A few days go by and the Director is giving my mother and I a break from the field. As expected my mother is still taking my aunt's death pretty hard, she's even been going to the gym nonstop since her death. At first I thought that was her way of coping, but soon I realized that it's more than that. Anyway I woke up to see if she was in her room, but just like the day before she wasn't. I go to the bathroom to wash up and took a quick glance at myself, I notice my skin got a bit darker than the usual brown, but it's fine. I still got my flattop and brown eyes, so that's good too. I put on my sweats, a basic black T-shirt and head out. The sun was already up and everyone was going about there business. And by business I mean the market, you see where I am or what most human settlements are like is the houses, the market, and the actual base of operations which is always at the center for obvious reasons. Now the settlement layout is like this, houses are formed around the market so if we get invaded or attacked the houses get hit first which I'll explain later. Markets are formed around the B.O which stands for Base of Operations and no, nobody calls it that I just do for the laughs. Now unfortunately markets are wayyy more important than Houses, meaning resources and equipment are more important than people, because let's be real, we can't lose our resources, without them we lose. Therefore having casualties is fine to our government, but the people who still have a conscience thinks that's fucking ridiculous so thankfully every house has a built in underground route that leads to the B.O. So let's say we're getting invaded, the people are required to run down to their basement, punch in their families code for the path to open which leads to B.O's rescue chamber. At the chamber Hunters will be there to either help them or to intercept demons which isn't impossible because there's some cases where families are murdered as soon as the pathway to the chambers are open. Any who so the houses are meant to slow down the attackers while people who own certain parts of the market gather their supplies and put it in the B.O's resource chamber for the hunters to use during battle or just Incase we have to move to another settlement entirely. Now I shouldn't have to explain the importance of B.O, because it's self explanatory so all you need to know is that hunters go there to be trained, to get supplies, and to be assigned a mission from the Director. Plus I lost REV so it looks like I have to pay Marcus a visit, who by the way is the weapon supplier. I walk to the entrance of B.O and was let in after a quick scan, if I was anyone else that didn't work here then I wouldn't be able to go in to the faculty. I was walking to the armory when I heard a familiar voice come from behind me.
???- Jazeer, Wait up !!!
I turned to see who's talking to me and see a mix of fat and muscle walking towards me. I immediately recognize who it is by the baby face and small Afro.
Myself-Hey Owen, what's up.
Here's a little background for this guy, he's my best friend who I knew since middle school, at first we started off as enemies/rivals, but once we got accepted as Hunters we had to work together. At first we hated it and almost cost the mission and our lives multiple times because of our inability to work together, but after having a sit-down with Nicki she whipped us up to shape and got us to talk. Once we set aside our differences we became a great team and as a bonus best friends. He was wearing his signature flannel with jeans, a beanie and fake glasses that surprisingly makes him look his age. He came over and gave me a hug. Which I wasn't expecting because he hates hugs.
Myself- Um, I'm gonna ruin the moment here and ask why your doing this.
I was smiling when I said that, but when he looked up at me it was a sad look which immediately told me why he did it.
Owen- I heard about what happened to nikki...to be honest I can't believe she's gone.
He was looking down when he said that last bit, I felt my smile fade when her name was mentioned, but I mean it's not his fault nor the other amount of people who came to me and gave me their condolences about it. It's just... remembering hurts. Knowing the person that was apart of your daily routine since birth won't be with you anymore, leaves a certain hole in your life. Yes, my aunt was a hardass, but in this day and age we needed that. With that, she pushed me beyond my limits and now that she's gone I can't help, but feel...empty. I guess I was quiet for too long because Owen said
Owen-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned it
Myself-Nah, it's cool man, she impacted ur life just as much as she impacted my own, but hey it's good to see my partner again, how long has it been ?
I gave him a fake smile because honestly he doesn't need to know how I truly feel, but Thankfully he bought it.
Owen-ehh only 6 days, it takes awhile traveling from settlement to settlement
Myself-I feel you on that one, so I'm guessing you reporting in ?
Owen-Yup and to see Marcus about the girls.
He pulls out his handguns: Ebony and Ivory, both looking pretty bad. I gasp and took the handguns from him
Myself- what happened to them!?!
Judging from the looks of it Ivory got thrown around a bit and Ebony blocked something that shouldn't be blocked by a handgun. Owen grabbed the guns from my hands and put them away.
Owen-Well for starters, I did meet some trouble on the way there and back. Basically Ivory got smacked and blasted outta my hand a couple of times and one of those demons came rushing at me with a sword from behind and thankfully I caught on and blocked it, but as you can see Ebony ain't meant to be blocking sword attacks that's enchanted.
We both chuckled at that last part since we know damn well that enchanted weapons are bad news and to be blocking their attacks with a legendary grade weapon instead of mythical is lowkey suicidal.
Myself-Well I'm heading to Marcus too because I may or may have not lost REV in a fight.
Owen gave me a blank stare.
Owen- I think between me and you, your gonna be the one picking your teeth up off the floor.
I smilies weakly while scratching my head.
Myself-Yea I know, but hey.
I started walking away while twirling my finger up in the air.
Myself-At least you'll be there with me!
He shook his head and walked forward catching up to me. On our way to Marcus we were passing the gym when I saw my mom going ham on the punching bag.
Myself-Hey Owen, I'll catch up with you later and if not tell Marcus to start working on developing another REV.
Owen-Wait what-
Before he can argue, I ran off inside the gym to where my mother is.
Myself- Jeez Ma,if you keep beating this bag up it's gonna turn around and knock you out.
I chuckled at my own joke a bit, but she had no reaction, therefore bad joke. Time for a different approach.
Myself-Ma please just enjoy the day off that the director gave us, take a break.
She stopped to look at me.
Rhee-let me ask you a question Jazeer, why should I ? Where would I go to enjoy my day off, the market ? We're loosing homes and families everyday and you expect me to sit down and relax knowing the things I know and seen, come on Jazeer I thought you were a realist.
Myself-and I thought you were an optimistic.
She stared at me for a bit, then continued with.
Rhee-this world is a dangerous place for optimistic people and in order for them to survive they need to Grow.Up.
I was shocked by what she said because it didn't sound like her at all, after waiting for my rebuttal she turned around to continue her workout, punching the bag more aggressively. I was about to leave the gym when I thought about something and walked back to her. She stopped again to turn towards me.
Rhee-listen I already told you I-
Myself-WE need more optimistic people in this world, not as fighters, but as leaders, so they can give people hope, to light a spark that the people need to continue fighting. Without them we would of BEEN lost this war.
We were at a standoff when a officer entered the gym.
Officer-Ah perfect your both together, the director wants to see you two ASAP.
Rhee-okay.
My mother pushed pass me while walking to the command center with the officer. The command center is the biggest part of B.O with computers and monitors that people work on to get information or detect new regions that we can take and make homes out of it. The director was in the middle of the room with his datapad in his hand.
Rhee-You wanted to see us sir.
Director-indeed I did Ms.Henderson.
You know, I never realized how scary this guy looked up close I mean he's seem to be 6ft tall and in a way he looks like one of those comic book characters before the war, nick something, I think Nick Fury ? Yea that's it but without the eyepatch and we uh don't know his real name either, actually what do we know about this guy he's so secretive I mean why do we all trust this ma-
Director-EXCUSE ME, CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION MR.HENDERSON
He was looking down on me and I immediately took a step back. startled by his sudden anger, I immediately went into a salute.
Myself-SORRY NICK- I MEAN IM FOCUS NOW IM READY TO LISTEN"
He glared at me, but then his face relaxed.
Director-why thank you, now let's get to the point.
He started touching some buttons on his datapad and a video popped up in front of us. It was a drone of ours flying towards another B.O of a different settlement. Actually I think I've been there before, but with who ? My thought process was disrupted when an explosion was heard. It was coming from the video! The drone circled around the B.O to get every position possible. I was the first to notice that in the smoke was a creature a large one at that, it was breathing fire like a dragon but with no wings, it was bright red with yellow eyes . The whole place was set on fire, nothing was spared, not the houses, the market, nothing. The creature went into the hole that it created outside of the B.O and was no longer visible. And That's when I saw her, the woman in the red dress walking towards the B.O. She stopped at the entrance just a few feet from the door when another explosion came from from within. This time it was the entrance, the wingless dragon came crawling out of it flicking it's serpent like tongue and stopped in front of the lady. The dragon started changing, shrinking and morphing at the same time. After it was done the dragon was now a human, a Black woman. Then the video did a close up on the woman and paused. My mother gasped then turned towards the director's face twisted with anger, but I continued looking at the woman. I felt my heart drop when I realized who it was.
Myself-Nicki
