The Keepers

Alleviate

As I board the ship for the first mission I have had in months, I am terrified. It is like my first mission all over again. Amelia and Leo have begun to mesh into the group but I can't be sure how they are under actual pressure.

But this mission is different. I won't let anybody die this time, but if we fail, the realm will be destroyed. But only I know this. If Amelia, Leo, or even Seth knew about this. They would fall under the pressure. They do not have the intellect I now possess and it is destroying me that they aren't allowed to know anything.

"Cat, don't worry. This is just another mission." Seth says, I nod, while putting on my new gear. The gear fits perfectly because they had to tailor it to fit me and only me. "Seth, take this seriously anyway. Please." I try to hint. He just laughs, "I know. But it isn't like they are going to send us on a totally vital mission after months without even a patrol." He says, putting his hand on my shoulder as a friendly gesture. "Seth..." I trail off. I look into his eyes.

Jeez, why the hell is she so paranoid? This is just another mission and she needs to chill. He thinks, forgetting for the moment I can hear that he thinks that.

Then he turns to sit near Amelia and starts up the ship. I sigh and go sit in the back, behind Leo. I silently sort through the weapons on me and watch as the planet Mars comes into view. I sigh as I see Ones loading onto a mother ship. "Huh, they must be moving their base." Amelia says.

"Land now, we don't have much time." I say, standing. She huffs, "They will see us." "Go." I respond and Seth looks into my eyes. Chill Cat, seriously. He thinks, this time knowing I will hear it. I glare at him.

Amelia lands the ship and Ones charge us. I send out a power surge, killing many of them. Seth and Leo pick off many more and Amelia blurts out coordinates into our earpieces. I run through, Melee attacking any in my path. "Leo! Seth! Run through behind me, stay close." I order. They listen and I put a force field around them. "Stay in here and pick them all off, I need to stop that ship." I yell and continue to fight my way through.

I notice that I start to feel weaker as the force field stays up. I know I didn't think this through enough, and I turn to go back. I see Ones climbing onto the force field and piling up. I use most of my energy and send out a blast. It obliterates all the Ones in sight and the force field cuts out. I see that their mother ship is still full and I yell to Seth and Leo, "Follow me." We all run across the vast space and start climbing the ridge that their mother ship is on.

I notice a presence that is larger than anything imaginable. A One the size of the mother ship is running towards us. Amelia is screaming into our earpieces. "Shit..." Leo says. "We need to leave Cat!" Seth yells. "No! We need to stop the mother ship! Keep climbing and escape the thing, we can't let it stop us!" I scream. "Cat.... What aren't you telling us!" Leo yells back.

I notice their mother ship starting to take off. I know it carries everything that it needs to take out earth once and for all. "NO. STOP THE SHIP." I yell, monotone bites my voice from the fear. I yell and reach the top of the ridge. I shoot a surge at the ship, but I am to late as the ship enters light speed, throwing me into the ground. The giant One turns around and leaves. I stand up just to fall back down to my knees and throw head into my hands. Seth and Leo run up behind me.

"Cat! What the fuck aren't you telling us?!" Seth yells at me, pulling me to my feet. "They are going to destroy the realm." I say. "I wasn't allowed to tell you. But that doesn't matter now. Its over. Once they reach the realm our ship will cut out leaving us here to die." I say, taking off my helmet and beginning to cry. I look and see the stream of light going towards my home. Leo and Seth start sobbing too, and I hear Amelia through the earpiece sobbing and muttering things to herself.