Maria threw the star in her hand into the ocean from which it came. She brushed off her hands as she continued her story.

  “I remember asking her why she wasted her time with such a thing. Hundreds more would be there the next day, and she could spend all day throwing them back in and not get caught up. She was a shy girl, so she didn’t answer the first time I asked. After about a month, James decided to approach her himself. I remember him asking, ‘Little girl, we love your spirit, but I’m afraid you’re wasting your time working so hard at this. It doesn’t matter how many you might save, they’ll be back here tomorrow.’ Then, in a shy, barely audible tone, she said the most beautiful thing I think I’ve ever heard.”

  “Yeah? What was that?”

  “She picked up another, threw it back into the ocean, and said, ’it mattered to that one.’”

  Red laughed, contemplating her words.

  “Where did you read that story? In a Hallclark Card? What do you want me to start chucking Zaper stars back into the sea?”

  “Well, no,” Maria replied, exasperated. “What I’m saying is that one person’s good actions can always make a difference.”

  “Really?” Red scoffed.

  “Koga made a difference in yours, didn’t he?”

  Red did not have a response to that. She turned back towards the ocean, allowing its breeze to blow through her hair. Despite her sappy story, Red knew Maria was right.

  “Imagine what a group of people doing good could accomplish. Maybe you could join us in that,” Maria suggested.

  Red chuckled.

  “Sorry. Even if that was on my agenda, I’m not a team player.”

  “Why not?”

  “Teams become corrupt. Besides, what makes you think you’re the good guys? If there even is such a thing…”

  Maria put a hand on her hip, clearly annoyed with Red’s more realistic, or what some might consider pessimistic, outlook.

  “One group imprisoned and tortured people. The other freed them, and broke you out of prison. You tell me.”

  R.U.D.E. interrupted the conversation, stepping forward toward them both as he looked off into the distance. Red sensed something was off by the droid’s sudden movements. He had spotted something.

  “Hey, idiots,” R.U.D.E. began, “We’ve got company.”

  *

  The cafeteria was mostly quiet that morning. He thought it looked a little like the one he frequented back at the academy. Unlike old days, however, he did not sit by himself, although doing so might have prevented interruptions to his work.

  “You’re looking a lot better, today,” Zenny said, smiling at him.

  “I feel better, in a way. Guess a good night’s sleep will do that for you,” Magnus replied, fidgeting with the blueprints he was working on with his H.I.C.

  “What are you working on?” Penny inquired, stuffing a Rosarian Crescent Pie down into her mouth.

  “Oh, just tinkering with some ideas,” Magnus replied, nonchalantly.

  Pickett perked up, noticing the schematics Magnus had pulled up. Leaning in to take a closer look, he appeared to have a question. Magnus did not initiate the conversation, however.

  “Is that a Mech?” he asked, pointing towards the blueprints.

  “It is, yes,” Magnus replied, impressed Pickett recognized it.

  Mechs, or “Titans,” had not seen the battlefield in close to two-hundred years’ time. Bio-suits had, in many respects, made them obsolete. Although Hercules models were still in use, which were the largest of the mechs (some standing over a kilometer tall), the smaller units meant for lone operators had been disregarded. Magnus had always been impressed by Titans, and spent his free time tinkering with them in hopes of bringing them up to modern advancement. He felt he was closer than ever before.

  “I’ve always wanted to see one in action. Before our time, I’m afraid,” Pickett commented.

  “Thinking of building one?” Zenny asked, getting up from the mess hall table to return her tray.

  “Maybe,” he replied. “I’m a bit of a... tinkerer.”

  Magnus, though always learning, was being modest. Before becoming a pilot, he was Paradign’s up and coming mind when it came to engineering, mechanics, and technology. Though technically an amateur, personal study and natural talent had led him to create technology the so called “experts” were decades from developing. It was his hope to put his creativity to task in order to help defeat this new enemy: the Triumvirate. If he could develop an advanced Titan, then ground troops could have the ultimate advantage. Problem was, he always lacked the funds and backing to put his inventions to the test.

  Checotah quickly stood up, startling everyone at the table, even little Naf. He stared Zenny down, who appeared more and more anxious by the second. Magnus wondered what she had done to upset the brute.

  “C-can I help you?” she asked, weakly.

  Checotah looked down at her tray, staring at her untouched muffin.

  “He wants to know if you’re going to eat that,”Pickett said, speaking up for his silent companion.

  Quickly, she handed him the muffin, as though she were being robbed at sword point.

  “He-here you go.”

  He gave her a curt bow of gratitude, then sat his bulky form back down in his undersized chair. As quickly as he had received it, he had eaten the muffin, licking his lips afterward. Pickett covered his mouth, trying not to chuckle at everyone’s reaction of terror to his large friend. An awkward silence ensued, until Penny broke it.

  “I’m really glad I’m here. This meal was fantabulous. The food back at home really stunk. Mostly, ‘cause Zenny made it. No offense, sista,” she said, an oblivious smile resting upon her face. Zenny shook her head as she walked away.

  “Hmph. Blondes...”

  Naf’s eye turned from red to green, as a small repulser blast shot out towards Zenny, hitting her in the rump as the remaining contents of her tray spilled up onto her.

  “Much rude. No talk about Penny mean,” he said.

  “Aw, thank you Naf,” she replied, patting him on his tiny head. Zenny turned around in a rage, after having ruined her shirt with breakfast leftovers. Magnus could not help but chuckle at the sight, as did the others. Even Checotah let out a snort.

  “You’re going to pay for that,” she threatened, running towards the little droid. He began to run around the mess hall wildly, trying to avoid her grasp. Magnus was glad that a little distraction had, for a short while, taken them all away from their melancholy. He doubted Koga would have wanted them to be sad.

  A loud siren interrupted the joyous romp. Everyone grew quiet, trying to determine what the siren meant. One of Lima’s men shouted it out from across the room.

  “We’re under attack! Everyone, to their stations!”

  In a panic, the mess hall began to empty. Last out of the building, Magnus and the others at his table assembled outside. Looking past the skyscrapers and floating structures above, Sashyrian light cruisers, transports, and fighters could be spotted in the sky. Rosarian fighters rushed to meet them, as an epic air battle ensued.

  It was as they all feared. Tulius had found them. There was no turning back now. They had to fight.

  “Where’s Maria?” Magnus asked, turning to Zenny.

  “She said she was going down to see that one girl, Red.”

  “We need to get them, and then join the main force!” Pickett yelled, trying to make himself heard over the roar of an overhead fighter zooming by.

  Before Magnus could respond, six Sashyrian riders, all atop their raptors, came around the corner of the building. They began to encircle the group, each raptor grinning eerily at its prey, just like their masters were doing.

  “We’re surrounded,” Penny whispered, looking all around her. It was clear by the look on her face that she was terrified. More or less, Magnus sensed they all were.

  “Should we head back inside?” Magnus asked, turning to Pickett while keeping an eye on the riders, ever closing in.

  “We don’t want to be cornered by these things in the building. We need to bide our time, and wait until one of them breaks formation. Then we’ll cut it down,” Pickett replied.

  As Pickett was finishing his reply, Checotah withdrew the battle ax he had on his back. With a tremendous, bellowing roar, he charged at one of the riders head on. Pickett tried to stop him, but it was too late. The mighty Taur has already begun his battle charge.

  The raptor, slightly startled by the charge, ran to meet the hairy, cloven hoofed Taur. It snapped its jaws, anticipating the meal that awaited it. The Sashyrian riding it stooped down closer to the beast’s back, having his weapon of choice at the ready.

  With a frightening amount of strength, Checotah swung his ax downward. Executed with excellent timing and precision, the activated ax came down onto the raptor’s skull. Cutting right through it, the raptor’s forward momentum slung its body forward. By the time the ax head reached the ground, the raptor had been completely split in half, each side going to Checotah’s right and left. The rider, who had been flung forward, flew into Checotah’s barreling chest hard, then fell hard to the ground. The Taur had not moved a centimeter by the Sashyrian, who was barely conscious. The final thing the Sashyrian saw before being knocked out was Checotah’s big, brownish hoof, Spartan kicked right into his face.

  Magnus looked to Pickett, shocked by what he had seen. Pickett shrugged his shoulders, slightly lifting his palms towards the sky. The plan had changed.

  “Or we could just attack,” he admitted, activating his Cavalry sword.

  Naf, seemingly inspired by what he had just seen, charged as well. Penny did too, letting off a wild, howling yell as she trailed behind Naf. Zenny tried to stop her before she could.

  “Penny! You don’t have a weapon!” Zenny yelled, concerned.

  “I am the weapon!” Penny yelled back, not stopping.

  “That doesn’t make any sense!”

  “I know!”

  Soon, all of them were running towards the Sashyrians. Scared by the Taur’s show of force, the Sashyrians wanted to retreat. However, their mounts, angered by what had just happened to their brother, opted to attack. This conflict of interests led to an indecision which gave the rag tag group of fighters enough time to fall upon them.

  Penny picked up the knocked out Sashyrian’s blade, swinging it wildly at one of the raptors and its rider, screaming like a deranged hill cat. After Naf had caught a rider and his mount off guard with his eye cannon, Zenny picked up a blade as well. Pickett, with Checotah holding it off, cut one of the raptor’s legs off. This engagement had swung completely in their favor.

  Magnus, still weakened from the torture he had endured, opted to use a adrenaline pack he had in a compartment of his armor. As the substance temporarily strengthened him, he activated his blade and shield, and charged forward to meet the enemy.