When the kids were no longer considered kids, which was around the age of 14, they were sent out on “missions” which were usually just scouting and patrol. They would be allowed to pick who they wanted to go with, but where they were going was always picked for them. This started happening after they turned seventeen. Only once or twice did more than two have to go on a mission at a time. This was one of those times. The Thirteen were going to be sent out to deal with the biggest mission of their lifetime, not only was the human race depending on these kids, but the world as we know it, and the survival of every living creature on this planet.
They were given slips of paper that said that they were to be sent out and were given three hours to get the supplies they needed, since the mission would most likely take from five days to a week. While gathering the supplies they needed, like clothes, and extra shoes, some of them were able to meet up to help another one pack. When they had gathered the supplies that they needed, they gathered in the Missions Hall, and waited to be given the mission. The Hall doors burst open and four officers walked in, along with several of the scientists that had been training them.
“Good morning boys and girls. I am Sergeant Major Payton Lawrence” the biggest one said with rolled ‘r’s, a booming voice, and a heavy Russian accent.
“I have called all thirteen of you here, because I believe that each and every single one of you is going to be very important for this mission to work.” he said, turning to face them, each with a different expression: scared out of their wits, brave, and melancholy.
“This mission is very different from the ones you are usually sent out on, and may require you to put forth your full potential, and you might learn something about yourself and your teammates along the way.” he turned towards that scientists that held different papers, debriefing packets, statistics, and information collected from spies sent out to stalk the enemy. He took the papers and laid them out in front of the kids.
“Here is everything you need to know.” he said while laying out the statistics, while he nodded to the other scientists who turned to the desktop and pulled up a holographic screen that had pictures of very complicated looking graphs, and a picture based on the description of the few spies that returned with enough sanity to tell, in broken and scattered sentences, just what they thought they were dealing with. “We are dealing with a level five extraterrestrial threat.”
“What does that mean? ‘Level five threat?’” Aura asked in her American southern drawl, causing some of them to giggle, and Jack felt weak at his knees, and struggled to maintain his composure.
“It means that these ETs use a much higher level of technology than we do, by about four centuries, so any cloaking devices that we send you out with are not going to be very helpful. You’d be much better off suited to use your own surroundings, like rolling in the mud, for lack of something better.” he said, earning a giggle from a few of the girls and Aura made a silent “oh…”. He cleared his throat and turned to the screen. “If you look at the screen you will see some footage captured from Private Dudley, before he… before he was killed.”
The footage was kind of blurry, with undergrowth of various greens and browns and yellows brushing against the screen. Heavy breathing filled the background, causing steam to show up on the screen, with various pauses here and there. In the background could be heard curses in Russian and what seemed like several pleas just to make it out alive. Mud caked the hands that were pulling the human being through the terrain. Random wildlife noises were filling the air. Incoherent babbling, growling and clicking suddenly came to be heard after the screen stopped moving and appeared to be laying on the ground. The sound they heard next turned the girls whiter than the walls of the rooms, and made the boys break out in a cold sweat while screams of bloody murder were heard, then silence. All of a sudden, a large, hideously disfigured face filled the screen and let out a cry that made all of them cringe and cover their ears, just before the screen went dark and the footage stopped.
Sergeant Major Lawrence turned with a sad look on his face, then he cleared his throat.
“I have had a hard drive placed on your desk with the details of this mission. Good luck and may God be with you all.” he solutes them, and they return the gesture before turning and are led back to their rooms.
While they were being led back to their rooms they were quiet.
“I don’t like this one bit. It just isn't right… it just isn't.” said Aura in her southern drawl.
“No it isn't, but this is the way things are.” Morgan replied worry lacing his words.
“I don’t see why you guys are making this into a huge ordeal.” said Jack coolly… The others turned and looked at him, then continued walking. “I mean, after all this is just another mission. What's the big deal?” he said, cracking his hands, wrists, and neck.
“What’s the big deal!? The big deal is that this isn’t just a normal mission, this is suicide! They’re sending us out there to kill ourselves while trying to kill this threat that will probably end up taking over the world.” Jahmni said terror dripping from his words.
“Well aren’t you just completely fearless.” said Melanni, earning a laugh from all the others.
“You people are overreacting. This isn't going to be that hard.” said Ynes, in a smooth Spanish accent.
“Did you not watch the footage? That...thing, is going to kill us.” Ellie said, her voice shaking.
Tyler took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “We’ll be fine. Besides, we have all our abilities to help us on this mission.” he whispered. Aura saw the whole thing and felt a pang of jealousy, and contempt, well up in her chest. Melanni, noticing her sudden change quickly stayed her jealousy and startling her in the process:
“He’s just consoling her. They’re just friends. She likes someone else.” she gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, and caused her to jump a little.
“Thanks Melanni. I keep forgetting you can do that.”
“It’s fine. I forget that I can do it sometimes.”
“Does your head ever get full? Of other people’s thoughts I mean….”
“Sometimes. In a crowd like this the thoughts are pretty much the same: ‘What’s gonna happen to us on this mission?’ Sometimes I wish I could turn it off, because people’s thoughts are private. That’s why they’re thought; not spoken. And sometimes the things they think of are just… Ugh…”
Melanni went quiet, and her face hardened, like she was thinking. Aura glanced to where she was looking and saw José and Ellie holding hands with intertwined fingers, and felt a huge wave of relief. She smiled when they kept glancing around to make sure no one was looking. She could feel Melanni tense, and relax.
A few hours later they were all gathering in the Hall to be sent out on the mission. Aura was sitting with Melanni and talking quietly when Tyler came over. He nodded at Melanni then she smiled at Aura and walked off to join Ellie and José. Tyler and Aura sat there in silence for what felt like an eternity.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Said Tyler, as he scooted towards her on the bench. Careful not to bump the bag that was covering her gently folded wings.
‘Now or never…’ she thought. “Do you like Ellie? I mean like more than friends…” she said, waiting for the pain of heartbreak.
“Not even close. I was just trying to calm her down. I know she likes José. But there is someone I like more than friends.” he trailed off and grabbed her chin gently to make her look at him. She hesitated then turned her head sharply, and her lips collided with his for the briefest of seconds, but it was still enough to send a shower of sparks through them. He could feel her tremble in excitement, and sheer joy. She had been wanting this more than the other had ever known. They leaned in again and kissed holding it longer, as he gently cupped her face.
When their lips met she started thinking about all the times she would watch him practice, when they were allowed to train together. Thoughts raced through her head, and she remembered when he first spoke to her at lunch, it was just a simple ‘Hey.’, but she remembered feeling her heart race, and her cheeks flush. Always wishing, always wondering, but now she knew.
Jack looked over to see Aura kissing Tyler, and he could feel his blood boil. Before he could do anything he heard a single word echo through his head.
“Don’t.”
“Why the hell not?! The one girl that I have fallen in love with, is over there kissing that scumbag, when it should be me! I should be kissing her, holding her, telling her I love her!” he felt his heart and mind race, and his fingers twitch. He started tapping his fingers against his thigh
“I think it’s better you found out this way, instead of forcing yourself on her, and make her love you when she loves someone else, as you can plainly see.” said Melanni cautiously, yet matter-of-factly.
“I wouldn't force myself on her! I woulda told her that I loved her, and that I want her to be my girl. I bet she doesn't even know who gave her the flowers on her sixteenth birthday! Or the candy on Valentines day! She thinks it was him, I know she does… but dammit Melanni…” he paused and took a big breath.
“I DID IT! I GAVE HER THOSE THINGS! I LOVE AURA LEE!!!” he yelled the last part out loud causing everyone to look at him. Even Aura and Tyler. Aura looked shocked and Tyler held her protectively against him.
“Well you snooze, you lose Jack! I got to her first! She doesn’t even love you!” Tyler snarled at Jack which startled Aura, she’d never seen him act like this, not even in the hardest part of training.
“Tyler…” Aura started.
“That’s a scumbag! Everyone knows who gave her those things: the flowers, the candy! It was all me! You gave her nothing!” He noticed an aura covering her ears and almost cowering from them.
“Aura?” he said gently. She removed herself from Tyler’s grip, and took half a step back.
“B-be nice to Jack.” she whispered. Then she turned to Jack.
“I know you love me. I know you did those things.” She said as Jack took a step towards her and took her hand and kissed it.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“I love you so much.”
“I know. But I don’t want to be forced to choose.” She whispered the last part loud enough for only Jack to hear.
There was a single tear that ran down his face, and in a rash moment he roughly kissed her, and she returned it hesitantly, then he turned and walked over to the door with his head down. He was halfway to the door when Sgt. Mjr. Lawrence came in and announced it was time to go.
——————————————————————
They all walked silently to the carrier. Jack and Tyler on either side of Aura. Melanni behind them silently wished for Aura to realize who she really loved. Josè and Ellie whisper to each other about what they would do after the mission. Jack silently took Aura’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. She returned it, only to have Tyler protectively wrapped his arm around her. She gently leaned into his touch.
When they were getting on the carrier, Melanni pulled Tyler to the other side of the carrier to talk to cause a distraction for Jack, and he pulled Aura into his lap and began to whisper to her, and protectively wrapped his arms around her, causing her to blush, and playfully smack his chest. Melanni began to pull on Tyler, distracting him from the scene going on behind him. Foca joined in and began to tell Tyler about her ability, and how their abilities would go hand in hand.
‘What are you doing Melanni?’
‘Trying to help you and Aura. Do you realize how wrong you were back there?
She does love him, just as much as she loves you. But I don’t think that you feel the way she does.’
‘How are you helping us? And how do you know?’ he said a little afraid,
‘I’m not helping you together, I'm helping you separately. There is someone else for you. And he feels the same way you do. It’ll hurt Aura’s feelings but it’s better in the long run. Alexander is who you’re looking for. Go to him.’ she said.
‘I know Mellani.’ He said sadly.
He kept walking past everyone and moved to the front of the carrier. On the way to the pilot's cabin, he looked at Alexander, and saw the hopeful look in his eye, and he nodded, making the Swede relax. Tyler then began conversing with the pilot about the carrier. When Tyler returned, he sat next to the swede, and looked him in the eye.
“Do you really feel that way?”
“Ya, I do. I’ve felt it for a long time. The only fear is that you don’t feel it as well.”
“I do feel it. I was just afraid because I didn't know what it was.” he said thinking back to two months ago.
Tyler was training for the mission when he felt someone watching him. At first, he thought it was the scientists when black orb appeared out of nowhere, startling him as he commanded one of the practice bots to block the orb. He turned and saw the black haired swede.
“Funny your hair matches your magic.” he said smirking
“Was that a black joke?” said the swede.
“Always Alex.” said Tyler, making Alexander blush at the pet name.
“Do you have unsupervised practice today?”
“Yes.”
Alexander grabbed Tyler, and placed his lips on his roughly. Tyler reciprocated the action grabbing him and pulling him close. They stumbled backwards and fell into one of the obstacles and Tyler pulled him into his lap. They sat there for a while, while Alexander placed gentle nicks on Tyler’s jawline and neck.
“We should go, we don’t want to be late for a meal.” Tyler said.
“We were already late once, because you wouldn't leave until I finished jacking off for you.” said Alexander, biting his lip seductively. “Which I thoroughly enjoyed. And I wish you'd let me do more than watch you. You don't need to be afraid of my love. And if you want, come to my room, and I'll let you feel me up and down...” he trailed off and began to bite the Swede's lip. He picked up said Swede, and began to push against him causing the raven haired boy to moan. Tyler could feel himself harden at the noise, and a moan resonated in his throat.
“I love you.” they said at the same time. They paused and started giggling.
-----------------
When the flashback ended he realized that he had been getting closer and his lips were barely touching the Alexander’s, and he finally closed the space between them. He felt his face flush when he kissed back needily.
Melanni and Foca started applauding quietly, and slowly everyone else looked over and clapped for them. Jack looked and covered Aura's eyes.
“That boy you love, he loves someone else...and he loves him back…”
“So he’s gay…”
“He doesn't quite know, actually. He does like you, but he has stronger feelings for Alexander.”
Aura felt her heart break. Jack held her tightly as Melanni came over to console her.
When Tyler broke the kiss with Alexander, he went over to Aura and pulled her out of Jack’s arms and gave her a hug.
All she said was ‘I know.’ and, for now, all was good between the two of them.
Tyler went back over to Alexander, and they sat over there, quietly talking amongst themselves. Jack pulled Aura to him and held her tight. Melanni went back over to Foca and Ellie and Josè. It seemed almost too quiet. Then with a loud bang knocking everyone out of their seats. Tyler started listening intently, and started yelling.
“Everyone get a parachute on now! These things are about to go down!” He started grabbing bags and throwing them to everyone. He realized they were too short and tried to do a quick head count.
“Who doesn’t have a pack?! We’re two short!” Ellie and Julia raised their hands and Aura gave Ellie one that was lying about, and gave Julia hers.
“What about you!?” Ellie and Julia called.
“You all seem to forget that I can fly!” She dropped the bag she was wearing gently from her shoulders and the plane grumbled and shook once more from something that hit it from the outside.
“We’re being attacked! Tyler, do you know how to open the hatch?”
“Yeah! Give me a sec!” He made his way to the pilot's cabin and looked for the lever to release the hatch. He found it and quickly pulled it. The cabin shuddered and the hatch opened. Aura darted out, and dived followed by Ellie, Julia, and Melanni. Jack, Foca, Josè, and Ynes followed. Jahmni and Destiny jumped behind them. Tyler and Alexander followed. Melanie called out to all of them, telling them to release their parachutes. Ellie started screaming cause hers was jammed. Aura dove to her and helped to untangle her cords and the chute flew open slamming into her and knocking her unconscious.
Jack yelled for her to wake up and just before she hit the tops of the trees, something caught her, and she disappeared in a flash of light and everyone started yelling for her. They guided themselves through the trees, and they started looking for any trace of her, only to find nothing. Jack started becoming anxious, until Melanie called out and sent a mental picture of her location, and that she found Aura. Jack bolted off into the trees with everyone following behind him. He got to her sliding into the mud and held her. Jahmni came over to them and Jack looked at him. “Lay her flat, so I can get a good look at her.”
Jack nodded and adjusted her the best he could so that she was laying flat. He gave her a quick feel-over and gave a quick nod to Jack.
“Nothing is broken, and she’s unconscious from getting hit with Ellie’s parachute, however I think getting hit that hard would have done more than just that.” He laid his hands over her eyes, and a blueish-green light emanated from the tips of his fingers. After about three minutes she stirred and opened her eyes.
“Be gentle with her Jack. She’s in a very fragile state.” Ever so carefully, as if she was made of glass, Jack put his arms under her, and she leaned over the other way as she unloaded the contents of her stomach. Jack held her hair back and kissed the back of her neck and whispered in her ear that it was going to be OK. Everyone looked away and gave them their privacy.
“Alright everyone, look for supplies to set up a shelter. Aura is too weak to move long distances, so look around for anything that can be fastened together.” Morgan said immediately, taking charge. He then looked at Jack. “You are going to stay with Aura. We’ll call if we absolutely need you. Everyone else stays within mental distance!” Everyone started scrounging for broken branches among the rubble and foliage.
They found plenty of broken branches, and used the cords and parachutes to make shelters. They had enough to make three shelters that connected together to make one large one. Jack and Tyler carried Aura into the shelter and placed her in the most comfortable place they could find. Minding her wings they gently laid her down and put a bag for a pillow under her head.
“Everything is going to be alright, Aura.” Jack said, kissing her on the forehead.
————————————————————
It was the same time as the crash, and they had been tracking the kids through the tracking devices in the soles of their shoes. When one of the dots completely dropped off of the map they became seriously concerned. All the scientists were scrambling around looking for where they went wrong, and they all became relaxed, but still slightly tense when the dot reappeared.
“Who’s dot was that?” Lawrence called the scientists.
“It was… Aura’s dot.” One of the younger scientists called from somewhere in the room.
“Why did it glitch like that? Why did she disappear like that?” Sgt. Mjr. Lawrence called out.
“We don’t know Sir. Do you think it was aliens?” another called out.
“No they would have taken all of them, not just her.”
“Would they Sir?” A Russian voice called out.
Everyone looked to the doors as a broken, bloody, and battered Private limped painfully through the crowd.
“Dudley?” Lawrence called out.
“Yes dad. It’s me.”
Sgt. Mjr. Lawrence felt himself tear up as he ran to meet his son, and enveloped him in a hug. Dudley returned the hug.
“How did you escape? The footage showed the aliens had got to you, and k-killed you.”
“They did. But they didn’t kill me. They kept me alive but barely. I was held in a cage for what seemed like months. And there was no light except for these weird glow-worms. I underwent a test, after an excruciating test. Until these “Doctors” came through, and helped me escape. They gave me all these strange plants, and herbs. They tasted like shit, but they worked. So the most I snuck out with were some broken toes… and something else I was supposed to tell you… but I can’t remember what it was.” Dudley said, furrowing his brow and pinching the bridge of his nose in concentration.
“Tell me what you do remember, and maybe I can help,” said Payton.
“It was...a...message….” Dudley said, trying to remember what he overheard the aliens talking about.
“What kind of message?” the other scientists leaned in to hear what he had to say.
“Something about invasion... being almost complete, all that’s left is to-” Dudley went quiet as his eyes bulged. Behind him one of the older scientists was holding a .22 caliber pistol with a silencer. After that the whole moment seemed to go, almost comically, into slow motion as Dudley let out a small grunt, and gave a smile as blood dripped from his mouth, and he fell into Payton’s arms. Everything went silent as the other scientists started to open fire on the enemy. He gave a wicked smile as the bullets ricocheted and screeched madly:
“YOU’RE ALL GOING TO DIE! THE HEAVENS WILL REIGN DOWN ON YOU, AND PUNISH YOU FOR YOUR CRIMES! THESE ‘ALIENS’ ARE THE ANGELS WHO HAVE COME TO WREAK HAVOC UPON YOU, AND YOUR LOVED ONES! NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO SUFFER!” and he teleported out of the room. Payton started crying as he held his recently deceased son among shredded papers, and broken equipment.
Right now that was the only thing that mattered to him.
“Sir?” one of the youngest and newest scientists was sitting at a computer that started glitching. And the face of the scientist appeared on the screen, along with several ‘angels’ that stood around him.
“It’s time. Welcome to the end of the world.”