Nothing

Eleven

The Sniper walked through town - carefully guarded by the masked ones that trailed after. Blitz - his weaponry holder was friendly to him, but even then, the Sniper knew how to tell a mask from a true personality. But he could tell that Blitz seemed to see no need to mark him off as a threat.

He learned from Blitz that the more quiet one was Cyclone - an odd code name. Then again, the Sniper didn't know too much about Earth's weather. He had grown up in a somewhat busy town which weather was always mild or cool, and never had any drastic changes.

The Commanding One did not reveal his name. If it seemed like either one of his subordinates were to give away his title, through his mask he would stare at them, giving off a warning.

The Sniper saw this was not only a Military base camp, but one for civilians or those who could no longer defend themselves to recover or stay safe. One child - from a group, he noticed; who stood still by a bush - had approached, but not by much. He understood why the child would not want to approach in these times. He would do the same.

The child smiled, and he blinked, not expecting the gesture. He nodded in return, but the Commanding One lightly pushed him forwards and turned to Blitz and Cyclone.

"Stay outside."

Without objection or question, the two stood still as they continued forwards. The Sniper had to respect the fact they followed orders without any words spoken. It wasn't like he would disobey HIS own orders - he winced, recalling how he left his camp - he just remembered a line from his childhood.

"Work for your own respect," it was. He didn't know who said that, but it was something good to live by. Others should too.

The Commanding One gripped his shoulder, not so gentle this time.

"In." He shifted him in direction of the largest building he'd seen yet. It was dark green - covered in fabrics where there were holes. There was a door, opened a tad bit.

The Commanding One took to the front once they entered. He went down a corridor.

Many of the rooms were closed. Some were not, and seemed to be bunks. Others were just rooms, supply rooms...

But one of them, he briefly passed by a hospital area.

It was filled with people.

He didn't dwell too much on the mere thought, but he stiffened at the thought. He could've been one of those people.

The Commanding One opened one of the doors and stood to the side, allowing him in. The people within the room were of males and females, and they seemed to look up, studying him as he arrived. Many of them were aged, but two seemed young.

"Trot,"

The Commanding One turned to the voice. His name was Trot.

"You may stay."

He nodded.

"Now. You there. What do you respond to?" The Sniper looked to the voice, a middle aged woman was who it belonged to.

He didn't remember his name. The only thing he recalled was two words.

"The Sniper. Sniper."

Trot leaned to the side, starting to speak in an annoyed tone.

"You refer to her as Grandmas-"

"It is fine, Trot. Where do you come from, then, Sniper?"

There was some mumbling across the room at his name. He answered.

"Across the Death Fields. By the water - I can't remember the name. It was a town, though."

The air grew tense at the mention of the Fields. The woman - Grandmaster, nodded.

"It is fine. What happened to your group?"

"Wiped out by a sickness. I was ordered to leave-" it wasn't really lying, right? "-to find another camp to spread the message."

"Did you see anything on your travel?"

"Uh.. Yes, I did."

"What was it?"

The Sniper could tell most of the room was interested in his tale. Even Trot, as stoic as he stood, shifted his gaze towards him.

"A giant beast." He started, unsure how to explain it.

"It approached me after I exited a crashed ship moments before. It demanded I give it all my supplies. I did not, so it attempted to take it by force."

"I.. See. Any notes?"

"The attacks were uncoordinated, but effective. It possessed some sort of gun - and sword. The gun shot a large bullet which created a powerful explosion."

Some of the room glanced at each other. None of them had ever seen the invaders up close.

"I beat the creature by knocking out its eye and tearing off its arm." He left out the burial part. Trot stiffed, moving his hand to his own hand weapon on reaction. He thought the Sniper was weak, but apparently not.

"I fled the area but was forced to go into hiding."

The Grandmaster lifted a cup of tea to her lip, asking why without speaking.

"I saw two - no, three metal creatures, with red eyes, and a rider on each. Like a horse, but scarier and heavily armoured. I escaped."

Trot decided to ask his own question.

"Did one see you?"

"..I don't believe so."

Trot fell silent.

The Grandmaster and the rest of the people within the room had a quiet conversation. The Sniper stood in awkward silence.

The Grandmaster stood.

"My name," she spoke, "is Grandmaster Patrìx. You are Sniper, correct?" The Sniper stood back, confused at this. Even Trot turned over, also confused himself.

"Yes, Grandmaster, but what does that have to do.."

"Sniper,"

The Sniper looked at the Grandmaster.

"Yes..?"

"Tell me, Sniper. Do you know how to fly a plane?"