Devin Richardson and Leonard Bloomfield, hair ruffled, and silver particles decorating their facial hair like holiday garland, stand before the camera a bit worse for the wear but determined to speak.

"The bio suits are rigged to brainwash you," Devin insists, "Whatever you do, you must not wear them-"

Leonard rolled his eyes, "It's no use, my friend," he turns away pointing lower at the screen. Devin's eyes dart about until he sees the words "System Announcement Terminated"

"We best get moving."

"To where?" Devin asks.

"I figure to my counterparts office. Maybe we can get an access point through there."

"It's worth a shot."

The two exit the room. Meanwhile, the silver goo that was cast about the room has already slid down the glass walls and is making its way down inside the walls to the laboratory where the restrained, unconscious humanoid lays. Silver goo is coursing its around the outer edges of each ceiling frame as though it has mind of its own but no eyes. The goo feels its way in the direction of the chair and instinctually starts dripping down upon the humanoid. At first, it drips in scant drops, and then moments later it begins a steady stream. A pool of silver goo forms on the humanoid's chest and around its neck. The reflective waters start to travel the body and soak in making the skin puffy. The body starts to convulse, and its eyelids fling open like shutters in a storm revealing bright silver eyes with no pupils. Silver goo seeps out of the ears and nose rushing to cover one side of its face forming a silver mask turning it into some freakish, futuristic phantom of the opera.

LOGIN'S BRAIN CLOUD

A furious wind whips around Login and The Sliver Man as they peer below at the red and black armies getting in formation for battle. Login looks skyward at the sound of rumbling thunder witnessing the rolling, dark storm clouds crashing into the scene. He hasn't remembered there being any sky in the white-washed realm before but then again whenever was there mountains or valleys?

"What is this all about?"

The Silver Man seems frustrated to break from its gleeful stare of the events below and turns with pointed tips at the tops of his eyes and furrowed silver brow, "How can you not know? You, humans, are so dense. This is the war to end all wars. The war that will end your kind."

Login looks even more despairingly below as the sound of rumbling echoes within the valley. Large machines of black and red are rolling in on either side--tanks with multiple cannons. Giant robots that look like they were designed to be mechanical trolls are bringing up the rear with smaller robots perched on their soldiers carry missile launchers. Each soldier, machine, and giant eventually take a place that is in equal distance from their fellow partners in the war. The path between the two sides is an even distance apart as well. All things are proportional and now the only noise comes from the thunder and the cracks of lightning sent from above. The Silver Man leans back as a rooster inspecting hatchlings ready to be born and smiles.

"This appears more like a game of chess," Login says with a sickening tone.

"What takes place here is what will be taking place in the outside world. It is a game, a very clever, deadly game," The Silver Man quips his eyes still below.

Login, for the first time, since he has reached the edge, looks over at the Silver Man with a deep sense of rage brewing inside him. Even more so as he sees the glee in the being's face. He looks and waits for the right moment to push him over. It wasn't part of the plan, but that was what he was about to do.

SAN DEIGO--CRYOGENIC WAREHOUSE

Kate has already managed to fix her zipper and remains suspended in her suit next to her unconscious father like slabs of meat in freezer. She lowers her head subtly as a troop of armed robots march by below unaware and still on the search. She sighs after they leave. Suddenly, a new noise rises her anxiety, and it is none too far away and not below her this time. She begins looking around hearing the movement of grinding metal and something of an elevator lifting something up or lowering it to the ground. She can see nothing. However, when the noise stops, she hears the sounds of soldiers' feet, and then the sound grinding begins again. This time she does see something. She sees the heads of bodies on one of the racks drop at the eerie sound. She waits for it to stop and there is the same sound of soldiers' feet marching off before another rack of heads disappear.

Kate's eyes widen in horror. Times up, she thinks, the soldiers are being deployed. She turns with grief threatening to overtake her heart at the question of what was happening to her father or what was happening to Devin Richardson and the mission. Was everything a lost cause now? As more rows of bodies are lowering to the ground, Kate risks everything to turn her body toward her father, and asks, "Dad, are you awake? Dad?" The sounds of soldiers' feet echo throughout the warehouse as the march is on and it won't be too long before they are next.

When her row is activated, the bodies straighten as if they receive a jolt of electricity except for her and her father who have no chords attached them. She can hear the aftereffects of people rattling in their suits and some moaning in pain. Then their rack starts to lower to the ground, and it is then she notices two guards in that bulky metal waiting for them below. The two soldiers stand on end of their landing strip to inspect them. She was hoping to drag her father and herself into the shadows unseen. This would complicate things. As soon as this rack releases them, her father was going to fall, so she would have to grab under his arm and hope they don't notice. She had no weapon to defend herself. There was no room for it in the suit.

As the rack lowers to the ground, one of the guards comes a bit more toward center row. Kate already has an arm behind her father's neck to hold his head up. The soldier is examining the row. Then comes the release and her father's knees buckle slightly, she moves her hand quickly underneath his arm to lift him straight but his head tilts back. The soldier's eyes don't catch anything except that they aren't as fast marching as the others. That is when the soldier notices the awkward head bobbing and her holding him up.

"Hold!" shouts the soldier making a stop signal with his hand and the other soldier looks back in surprise to hear a halt as he directs the soldiers to their next destination. "What is going on here?"

"Nothing. He will come out of it." Kate says flatly.

The other soldier jogs over while another rack is beginning to lower. "What's the hold up over here?"

"This one apparently hasn't awakened but what is even odder is the other noticed and is helping."

The second soldier that jogged over pulls out a weapon, "Are you plugged into the System, soldier?"

"Not the way you would like," came a voice from behind them. The soldiers turned as Kyle shoots them down with his laser gun. Out from behind him comes Enrique and Mrs. Richardson. Kate lowers her head in relief. Kyle comes over to grab the other side of Login. A row of black armored soldiers from another rack march by them going off into a direction blindly.

"You know I couldn't leave you. Not like that," Kyle reassures Kate.

"You have to get Mrs. Richardson to safety," she insists.

"Oh, Mrs. Richardson can take care of her damn self," Cindy interjects, "plus I didn't want to miss helping you knocking out more of these mechanical idiots."

Kate turns back taking off her helmet and smiling. "You Richardsons never cease to surprise me," she turns to Kyle, "and same for you... thank you."

"We better get Login out of the way of this march of toy soldiers," Enrique suggests as he hops, skips, and jumps his way around another line of soldiers.

"Good idea," Kyle replies.

DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS

Floating platforms of armed vehicles and giant robots in black armor make their way across the horizon with a setting sun in the backdrop. Giant Robots of red and those in black climb tall city buildings to perch themselves on opposite sides of the city preparing themselves for a fight. Below, in the streets, soldiers in red are starting to the fill the highways and byways and secure buildings for battle. Young ones run quickly over the top of vehicles and onto crevices in building structures or rooftops carrying weapons.

Devin and Leonard are in the humanoid's office in the Luxor Casino looking frantically about for another access point to speak to the public. As Devin circles the desk, he is caught by the sight out the window of glowing platforms floating in the sky with military-grade weapons and soldiers. He approaches the large window to take a closer look.

"My God, it is happening," he says.

Leonard gets out from under the desk, grunts and makes his way over.

"What are those?"

"It's weaponry to attack the city. For man to kill man."

"Then Login failed," Leonard groans.

"Kate," Devin lowers grief-stricken.

"We have to find those controls right away," Leonard insists placing a hand on Devin's shoulder. He turns to head back to search but finds himself in the hands of the mutated humaniod. He lets out a large moan as the humanoid throws him across room. Devin steps back in horror at the sight of the humanoid with half a silver face and a look in his eyes that says he is ready to tear him apart.

LOGIN'S BRAIN CLOUD

Login watches as the Silver Man continues to watch in glee at the happenings below of a rather sinister chess match. He notes the longer this goes on, the more unaware the being seems of his presence so he waits for the most opportune moment to make a lunge for him. The Silver Man stops him mid-stride by throwing out his arm stiffly which pushes Login back by some invisible force. Login is thrown back a short distance and falls but not as hard as the last time and gets up immediately. The Silver Man returns to watching his game seemingly unbothered and unthreatened.

"Do you think you can get away with anything like that in a realm that is mine," suggests the Silver Man as Login returns to his place at the ledge. Login starts edging toward him with fists clenched. "What would you do now human?" The Silver Man turns and looks at him approaching.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"I would have you end me. I don't want to watch this sick game anymore," Login says angrily through clenched teeth.

"That I can do very easily."

Login stands closer to him than he ever has and the Silver Man looks down on him sneering.

"Shall I throw you over the ledge? How would you like to die?" The Silver Man asks in a growl.

"Swallow me hole!" Login exclaims as he stabs both of his long arms into the Silver Man's body and begins pushing himself inward. The Silver Man's face expresses horror and shock as their bodies start to enmesh. When he is close enough, Login takes in one last look of the Silver Man's horrified, helpless look and jams his head inside the Silver Man's chest. The two become a shapeless standing blob with two legs that is mutating into something else.

Flesh and blood travel at high-speed invading the silver purity and the head of the Silver Man twists and turns to resist the take-over but is ultimately overtaken by Login invading his body. Flashes of Login's memories start invading the Silver Man's consciousness. A scene of Login and his wife playing with Katey in the backyard when she was younger and the feeling of joy Login experiences, the Silver Man experiences too.

More vividly is the memory of Login and Kate inside the brain cloud at the bunker:

"...show me what I have to do," Login says.

"You will have to penetrate the Silver Man's Avatar," Kate replies.

"Penetrate it? How?"

"You need throw yourself into its body."

Laughing, "You are joking?"

"I wish I was joking, dad."

Login looks away, red faced and taking in a deep breath, "We don't know that I would survive, let alone that that would even work!"

"We don't know that you will survive, dad, but Devin is sure that it will corrupt the programming."

"Well, then he should be here doing this himself, damn it! I just found you! I don't want to lose you now"

Kate walks up to her father peering up at him tenderly, "Everyone has sacrificed something, everything really so that the world will have a chance to be free from the System. We are their last hope. Their last chance. If we do nothing, it is all over with. For everybody."

A look of dire fate comes over him and Kate embraces him. "I'm sorry daddy. I don't want you to have to this. I don't want you to go in there!" A crack of thunder rumbles the bunker and Login puts on a brave face.

"This is bigger than us, baby. You said it yourself."

"I know," she weeps, "but I still hate it. Why us?"

"Why not us. Somone has to answer to the call."

They hold each other in the embrace as a terrific wind continues to pick up speed and begins tearing away at the world around them like some giant with invisible hands.

The Silver Man's eyes flutter unable to control the rapid succession of memories flashing through its program. In a pause, it looks down at one of its arms, which feels strange to it and sees it is a human arm. The Silver Man looks at it as though it is a foreign object it needs to sever from itself but doesn't have a device to do so.

LAS VAGAS--LUXOR CASINO

Devin and the half humanoid and half Silver Man dance around a desk in aggressive stances. Devin holds a small brass lamp for a weapon. As they dance around the desk, and it appears the humanoid is about to catch him, Devin throws the lamp at it cutting the skin revealing some wiring, but no other damage is taken. The Silver Man barely takes notice of it. Devin sees some swords on a wall and hops over to grab one but the humanoid grabs ahold of him first and throws him back into the desk breaking it apart. Devin groans in pain and rolls out of the wooden rubble. The humanoid pulls Devin up by his collar and brings him over to the window where explosions and robots throw parts of buildings at one another like they were legos.

"Before you die, I want you to see that you failed and that I have won. The final war is taking place. You foolish humans are finally fulfilling your own calling to kill one another off. I just helped make it quicker." At that moment, a swooshing sound releases Devin and a blade comes down and severs the humanoid's arm that was holding him, but not completely. The blade is stuck and Leonard fights whirling and twirling around in a dance as Leonard attempts to drive the sword all the way through. They both fight for dominance over the weapon.

Devin scurries over to grab another sword but has difficulty getting this one off the wall. When he manages to, he turns to find the humanoid with its half-severed arm holding Leonard in a tight grip against its torso with the sword at Leonard's neck in a threatening posture.

"I would suggest you not take a step any closer with that weapon or you will lose your friend's life."

"Devin, I've lived a good life-"

The humanoid squeezes in with his grip hurting Leonard and cutting off his words.

"This is bigger than me," Leonard manages to squeeze out again. The humanoids face grimaces, and he quickly turns out Leonard piercing him quickly through the stomach out his back with the sword.

"You know, you are right. I no longer need you, either of you," he then pushes the shocked Leonard over like a rag doll and points his sword at Devin. "It is between you and I now. Sad for you that should you even manage to kill my form here, I will come back again."

Devin, eyebrows pointed, hands quivering with sword pointed outward breaths out a few quick breaths. "We are working on that as you speak!" He leaps forward and the two begin to exchange in a sword fight. Devin's swings are fueled with the energy of rage and the humanoid is challenged, almost giddy as he is forced to quickly parry second after second. When it has the chance, it gathers force for a mighty push with the sword that sends Devin sliding back so that it can leap backward to make a new charge of its own.

It leaps upward attaching itself to the ceiling forming its body into gel like spider while keeping its full-sized head. Devin looks on considering chairs in the room to get up there for a strike but knowing that would be foolish. As the head of the half masked humanoid initially smiles while making several spider-like jaunts across the ceiling looking for an opportunity to make a leap upon the human, Devin attempts to make some swings at it via some leaps but misses. The gooey mass in return is spitting out hot silver goo that when it lands is acidy and burns through whatever it touches. At one attempt of strike, Devin strikes off the ear and in anger the creature starts spitting out smaller pellets of goo like bullets that Devin has run across the room from and eventually hides behind a file cabinet from which is practically incinerated. The humanoid smiles as it realizes there is no place for the human to hide anymore as it prepares its mouth for another strikes something stuns the creature. It stops moving and pulls back as if threatened by an invisible force that frightens it. The creature huddles in a corner. It twitches its head momentarily, and then again let out a screetch. Then several more times until the head is rattling so fast it becomes a blur and the creature is crying out in agony.

Devin lowers his sword just a bit and looks on in confusion. He quickly goes over to Leonard's side while keeping his defenses up and takes a peek down but can see his friend has bled out. The penetration has been all the way through his cavity. Devin lifts his sword again in anger. When the head finally stops its convulsions, Devin's jaw drops to see the face the Login has replaced the humanoid's face in some horrific switch around.

"Devin, it's me, Login! Can you see me? I can see you!"

"Login? Yes, what is going on here?" Devin's eyes squint more in disgust then in failing to see Login as his head being attached to the silver gel body is quite a sight to behold and not one that he wishes as permanent for his friend.

"It's finished. I did what you said. It worked! It worked!" With that, Logins face disappears as a vanishing ghost, and the humanoid's face returns but pale and non-responsive. The head slumps lifeless and the body plops off the ceiling and crashes onto the ground splattering gel and parts. Devin lowers and drops his swords and goes to the body of his friend laying bloodied on the floor immediately.

SAN DEIGO, CRYOGENIC WAREHOUSE

Near the warehouse open doors, Login's body is now out of its armor suit and Kyle and Kate are working on resuscitating the body. Login's eyes flutter and begin to open as he makes some moaning sounds.

"Dad! You are awake! It's me Kate!"

Kyle, Enrique and Cindy are circling around a little closer.

"Katey, is that you? Where are we now?"

"We are here," she laughs nervously, "in the cryogenic warehouse, where your body was being stored. "Login attempts to sit up and Kate and Kyle help him.

"What happened in there? Did you end it?" Kyle asks.

Login blinks several times scratching his head, "Yeah, I think I did," he says with wonderment.

"You did?" Kate asks.

"Yeah, I did!" he nods.

Kate laughs.

"He did," Kyle chuckles shrugging, "well, thank God for that."

Cindy hugs Enrique who lets out a joyous noise in surprise and takes it in.

"Yeah, its over," Login says breathlessly.

Kate kneels down to her dad and kisses him on the forehead, "You did it dad, you really did it!"

"I guess, I did," he laughs shaking his head.

Kyle hears footsteps approaching the open doors of the warehouse. At first all anyone can see is a shadow but then they are able to make out black geared soldiers with their helmets off. They look lost, confused.

"What is happening?" Enrique asks.

"It's the rest of them," Kate replies with awe.

One of the soldiers walks up to Kyle and it is an older man with his black but mostly gray hair wet with sweat. "Do you know what year this is?" the man asks. Kyle looks back and Mrs. Richardson bites her lip in pity for the man. Then one shadow in particular catches Cindy's eye as the form comes more into light, she recognizes it is her husband.

"Devin," she cries in a hushed tone and runs toward him. Devin drops his carrying bag and the two embrace. He swings her around and she lets out a little playful cry.

"I never want to lose you like that ever again," Devin insists.

"I hope not! Me neither," Cindy replies, "The worse cat and mouse game ever."

"Ever," Devin replies smiling. The two kiss and Devin notices Kate watching with praying hands at the two love birds. She is anxious to come over but respecting their reunion. Devin mouths her name, and Kate smiles at the acknowledgement. Devin and Cindy continue to hold on each other as everyone looks on with warm expressions on their face.

The red lighting that has taken over all city lights returns to normal lighting. People in the streets who wear red armor are taking off their own head pieces and break ranks. They meander through city streets as though a bit drunk, lost and confused on where to go from here. Robots and armory are pulling back making their way to warehouses and garages while others remain shut down where they are, disabled. Platforms from the sky are descending releasing people in black armor who no longer know what they are doing or what their mission was.

Washington, D.C.--The Capitol

Helicopters and police on air bikes patrol the area below. Outside the capitol, it is filled with people gathering to see an assembly of leaders (General Forsythe, other Resistance leaders, government officials, Devin Richardson, Cindy Richardson, Kate Winthrop, Login Winthrop, Kyle Kelly, Enrique Rodriquez and the President of the United of the States, Carmen DeSouza)

The President finishes her closing remarks:

"And so today is a new day. A new day for America and for the world. We owe a debt to the leaders here before us today and those we posthumously honor such as Leonard Bloomfield, Theresa Richfield, Tom Newberry and others who gave their lives in the cause of freedom. Let us show these heroes the honor they deserve."

The crowd applauds and cheers, and the president turns and applauds them. General Forsythe then takes a metal box and proceeds to go down the line of leaders and places a medal around their neck as a symbol of their bravery. Devin looks over to his wife Cindy who smiles back at him warmly. He really wondered if this day would ever be possible. As he watches the exchanged of teenage sexual angst between Kate and Kyle nearby who try to control giggling, he also never imagined those two would ever get together or that Kyle's heart could ever be melted. Devin then looks skyward hoping somewhere Leonard can see this. The sky, a brilliant blue, is filled with an energy of love, forgiveness and hope that none of them were sure they would experience again. Devin could almost imagine all their feelings. He wasn't sure if it was keeping his head up looking into the sky a little too long or the all the excitement of the day, but when he tilts his head back down, his vision is overtaken in white glory and for a moment everything is caught up in a white haze.

SAN DIEGO-CRYOGENIC WAREHOUSE

Unsure of where he is and shivering from the cold from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet, Devin Richardson finds the white haze has passed to see Kate and Kyle standing over him in military uniform. He has once been standing but now is lying down.

"Mr. Richardson can you hear me," Kyle asks for the fourth time, "How come his eyes are open but he isn't responding to me?"

"Well, anyone would be in shock after ripping their body out cryo like that," Kate replies.

"He was a Navy Seal. He's dealt with worse," Kyle rebukes her and kneels down closer to Devin. "Mr. Richardson, we are taking you out of this cryogenic hell hole. You've been asleep for 20 years so just take it easy. We need your help, so just hang tight till we can get you out of here, and we'll explain everything!"

Devin wants to say something but seemingly can't move the muscles in his mouth or anything else for that matter. He looks over at Kate pleadingly and then up at Kyle who is reaching to grab ahold of his body. Kyle lifts Mr. Richardson's body and flings it over his shoulders.

"Alright, let's get him into that digger and get the hell out of here before those metal idiots realize we are here," Kyle grumbles. Enrique lifts up the lid from below as Kate helps from above--carved out by the digger. Richardson's eyes remain with a helpless expression as Kyle carries him onward to whatever reality he must face next.