Angel of Death

The journey up the mountain was slow and lasted long days on foot. Rachel led the way, her face shrouded by a tactical shawl. As they got closer to the mountain peak, she felt like someone was watching from one of the many rocky ridge lines. Behind her, Matthew followed, each of his men keeping pace with expertise. Sapphire and Zyhara walked side by side in the middle of the column.

Seeing the Sun gently grace the tall mountains in the west, Rachel called a halt. She then walked back to Sapphire.

“Sundown is close; better find a place to bivouac. We could make it there tonight, but I don’t think Zyhara can see in the dark. Should be there early morning,” Rachel said.

Sapphire nodded, and Mathew went ahead with two of his men, looking for a concealed position to hunker down. Zyhara excitedly looked about, her face glistening with wonder. Rachel admired her; any other twelve-year-old girl probably would be a wreck by now.

Overhead, Mathew waved, and the group picked up. They climbed the rocky slope into the thin brush skirting the ridge line. Here, they lay down their packs and equipment. Mathew scurried about, setting up the watch and tending to his men. He was like a dog, always alert, constantly mothering his men.

Rachel sat down on her pack and lit her pipe.

“Hey! What happened to light and noise discipline?” Mathew seethed under his breath.

“They know we’re here, dumbass,” Rachel huffed, blowing smoke in his direction.

“Can I have some of that?” Zyhara asked curiously.

“How old are you?” Rachel laughed.

“Absolutely not!” Sapphire stammered, outraged.

“All the other pupils get to smoke!” Zyhara grumbled, crossing her arms.

“Their professors sound pretty cool, man,” Rachel teased.

“I will not be having children smoking tobacco on my watch,” Sapphire said firmly.

“I’m not a child,” Zyhara spat.

“Yeah, sure, kiddo, give it a few more years, okay? Then you can make bad life choices, just like me,” Rachel smiled.

“Oh, ho!” Mathew smiled. “So, she is self-aware.”

“Can it gingersnap!” Rachel spat.

“Or what? All you do is jib and complain; when have you ever just done your job?” Mathew snarled.

“Children, please,” Sapphire sighed.

“Nah, hold up,” Rachel barked. “Since when have I not done my job?”

“I’m just saying,” Mathew shrugged.

“I saved your ass, how many times?” Rachel asked, pointing to her pipe.

“None.”

“Oh really? None. None at all? The fuck happened on Nexus?” Rachel asked.

“That was a cyborg child, not you,” Mathew laughed.

“A what?” Zyhara asked.

“Some portal jumping psycho ninja kid helped us out a tiny bit,” Rachel huffed.

“He got you a ship and held off the enemy,” Sapphire offered.

“Okay fine, yeah, the crazy metal ninja kid helped out a bunch, but I still saved your ass!” Rachel said.

“If I recall correctly, you simply stole the last kill. That was only a few months ago; how do you not remember? We’re only halfway into this deployment,” Mathew teased.

“Must be all the bad life choices,” Zyhara giggled.

“Hey! Whose side are you on?” Rachel asked, offended.

“Rachel,” Sapphire said uneasily, staring at the ridge line.

“Listen, I can do some roaming overwatch; nobody said I had to be with you guys,” Rachel said.

“Rachel,” Sapphire said again, fear in her eyes as she looked onward.

“Oh, please do!” Mathew smiled.

“Okay, off I go then,” Rachel snarled.

Having picked her rifle up, she stood when she noticed the dark hooded figure standing on the ridge line with glowing red eyes.

“Fuck,” Rachel grumbled.

Mathew looked up and noticed the figure too.

“Look, alive boys!” Mathew barked, bolting upward, his rifle aimed.

The figure disappeared, zipping away from his perch.

Sapphire looked at Rachel.

“Do what you do best,” Sapphire said grimly as the men cocked their weapons and formed a battle line.

“Say less,” Rachel smiled.

Rachel ignited her energy, pitch-black flame erupting from her body, pure white electricity arcing from her form. Zyhara’s mouth dropped as Rachel sprinted towards the ridge line. Within seconds, she closed the hundred or so meters to the ridge, arriving at the rocky top. She saw the mountain folding upwards, the cloaked figure sprinting faster than a vehicle away from her towards the peak.

“Fucker,” Rachel grumbled.

Rachel focused, she needed to be mobile for this, and she had only reached her pure form a few times before. Rachel closed her eyes, imagining wings. Her energy sparked and compressed, long limbs forming behind her. Soon, the energy took the form of black hawk-like wings. Rachel smiled, breaking down her rifle. She stowed it in her smaller backpack, then extended a bow entirely formed of black and grey flame.

With her ghostly bow of energy, and wings formed, Rachel soared into the air. Her energy helped her non-aerodynamic body stabilize as the wind current met her. She swooped like a stark blackbird, gracefully following the figure as they sprinted at breakneck speed. Soon she caught up and drew an arrow comprised of her energy.

Rachel nocked the arrow, aimed, and sent it flying at the figure. The figure dodged to the side as the bolt slammed into the ground, sending a fireball skyward. Rachel cursed and knocked another arrow. Again, the arrow flew, smashing into the ground, the figure effortlessly dodging.

Rachel dove, coming close to the ground at breakneck speed. She leveled off a few dozen meters behind the figure, matching their pace. Her heart racing, her eyes bulging, a grin on her face. This was what she lived for. Not the glory, nor the money, or anything else. The prey and predator, the hunt, was what called her as she shot through the air like a speeding nightmare.

Suddenly the air around her lit up like a Christmas tree, and anti-aircraft fire nearly swatted her out of the sky. Rachel roared; her vision blurred from the concussions. She propelled herself like a jet, rocketing towards the sky. Below her, tracer fire from large machine guns followed her, lapping at her energy trail like dotted lines of death as they tried to kill her. The dark cloaked figure had disappeared.

“Raven Actual, what’s your status?” Sapphire radioed.

“They’re definitely fucking dug in up here!” Rachel roared, barrel turning hundreds of feet from the ground, the guns struggling to pivot and lead on to her. Below her, the night sky had become a burning plane of death and explosions as the gunners wildly fired away.

“Lazing targets!” Mathew radioed.

Rachel scanned with her enhanced sight, picking up the infrared lasers from the troopers’ rifles and aiming at their concealed gun positions. They weren’t even in bunkers, just covered in camouflage. Rachel smiled. If only she had this kind of power back on Earth.

Rachel rolled like a hawk and dove nearly vertically at the nearest gun position. She came so close to the ground that the concussion from the ammunition explosion going off almost unbalanced her. Too late, the gunners saw her coming, letting their guns roar. The tracers zipped past her, narrowly missing as she came closer. She nocked an arrow, and let it loose, flying upward at the last second.

She pulled away, gaining altitude again. Below her, the team had engaged another gun position. Rachel could see the bright orange fireballs hurled from Mathew on one side, the lighting arcs from Sapphire on another, forming a pincer attack and eviscerating the gun crew.

Another gun crew down, the team advanced, lazing another position. Rachel dove again, leveling her bow. A bullet ripped through her left wing, and she cried in pain but managed to keep herself level. She furiously and rapidly fired several arrows, then pulled away. The gun emplacement exploded, burning pieces of bodies flung every which way. She pulled away, channeling energy to her wound, trying to heal as quickly as possible.

“You got company, Raven Actual,” Mathew warned on the radio.

She looked up to see two flying fireballs shaped like humans barreling towards her.

“The skies are mine bitch,” Rachel snarled, having healed the gunshot wound.

“Engaging ground targets,” Sapphire called.

Rachel accelerated, her bow dissipating. She formed two short, curved swords, holding them upside down, so the blades protruded from her like a predator’s talons. The two enemy flyers widened their distance from each other, forcing Rachel to choose one or the other. She knew the maneuver well and it guaranteed at least one on her back while dealing with her desired target.

As the opponents closed the distance, the sun dropped below the mountains, darkness overtaking them. Rachel could see just fine, but she had to assume they did, as well. The chilly night wind lapped at her face, her energy protecting her eyes and keeping her body temperature at normal levels as she closed in.

As they got closer, darts of fire began launching from the enemy. Rachel effortlessly dodged, twirling midair as she closed in. She chose an enemy, barreling towards them. The black raven flyer must have scared them as their trajectory faltered. Hesitation meant death in the sky, and with a great crash, Rachel slammed into them.

Fire, both red and black, intermingled, arcs of energy flailing about as the two hurtled to the ground. As Rachel sank both swords into their chests, she could hear the air leave their lunges. Rachel grabbed the man by the throat and punched him as hard as she could in his face. She could see the pain in his startled eyes.

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The red flyer’s face disappeared, turning into pink mist as his limp body hurtled to the ground. Rachel judged the distance to the ground, only a hundred feet or two. Above her, the other enemy was diving towards her, lining up a shot. She dissipated the swords and imagined a flat disk in her mind. A small, manhole-sized disk of energy appeared a dozen feet below her.

Rachel fully extended her wings, using them as brakes as she slammed into the energy disk. There was a thunderclap-like snap as all the momentum she had built flowed past her, the wind and energy smashing into the ground below, blasting shrubs and trees like a gale wind.

She launched off the disk with a blur of motion like a swimmer does off of the poolside. The wings folded into her body, disk gone, with all remaining energy formed around her like a giant nightmarish ball of pitch black. She had one chance at this.

Too late, the opponent realized what had happened, trying desperately to pull away from the freight train of power climbing head-on towards them. Rachel formed a fist, focusing on that clenched hand as much as possible. Her vision darkened, the Gs nearly causing her to blackout. Her clenched fist contacted the combatant, plowing headfirst through their body.

Flame and bodily fluids fell down around her as she slowed down. Her wings returned, now husks of their former glory. Rachel was heaving, her eyes bloodshot, sweat pouring. She gazed downward at her handy work, what little remained of her enemy falling like red rain to the ground.

Rachel hovered in midair, covered in blood, her appearance like a warrior goddess. Or some sort of agent of death itself. Below her, what remained of the enemy gun batteries now roared in flame. Rachel could see human figures routing through the brush, climbing the mountain in terror. If only she had more in her, she could chase them down like the cowardly prey they were.

She sighed, wiping blood and sweat from her eyes as she slowly descended. Within a minute, her booted feet contacted the snowy ground. Steam rolled off of her body as she dissipated all remaining energy. Rachel was still breathing heavily, but she smiled at her handiwork.

The rustling of brush caught her attention, and she whipped around, pistol raised. Mathew stumbled through the bush, heaving.

“You, okay?” He panted, hands on his knees.

Rachel grimaced, holstering her pistol.

“Yeah. You?”

“Uh-huh,” Mathew nodded.

The young officer gazed about the bloody and smoldering battlefield, wonder in his eyes.

“Damn,” He said softly.

“What?” Rachel snarled.

He gave her a long look, his eyes twinkling with an odd expression.

“Thanks.”

Rachel nearly stuttered, her premeditated insult tumbling in her mouth. No jabs about military conduct? No complaints? Was he actually grateful?

“You’re welcome?” Rachel asked, confused.

“Now you’ve officially saved my ass,” Mathew laughed.

“Oh, please.”

“Nah, seriously, take a look at these guns,” Mathew beckoned.

Perplexed, Rachel followed him through the brush, heading towards the nearest fires. As they walked, sporadic gunfire rang out, the troopers finishing an enemy with some fight left in them. The fires’ dark smoke and orange hue rose into the night sky. Despite the carnage and death, it was a beautiful sight with the stars in the background.

As they walked, Mathew slowed down, so he could walk beside Rachel.

“Never knew you had that in ya,” He said nervously.

“Why do you think they call us Scourges?” Rachel said hotly.

“Yeah, but I’ve seen Scourges in action before. Nothing like that. Guess that’s why the ‘Angel of Death’ is on your file,” Mathew chuckled.

“I prefer raven.”

“Ooooooooh! Here comes the girl covered in black fire and sparks. It’s the deadly raven!” Mathew said sarcastically.

“It’s symbolic.”

“More symbolic than “Angel of Death”?” Mathew laughed.

Rachel was silent, a dark look on her face.

Mathew joined the silence, studying her face. Realization crept across his face.

“That was your old call sign, wasn’t it? From Earth?” He sighed.

“Can we talk about something else? Please?” Rachel asked.

“Yeah. Sorry,” Mathew nodded gravely. He cleared his throat. “Right up here.”

The pair silently walked through the brush, entering a now open area cleared by the fire. Zyhara stood with Sapphire while several of the troopers checked the bodies. There was no machine gun in the center but a hulking anti-aircraft crew-served cannon on wheels. Rachel whistled.

“That’s some heavy ordinance for a hit squad,” Rachel sighed.

She unslung her small backpack and proceeded to reassemble her rifle as Mathew walked past her.

“Twenty-millimeter automatic deck guns. Recognize them?” Mathew asked genuinely.

Rachel shook her head.

Sapphire was deep in thought, her face grim.

“They’re from Zion,” Zyhara observed innocently. “My father has several of these mounted to his yacht.”

“Do me a quick favor, kid, and never remind us of how loaded you guys are again, please,” Rachel sighed.

“Where the hell is your father sailing in need of these?” Mathew asked, baffled.

“He deals with a lot of,” Zyhara paused. “Interesting folk.”

“I just want to know why particle manipulators are trying to kill us with Zion-made armament,” Sapphire said.

“Rogue operators?” Mathew asked.

“Cover-up,” Rachel huffed.

Sapphire gave her a dark look.

“Oh, don’t act all high and mighty with me! Go ahead, try, and tell me with a straight face there aren’t some bad apple white hairs,” Rachel jabbed.

“No self-respecting acolyte of Zion would ever resort to arms dealing, let alone try to kill their comrades,” Sapphire said fervently.

“And yet here we are,” Rachel scoffed. “One probably dead or tortured professor, a lost student, comms jammed, and the village massacred. Probably not the only one now that I think about it; they had to have been here for months.”

“Zyhara literally said her dad dealt with interesting folk,” Mathew said.

“My father has nothing to do with this!” Zyhara blurted.

“Maybe, but there’s a lot of money in Zion. Lots of worlds meet at that crossroad, many potential underworlds that could be connected,” Rachel observed.

“Enough!” Sapphire barked. “There is no dark web of crime syndicates run out of Zion; there are no traitors in our ranks. This is all just a bizarre, outlandish mission gone terribly wrong!”

The two dropped it, staring at the hulking death machine. Sapphire was not her calm and collected self. There was a great unease in her body language, the same one when their reality became challenged.

“You think they got a base up there?” Mathew asked.

“Either that, or we got ambushed by the heaviest Rogue crew I’ve ever dealt with,” Rachel shrugged.

“We need to fall back,” Sapphire said determinedly.

“Are you fucking nuts?” Rachel barked.

“Ma’am,” Mathew blurted.

“This is just their first line; fuck knows what else they got up there! We run now; they’ll hunt us like dogs,” Rachel said.

“And what do you propose? We just bully on, charge up a mountain?” Sapphire yelped.

“Better than being hunted down,” Rachel growled.

“You were hurt! I saw that shell go through your wing. It’s a miracle no one was killed,” Sapphire said. “I’m not risking anyone else simply to win this little struggle.”

“That’s war cupcake. People get hurt; people die,” Rachel spoke.

“Is this a game to you?” Sapphire asked hotly, her eyes glaring.

“No, but this isn’t a training run, and you aren’t our mother. You wanted to get your hands dirty and run with the big boys like dear old dad; here we are, princess!” Rachel snarled.

“Let’s all just calm down here,” Mathew eased his hands up.

“Matt, how many campaigns have you been on? Legit,” Rachel barked.

Mathew sighed.

“Three on my home world, one with Zion, five missions with you,” He spoke.

“Bet. I fought in one hell of war,” Rachel started.

“Which you lost,” Sapphire snapped.

The group was dead silent.

Mathew looked over at wide-eyed Zyhara and silently beckoned for her to follow. The two slowly edged away as the Zion troopers automatically turned and patrolled the perimeter.

Rachel and Sapphire kept a death cold stare, neither blinking.

“We lost. We, as in Thaddeus and me. We lost that war,” Rachel said with a quivering voice.

“Don’t tarnish my father’s good name with your failings,” Sapphire said.

“Damn shame that you couldn’t make it, locked up in the library with your mommy,” Rachel said.

“If this is you trying to hold field experience over me, you will have to try harder than losing your world,” Sapphire spat.

In an instant, Rachel’s knife was pressed against Sapphire’s throat, her eyes glowing grey, black sparks flickering from her body.

“Go hide with the dead. I’m clearing that base and getting these people off-world,” Rachel growled.

“They won’t follow you,” Sapphire smiled.

“And who do you think you are?” Rachel asked, getting closer to Sapphire’s face.

“I am Zion. You are just a mutt my father pulled in from the cold because he felt bad for you.”

Rachel pulled the knife from Sapphire’s throat, grinding her teeth, her eyes balls of fury.

“Mathew!” She screeched.

“Oh, like he’s going to help you,” Sapphire laughed.

Mathew came sprinting back, rifle at the ready, Zyhara at his heels.

“What happened?” He roared, scanning the brush.

“This miserable bitch wants to hide in the village-” Rachel started.

“That is enough,” Sapphire growled.

“Give her some men; I’m going up.” Rachel sneered.

“You take one more step up that mountain, and I’m revoking your status,” Sapphire barked.

Rachel glared at her.

“Wanna know what’s funny? This was my last mission in the department. Your precious daddy already recruited me for his dream team; I got the message on my console before leaving for this deployment. So bust me down, see if I care, I’ll gladly serve with them over you,” She spat.

“Oh, you’ll fit in quite nicely with all the other trash my father loves to collect,” Sapphire cackled.

“Sapphire,” Mathew said, shocked.

“Shut up, Lieutenant. Be quiet and follow orders. When we get to safety, I want you to write a full report on Rachels’s insubordination, disrespect, and failure in the field. I am done with you humans and your idiotic feedback. Gather your men; we move now,” Sapphire commanded.

Mathew stood there like a statue. Behind him, Zyhara angrily glared at Sapphire.

Suddenly, the student stomped over to her pack, put it on, and stood by Rachel.

“I always liked Professor Thaddeus more than you,” Zyhara said.

“Darling, the likes of you have never even met my father,” Sapphire laughed.

“Cirilla would be ashamed of you,” Zyhara spoke.

Sapphire lost her mirth, a cold steel gaze resting on her face.

“Use the Mistress of the Great Library’s first name like that again, and there will be consequences,” Sapphire said.

“The fuck are you gonna do exactly?” Rachel growled, standing between them.

“Damn Sapphire, first mission in the field, and you already got a mutiny.” Mathew laughed.

“Excuse you?” Sapphire said.

“I don’t, actually, but thank you for the opportunity. I’ve served with many bad leaders in my time; I’m not getting my men killed due to your bruised ego. Your input is no longer required on this mission, advisor. Feel free to return to Zion whenever it’s convenient,” Mathew said.

Rachel looked at him dumbfounded.

“Insubordinate, wretched humans!” Sapphire screeched. “When we get back, I am court martialing all of you!”

Rachel and Mathew looked at each other and laughed.

“Only the council can do that,” Zyhara said triumphantly.

“Yes, and who do you think has more say on the council? Three miserable, pubescent children, or a centuries-old scholar who has dedicated her life to defending-”

Sapphire stopped, her eyes bulging, as Zyhara yawned.

“Sorry, I just, all I heard was white hair speak. Could you say that again? But like, not as boring?” Zyhara asked with a grin.

Rachel looked at the girl, genuine pride rising in her chest.

“Sure you don’t want to transfer to the army, kid?” Mathew laughed.

“Nah, unlike Sapphire, I know my place. Let’s go take a mountain top!” Zyhara giggled.

Zyhara skipped away, leading the way through the snowy brush. The troopers quietly looked at Mathew, who nodded. They too, began trudging upward. Mathew then laid a hand on Rachel’s shoulder and marched on.

“You dare leave me here alone?” Sapphire screeched as Rachel mounted her mini pack to her main ruck and shouldered it.

“You’re a centuries-old scholar, well versed in defense of all that is precious and pure. You got this, sweetheart. Oh, I know you’re cold-blooded, so you might wanna set the fire up before it gets too cold out, darling,” Rachel laughed, turning her back on the white-haired woman.

As Rachel caught up with Mathew, they could hear Sapphires’ curses and shouts echoing through the brush.

“You know she’s gonna follow us, right?” Mathew said.

“Nah. She’s gonna hunker down, wait for us to come back. When she hears us tearing ass, then she’ll come running along at the last minute and take all the credit,” Rachel sighed.

“Typical white hairs,” Zyhara sighed.

“Says the girl training to be one,” Rachel chortled.

Zyhara shrugged.

“I’d like to be one, but my parents would prefer me to stay in the Great Library. If that’s all I can look forward to, maybe there’s more out there for me,” Zyhara sighed.

The three were silent as they walked, the troopers scanning ahead, ensuring there were no more surprises. Despite her lack of enhancement, Zyhara seemed to have no trouble walking in the dark. She was a curious girl, to say the least, and had a lot of heart for a student.

Rachel studied her, then Mathew. So far, this night had gone in the complete opposite direction than she had anticipated. Sure, there would be fighting, but for Mathew to stick up for her? And to have Zyhara show some backbone, this was the last thing she expected from either.

The distant crackle of fire quietly faded, replaced by the chirp of insects and animals as they continued onward up the mountain. Far away, Rachel could see small heat signatures milling about on the peak. They were preparing; this would be a long night.

“You guys didn’t have to do that for me,” Rachel grumbled.

Mathew chuckled while Zyhara looked up.

“I mean, not my ideal way of getting booted off the task force, but it was a long time coming,” Mathew sighed.

“What do you mean?” Rachel asked.

“Well, the new Scourges have their assault friends. Every Scourge needs a team; you’re not a god after all. Someone has to watch your back under Thaddeus,” Mathew said.

“Hell no, stay in this department. You like tradition, rank, honor, all that recruitment ad bullshit,” Rachel laughed.

“Yeah, but if you're trash, then what does that make me?” Mathew asked.

“Can I be trash too?” Zyhara grinned.

“This one is gonna be ruined by the time we get back. What have you done to our student?” Rachel mimicked.

“Oh god, I can hear her now. ‘How dare you negatively influence the next generation? You must set the example!” Mathew laughed.

“Who are you guys making fun of?” Zyhara asked curiously.

“Mistress Zion,” Rachel chortled.

“Anna doesn’t sound like that,” Zyhara said, confused.

“Sure know a lot of important peoples’ first names, huh, kid?” Mathew asked.

Zyhara blushed.

“It’s not my fault, my mother and father-” She started.

“Have tea with the council and go on armored yacht rides with the Lords of Zion,” Rachel said in a stuffy, rich tone.

“Beg your pardon; I must make sure my butlers pack my luggage for my field trip!” Mathew laughed.

Zyhara grimaced.

“Don’t tell me a butler actually packed your stuff for this shit show?” Rachel laughed.

“I packed my own stuff, thank you very much,” Zyhara said hotly.

Rachel sighed.

“Look, if the rich jokes are too much-” She began.

Zyhara pointed a finger, her chin tucked upwards.

“One more word out of you, staff sergeant, and I shall have my parents cut funding to your department!” She said mockingly.

“What funding?” Mathew chortled.

“And you, Lieutenant! Never in all my years have I met such an unbecoming officer; when we return, my mother and father shall hear of this!” Zyhara mimicked.

“Oh man, you’re screwed, dude!” Rachel laughed.

The three laughed, continuing onwards. Rachel’s mind drifted, her vision no longer picking up enemy signatures in the distance. The day’s events replayed like video feedback in her mind, with her analyzing it all. Her thoughts drifted back to her room and the hooch that awaited. A funny thought crossed her mind.

Rachel broke the silence, chuckling.

“What?” Mathew smiled.

“Nothing,” Rachel shook her head.

“C’mon,” Zyhara whined.

“Well, it’s just, isn’t it funny how so many universes connect to Zion? All those people, so many languages and ideas?” Rachel asked.

“Not really?” Zyhara asked, confused.

“Where are you going with this?” Mathew asked.

“I mean, so many cool people and ideas, and the best title we can come up with is Zion? Zion troopers, Zion students, Zion acolytes, Professors of Zion, Lords of Zion? Zion, Zion, Zion, Zion!” Rachel laughed.

The other two also laughed.

“Isn’t Zion an old Earth mythology term?” Zyhara asked.

“Something like that. I dunno, somebody like Sapphire must have thought it was a great idea to name the place,” Rachel shrugged.

“I think if we don’t say the name at least fifty times a day, we’ll remember it’s just another shithole with too much funding,” Mathew chortled.

“Oh really? Mister duty and service, where’s the ‘Defenders of the universe’ speech? Huh?” Rachel chuckled.

“Hey, I know what we do matters. Who knows how many people would be snuffed out if task forces like ours weren’t constantly out on deployment? I’d just like less red tape, though, ya know?” Mathew sighed.

“You are literally from Armenium; the place is wrapped in red tape,” Rachel laughed.

“I thought it was a wonderful planet,” Zyhara comforted.

“Just thought there would be more people like us in charge,” Mathew said distantly.

“Me too, man, me too,” Rachel said.

“Maybe we can change that,” Zyhara said.

“Yeah? You running for election soon?” Rachel laughed.

“Shit, she stays like this; she’s got my vote,” Mathew laughed.

“C’mon, they can’t keep the place to themselves forever. We can dictate the future, same as any other new generation,” Zyhara nodded fervently.

Rachel studied Zyhara. At that moment, something clicked. The way the girl carried herself, her pure optimism, barely batted an eye despite being surrounded by death and mayhem. Rachel internally swore at that moment that she would defend this poor girl until her last breath.

Rachel looked up and locked eyes with Mathew. He had a stalwart expression behind his night vision goggles. They understood each other, and he felt the same. They knew what the other was thinking in that immediate moment of direct eye contact.

“You’re gonna make a great white hair someday, kiddo,” Rachel said.

“Just stay away from the librarians,” Mathew said.

“I’ll be in the field as much as possible if I’ve got anything to say about it,” Zyhara said.

Zyhara looked up at the two soldiers.

“When we get back to Zion, I don’t think it will go the way Sapphire thinks it will,” She stated.

“How do you figure that?” Rachel laughed.

“Just a hunch,” Zyhara shrugged mischievously.

“Let’s get through tonight first before we worry about sicking your parents on Sapphire,” Rachel laughed.

The group trudged upward, the mountain peak in plain sight now. A shiver ran down Rachel’s spine, unease setting in. She had a bad feeling about what was to come.