Epics of Noche 5, Reflection

EON CH 01 - ACT 58, BACK HOME

FLIGHT OVER.

1777, APRIL 04th, MONDAY 6:45am.

Noche was surrounded by darkness. Her mind adapted to the pitch black as she reached out with both arms. Her fingers grazed a curved wall, one that seemed to have her trapped in a circular prison. She raised her head to the sky and there was light. Noche was trapped in a well.

As she stared into the radiance above she felt a warm comfort despite the confines of her surroundings. She raised her left hand towards the light in hopes of getting closer to its brilliance. Yet it was too far and she was still too small.

Then a celestial body came in from the side of the light. Like a solar eclipse, it slowly started to obscure the golden rays. The sky turned to blood that coagulated into blackness. In place of her comforting sun was the moon with Creeps's face still engraved upon it.

The face twitched and the moon's mouth unhinged open like a snake. Noche was trapped in the well as the moon raced towards her. It came crashing down with planet-smashing force. There was an ear drum tearing explosion right before Noche was crushed to paste.

Noche's eye snapped open as her head snapped up — she took in rapid deep breathes as she scanned all about. She raised her right arm, her only arm, in front of her face and waved about. Blackness filled the space where her left eye should have been.

"It's gone," she muttered. "That's right. It's gone."

"Noche, honey, are you alright?" Shaylin asked.

"Yeah... Yeah, I'm fine. How long was I out?"

"Only about an hour or so."

"D-Did you have a bad dream?" Tak asked.

"Something like that," Noche muttered.

"We're almost back at Cross. Get ready to disembark," Medusa said.

"I-I can't wait for you to get back," Tak said. "I have a garden now. Shaylin and Salt helped me make it. I even planted a tree. We should see it together."

"Tak don't be a simp," Mary said.

"A what?"

The brown-skinned girl took out her medicine and Noche flinched from the sight of the needles.

"What's wrong Nachos? You jolted awfully hard," Vida grinned.

"Its nothing."

"Suuuure," she said. "Punch me in the face."

Noche stared at Vida before blinking once.

"What?"

"Come on. Do it," Vida said. "You know you want to."

"Why?"

"Cause I'm bored."

"That doesn't... Why would anyone."

Vide pointed to her head with both pointer fingers.

"My face."

Noche's mouth hung open as she stared. Vida continually moved her fingers to point at her face. The blonde sighed and threw a weak punch. Vida's head snapped back before returning to its original position.

"Hehe, it tingles. Do it again."

"No. That's enough weirdness for me."

"Mary," Alice muttered.

The brown skin girl looked towards her girlfriend. Alice held up her phone and Mary skimmed it.

"Oh fuck."

"What – what is it!" Medusa snapped.

"Remember when everything went black a while ago," Mary asked. "Turns out it happened all across the world. Everyone experienced a moment of blindness and deafness."

She scrolled down the article and her eyes widened.

"Some people are saying it's a religious event. Signs of the end times. Others are blaming DeathTech, some Cross, and more than a few think we're all living in a digital simulation."

"Shit sandwich," Medusa murmured.

It wasn't long before Cross HQ came into view. A few minutes later the helicopter had landed and everyone was stepping outside. Shaylin lunged for the ground and started kissing the concrete. Baxter and Timmy were being watched by General Dreg as Medusa was the last out.

For a moment the president of Cross stared at the building. Her shoulders slumped ever so slightly as if the weight of the world had fallen upon them again.

"Dare I not ask... How bad is the war against DeathTech going?" Medusa said.

Dreg grimaced for a moment. "It's bad. Like I said earlier, the Grave Brothers did the bare minimum in fighting them."

"Combined with Dove's omniscience to predict whatever strategies Cross might implement. We've been losing almost every battle," Shaylin said as she stood up.

"Most of their attacks have been focused on the humane world. Attacking major cities across the globe. I wouldn't be surprised if the United Government stopped supporting Cross altogether."

"Those fucking twin bastards," Medusa clenched her fists. "They were probably letting DeathTech run wild so it'd be easier to give freedom to Create."

She untightened her hands and took a deep breath.

"Alright. I have some ideas to get ourselves back in the game," Medusa said. "But we're going to need more soldiers. We need to start recruiting dramatically."

"If you're going against DeathTech consider me an ally," Boots said. "I was a quarter gen before going to the asylum. I might be as strong as a General now."

"In the chaos, I couldn't ask what caused your change of heart, Mr. Starnight."

"Edward used my sister as a hostage to control me. When I ran out of use he killed her. I want revenge."

Medusa nodded. "Beggers can't be choosers. We're desperate right now. So welcome aboard."

She turned to Noche.

"As for you, get some rest for now. Now that you're half-gen, I'm going to be relying on your strength."

The blonde nodded as Medusa turned to Baxter and Timmy.

"Finally, as for you two. I have questions about DeathTech and your intentions," Medusa said. "We may not have an asylum anymore, but I assure you if you become a threat we will deal with you."

"Mmmm-Madam President, I assure you, we will cooperate fully," Baxter said.

"Yeah, docile as lambs," Timmy said.

She nodded. "Boots, come with us, please. I'll need all the info you and Baxter can provide about DeathTech. I'm running two years late on stopping this war."

"We can get you out of that straitjacket first," Dreg said.

"No. It stays on. Spark never got to experience freedom. Neither should I," Boots interrupted. "I will wear this to remember her."

"If that's what you want, but we will need you to do some signatures though," Medusa said.

"I can use telekinesis in those instances."

"Very well," she paused. "Everyone, we've got a long and difficult road ahead of us. You did great work today, but there's still plenty before us. Get some rest. Tomorrow we show DeathTech what Cross can really do. Dismissed."

With that Noche was free to do what she wanted. As she stood before Cross HQ all she could do was hesitate. It had been two years since she had been here. Since the Cross entrance exams. Since that fateful night when war was declared.

With her newfound freedom and finding herself reminiscing in a place from her younger days, Noche hesitated to take her next step forward.