The Olympians: The Fall of Kin

Brotherhood

"Working with Godkin? Are they serious?" Raven Lockewood asked Thane as they exited the transport just outside the lawn of the massive Shredder Corps. HQ. The building was unlike anything they had seen and belied the number of troops they knew the Shredder Corps. to have. Why would a branch with only ten members, barely more than a small-town police force, need such a gigantic building?

Thane looked at her with an angry gaze. "Orders are orders, Raven."

"Yeah, it's not that big a deal, anyways." Asora said. His excited energy was all but gone. Everyone was acting different in the unit.

Krain...

Thane hadn't known the man well, but the others, they seemed to be taking it hard.

Even Slade, who was a sarcastic asshole on her best day, was silent as she stared up at the tall building.

"Not that big a deal, huh?" Slade uttered.

"It's not. I mean, if you think about it," Asora continued. "Our lives won't change much. Living with Godkin will be just like the barracks back on base. Everyone treated us like the black sheep because we're about as close to a Godkin as a human can get. And the Godkin will probably ostracize us in the same way."

"What if they kill us!? Is no one thinking about that?" Raven snapped, throwing her duffle bag to the ground. "They might be Enforcers, but they're still Godkin! They might as well have forced us to live with wolves!"

"Shut it." Bolas Rogan, the older, gray-haired sniper said. Thane wasn't sure, but the wrinkles that lined the corners of his eyes seemed evermore present in that moment. His brownish eyes were hardened like Thane's, but he could still see the grief that was dwelling within him.

Raven glared at him. "What was that?"
"I said, 'Shut it.' We're here now, and there's no point in griping over it. Besides, you're pissing me off."

"Yeah," Thane said. "I wouldn't put it so bluntly, but Raven, you need to have an open mind. I happen to know our new Commanding Officer. And he's not a bad guy. An old bastard, for sure, but he's by no means feral."

Raven was aghast but took Bolas' advice. "Fine. I'll shut up. But when we're all dea—"

"Thane Kastys?" A gruff voice emanated from before them as a blond man draped in a brown trench coat emerged from the building. He had piercing hazel eyes, a cigarette tucked into his lips. He walked with a limp and was covered in bandages.

"Clarion Knight." Thane dropped his bag, his sleek black hair shifting in the cool air. He approached the man and jutted out his hand for Clarion to shake in a tight firm grip. "The hell happened to you? You look uglier than before, and that's saying something."

Clarion laughed. "I should be in bed, but I couldn't not welcome you. Had an accident yesterday."

"Yeah, heard about it on the news. Looks like we're in for some shit."

"Wait, wait, wait." Raven stepped between them. "How do you two know each other?" Her black hair was tied into a loose ponytail, amber eyes lit with a distrustful fire. The light of the barely risen sun reflected off her skin, making her appear even paler. She no longer wore the nano-suit that they used for battle, but a set of civvies. A black skirt that reached halfway down her thighs, a pair of combat boots trailing up to just below her knees.

"Oh, me and Thane?" Clarion said. "We go way back. It's kind of a funny story if you wanna' hear about it—"

"Clare, let's not talk about Peru." Thane laughed. "Not that we didn't have a good time, but seeing as Raven is my girlfriend, I really don't wanna' hear shit from her."