Defenders of Tomorrow

Episode 1: Rise

Leandro crouched behind a dumpster, glaring down the street. "Laya, where are they?" He grunts.

"There are 12 scouts down that alley way," he reports, and Leandro smirks. "Hunare is on the other side of the alley."

"And I'm really scared guys."

"Not now Hunare, fight now, complain later." Leandro smirks. "Laya, countdown?"

"3... 2... 1!" Laya comes over their ear pieces.

Leandro jumps out from behind the dumpster grinning. He opens fire immediately on the enemy troops with his G-7 blaster.

Three fall instantly, before firing back at him. "Hunare, now!" He shouts, and the other man opens fire from his side of the alleyway.

"Guys!" Laya shouts over the comm.

"Not now Laya!" Leandro growls at the boy, taking down two more scouts.

"Leandro, I'm serious, it's a—" Leandro looks down at the curved sword sticking out of his gut, as bright red letters flash in front of his eyes. Fail! "Mercenary," he finishes with a sigh.

The scene fades away, and they find their class instructor staring at them disappointed. "Can anyone tell me what these cadets did wrong?"

"They were fighting!"

"They were distracted!"

"The fighter ignored his intel!"

"The support came in late!

"Good! Cadets, this was a sore attempt on the simulator. I expected better." Iverson scowls at them.

"My apologies Sir," Laya states, saluting.

"Yah, were all really sorry," Hunare says.

Leandro crosses his arms pouting. "Don't sass me. You are only here because the best fighter of your generation flunked out. Dismissed."

Whatever it's not like Leandro hadn't heard it before.

They were training to go to space one day. To defeat the earth. But, unbeknownst to the general population, there were hostile aliens out there, so they had to acquire not only fighting, but flying skills.

Leandro falls on his bed upon returning to the room he shared with Hunare and Laya. That was their last class of the day, luckily enough.

He stares at the ceiling. You don't belong here. You shouldn't be here. You're useless.

Laya grimaced. He recognized one of his depression spirals from a mile away.

"You guys want to sneak out?" He said smirking. "I want to show you something." Leandro perked up. Knowing Laya, it was probably pretty cool.

"Absolutely."

"Not!" Hunare interjected. "We cant afford any more mishaps."

"Oh lighten up man," Laya told him, giving him a pointed look.

"Fine, but when we get caught, I told you so."

"Duly noted." Laya muttered, pulling out his e-pad.

LATER THAT NIGHT- 22:00

Leandro ducks past the last guard, climbing up the ladder to the roof. The stars looked down at them, as Laya tied a rope to the rope and threw the other end over the side.