The Fallen arc

Jayden POV

"Jayden".

"Dad!"

"Take care of your mother for me. She'll need you."

"Dad, no! Dad!"

"It'll be okay Jayden. You're my son. I know you'll pull through."

"Dad, I'm sorry! This is all my fault! I shouldn't have-."

"JAYDEN!" My dad shouted. As he was on his knees with his wrists tied together and his face bloodied from the large cut from his forehead, he still smiled as he looked at me. He said a few words but I couldn't hear them. And then....

SLICE

"DAD NOOOOOO!!!"

I jolted from my bed and woke up from my dream in a cold sweat. I was shaking and breathing heavily. The memory of that day. No matter what I do it won't go away. I thought those dreams were gone forever. I haven't had them since I was a kid but now they're back. Goddammit! Why? Why can't the past just die already!? WHY!?

I felt like I was having a panic attack. I took deep breaths trying to calm my nerves but it was hard. I almost felt like breaking down and crying but I couldn't. Not now when I'm stronger than before. Not in front of them. Things are different now. I'm not that same kid. I....I'm different now.

I finished taking my breaths and finally managed to calm my nerves down. As I wiped the sweat off my face, I sat up and pulled out my phone from my shelf next to my bed to look at the time. It was 4:00 A.M. Goddammit.

I pinched the bridge of my nose in annoyance. I had training with Ziera in two hours. Not that I minded because I wanted to know how to use my powers but man I am not an early bird. I flopped back into my bed burying my face in my pillow wanting to catch some remaining sleep.

"Just great. Now I can't sleep." I sighed in frustration. Suddenly, I heard a knock on the door.

"Jayden? Are you okay?" That voice. That was Ziera. Crap did she hear me lose it? Oh man, I hope she doesn't think I'm some kind of wimp now because of this. Whoa relax Jayden just take a breath. I'm sure she doesn't see you that way.

["He's a hero!"].

Right. She doesn't. So stop worrying and go see what she wants. I got up from my bed and went to the door to press the button and when it opened Ziera was there waiting for me.

"Hi Jayden." Ziera greeted me. Her green hair was a bit messy like some hairs were sticking up, she wore a long white t-shirt with Perseus the leader of the Guardians on it and gym shorts. Wait! Gym shorts? I looked down and noticed her thick thighs from under her shorts. Damn she got some nice thighs. Wait, stop! Get a grip Jayden!

"Uh Ziera. Hey. What's up?" I asked.

"Nothing. It's just I heard a scream coming from your room and your heart rate was off the charts on my scanner. So I just wanted to make sure that you were okay." Ziera said sincerely.

She was worried about me? Man she really is amazing. We haven't known each other for that long and she's already done so much for me. And I've done nothing to earn any of it. I can't keep acting like this. Ziera and the others are expecting a lot from me now. I have to take some initiative and prove myself from here on out no matter what it takes.

"Oh sorry about that. Just had a bad dream but I'm fine. Promise." I said, trying to awkwardly laugh it off. Ziera didn't seem convinced at all though. She stepped closer towards me and placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Jayden. If you need to talk to someone you know you can lean on me right? Like we all agreed upon, we're friends now. So if anything is bothering you I'll listen." Ziera said.

She's right. Ziera had been there for me every step of the way. I could just tell her what's been on my mind all this time. About dad, about what I di-then out of the blue, an image to the past of my father dying right in front of me flashed through my mind. What followed was the horrified and disgusted looks the townspeople gave me.

NO! I can't! I can't tell her. I looked down at the floor beginning to panic again. She'll hate me I know she will! It's not like with mom. Ziera hasn't known me for that long. If she found out what I did and why she'd...she'd...

"Hey Jayden!" Ziera said, waking me from my thoughts. I looked back at Ziera who had a look of concern on her face. She placed both her hands on my shoulders trying to calm me down. "Your heart rate is beginning to race again! Just take deep breaths okay?" Ziera said worriedly.

I tried but it felt so hard to breathe. I was beginning to sweat from my head and I was starting to feel dizzy. That is until my eyes went toward Ziera. That was when I finally took a deep breath and calmed down.

"Sorry." I dryly said, looking away from her.

"Jayden. What's going on with you? If something is bothering you then you can....you can tell me." Ziera said with sincerity.

I can't. Besides my mom, Ziera is the person I respect the most right now. She reignited the flame in me to want to achieve my dream of becoming a great hero. If she looked at me the way the townspeople did, I don't know what I would do at this point. And if the others found out that would be even worse. Imagine how the Order would react if they knew what kind of person they let join them if they didn't know already. I'll just have to deal with this alone. Hopefully I'll forget about it as time goes.

"Nah. Like I said I'm fine Ziera. I just had a bad dream is all. And I'll admit that I've been stressing a bit over leaving home but I'll be fine honest. I just need some sleep is all." I said.

"But Jayden I just...."

"Look I said I'm fine okay so can you back the hell off already!?" I blurted out. Ziera looked taken back and a bit hurt. Shit! I didn't mean to snap at her. It was an accident. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to-." I tried to explain but she raised her hand signaling me to stop.

"It's fine. Clearly you want to be alone so sorry for bothering you. Have a goodnight Jayden. I'll see you in the morning for training." Ziera said solemnly. Ziera turned around and walked down the hall back to her room.

"Wait Ziera. I'm sorry, please wait!" I pleaded. But Ziera ignored me and had already gone into her room.

"Shit!" I blurted out.

"Hey shut the hell up! People trying to sleep over here!" Henro shouted from his room across the hall.

I sighed in defeat and went back to my room and shut the door. I sat back down in my bed and placed my hands on my face. Goddammit. Why did I yell at her? She was just trying to help me and I blew up at her for it. I gotta get through this somehow otherwise she'll hate me.

"Sigh. I'm hopeless."

***

Ziera Pov

After returning to my room, I sat down on my chair in front of my desk. I pressed a button on the desk and out came a highly advanced computer I constructed while I was here on the ship. I was too frustrated to go back to sleep so I just went to work on investigating the core that belonged to the late fleet admiral Cozar.

I placed his core on a holder connected to the computer and on the screen displayed all his data and memories from his life. His mind is gone but androids don't truly die unless you destroy their core. So now without his resistance I can decipher any other secrets he'd have to have known from working with my brother, Ziren. But so far he's proven to be useless.

The only information that was worthy of concern I had gotten from his core was that he reported Jayden's identity to his superiors but honestly that was to be expected sooner or later. I just pray they won't get Maria involved. Jayden has been through a lot and lost his old life, he doesn't need to lose his mother too.

Oh and speaking of Jayden, what is going on with him? I try to talk to him and he blows at me? Like what hell!? We're friends now so why can't he just be honest and tell me his problems? What is eating at him so badly? Suddenly, I remembered something.

["This isn't the same how it was with dad!"]

I frowned. Realizing just how stupid I was acting. That's right. Jayden lost his father a long time ago. I don't know the specifics but it must have been traumatizing. So much so that he can't talk about it.

And who am I to judge him? I haven't known Jayden for too long so what right do I have to know his past? I haven't even told him mine. I got angry at him for not being honest but I'm no different. I still haven't even told him about what brother and sister did to Lockwood. Or why Ragnarok drained my mana. I grabbed my left wrist and squeezed it tight. It had been healed by Henro and my mana finally returned to me after two days. But I never told them the truth.

I just told them Ragnarok had security measures in place and I drained my mana from escaping the imperial warship. I never told them what I.....damn it. No point in wallowing in it now. All I can do is move forward and keep fighting the empire. The only thing that matters is the mission. Nothing else.

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Right?

***

Training Room:

It was 8:00 A.M in the morning. Inside the training room was Ziera in sweat peanuts and a sports bra. She was stretching while awaiting Jayden's arrival. But he still hadn't arrived yet which began to annoy Ziera.

He was supposed to be here an hour ago. What's taking him so long? He better not have slept in. She thought to herself.

The door opened and in came Jayden rushing in. He wore a black sports tank top and blue gym shorts. "Hey Ziera!" Jayden greeted.

Ziera had her arms crossed and gave him a stern look. "You're an hour late." Ziera said sternly.

"Sorry! I tried to wake up earlier but guess I slept through my alarm. But you know what they say? Better late than never am I right?" Jayden joked awkwardly.

"Look Jayden. You were eager the other day about becoming a hero but if you don't shape up you can kiss your dream goodbye. If you want to get stronger, take your training seriously. That means showing up on time. Got it?" Ziera lectured.

Jayden felt bad and rubbed the back of his head with his hand. Between last night and now being late for training, he'd been giving Ziera a hard time recently when she didn't deserve it. "Sorry. It won't happen again. I promise." Jayden said.

Ziera sighed. "Don't make promises you can't keep Cortez. Now then let's get started." Ziera said.

"Wait!" Jayden said interrupting her. "Look Ziera, about last night I...I'm really sorry I shouldn't have-."

"It's fine. It was dumb of me to bother you so let's just drop it and pretend it didn't happen." Ziera said coldly looking away from Jayden.

"No Ziera you were just...!" Jayden couldn't finish. He saw the look in her eyes. A similar look from last night. Jayden didn't want to hurt her again so he let it go. "Right. Sorry." Jayden said.

"Sigh. Stop apologizing already it's over with. Let's just start your training. Now then, before we begin tell me what you know about mana and hot to utilize it."

"Well I know it exists in every living thing in this world. It's what gives mages their power and it powers magi-tech. As for knowing how to use it, well I know I can sense mana but that's about it." Jayden said.

"Then that's what we're gonna work on first. Every living thing in this planet has a mana flow. Certain people like mages can concentrate to control that flow and increase it to where they can cast spells. For magi-tech users it's the same. It may sound hard but it's easy. Mana is a natural part of our lives. We breath it in, it lives within us and gives us strength. It can even increase our defenses and make us faster. You ready to learn?" Ziera asked.

"Yeah. I'm ready!". Jayden responded with enthusiasm.

"Good. Now give me your hand." Ziera ordered.

"Say what?" Jayden asked.

"You're still a newbie so I'll let you hold my hand to give you a feel of how it works. Now hurry up." Ziera ordered.

Jayden did as he was told and grabbed onto her hand with his right hand. "Now close your eyes. Don't focus on anything else but the feeling of the mana flowing through me. Then let your own flow through you too."

Jayden closed his eyes. For a a few seconds he couldn't feel anything at first but then just like that he felt it. Ziera's mana flowing. He tried to mimic what she was doing but it was difficult for him. This went on for a couple minutes until Jayden finally got the hang of it. He concentrated hard enough and he could feel his own mana flow through his body.

"Good. That's just step one." Ziera said praising him. She opened her eyes and let go of his hand. "Now onto step two. That transformation of yours."

"Oh since you're bringing that up, I was thinking about giving it a name! What do you think about gigatron!? Or Optimus Prime!? Or...or...". Jayden stopped when he noticed Ziera had a scary look of irritation on her face. Veins popping out of her head and a dark aura flowing out of her body. "I'll be quite now." Jayden nervously said while shrinking down.

"Sigh. Now as I was saying, you have half the power of Zenith, the goddess of machines within Ragnarok. What is it you think you can do with such power?" Ziera asked.

"Hmmm. Create weapons, fly and stuff?". Jayden asked.

"All of that is just one just one part of it. Zenith had the power to not just create and manipulate technology but sense it and even speak to it." Ziera explained.

"Speak to it?" Jayden inquired.

"Yes. Zenith was a technopath. The technopath. The most powerful one in the universe. She could manipulate machinery with her mind. Without even lifting a single finger. Everybting except Ragnarok." Ziera said.

"She couldn't? Why not?" Jayden asked.

"I'm not sure. The Order probably does but they won't share that information with us. Ragnarok is an ancient weapon from thousands of years ago. We still don't know all it's secrets. But that's not important right now. So like I was saying, Zenith could manipulate all machinery including her own body. I'm the same. I'm a technopath like her. I can reconfigure and manipulate both my body and technology around me. For example, I can turn that Omni-Fighter I stole into an armored car. Or I can turn a plasma rifle info a grenade." Ziera explained.

"Damn that's cool! Is there anything you can't do with that power?" Jayden asked with excitement.

"Yeah. It's extremely powerful and versatile ability but I have my limits. For example, as I am now I can't reconfigure this entire warship into anything I want. I can affect parts of it sure like create Omni-canons in walls, make them explode and such. But I can't just up and blow up or transform the entrie ship. I'm not there to do anything crazy yet." Ziera said.

"I don't know. Doing the stuff you just said sounds pretty crazy to me. You're pretty damn strong Ziera." Jayden said nervously.

"Thanks. But if you have time to kiss up, then you got time to listen. Now, Ragnarok has granted you a mechanical body. The suit that allows you to become a cyborg. You're not at the level of manipulating other technology yet so for now I'll stick to training you on how to manipulate the tech of that suit or yours. You ready?" Ziera asked.

"Yeah! Let's do it!" Jayden said.

"Good. Now transform." Ziera ordered.

"Okay! Come out, Ragnarok!" Jayden shouted. The gems on the gauntlet shined blue and thus armor grew from Ragnarok and into Jayden's entrie body. He had transformed into his armored body, Ragnarok. "Awesome it worked again! Man this is gonna be so cool to fight with!" Jayden looked at himself through his visor.

"Hey focus! I shouldn't have to remind you that this isn't a toy Jayden. It's the most powerful weapon in the universe. So don't screw around got it?" Ziera asked sternly.

"Yes ma'am!" Jayden stood in attention.

"Now look at this." Ziera raised up her hand and instantly transformed it into a canon.

"Whoa! Cool!" Jayden said.

"This is an Omni-Canon. Basically an arm canon. For you to transform your body and create what you want, you have to visualize it in your head. Otherwise if won't work. Or worse you'll try to hard and just hurt yourself. You should have a scanner in that suit of yours so use it to scan this Omni-Canon and transform your arm into one as well." Ziera said.

"Okay!" Jayden focused and scanned Ziera's arm cannon. "Alright, let's do it!" Jayden declared. Jayden's mechanical right arm was reconfigured and transformed into an Omni-Canon. "Holy crap! I did it! First try!" Jayden said in excitement.

"Don't get so excited. Like I just said, that's not a toy. You could seriously hurt someone or yourself with that if you're not careful. Now we're gonna start with something simple like target practice." The palm of Ziera's right hand opened and out came a small high tech disc. She threw it across the floor and what came out of the disc was a faceless hologram. "Alright this hologram you see before you is tangible. I want you to concentrate the floor of your mana into your hand and then shoot this guy right in the chest with an Omni Blast. But don't go overboard. Otherwise you'll be sent flying by the blast or yo Ready?" Ziera asked.

"Yeah, let's do it!" Jayden said with excitement.

"Okay. Go!" Ziera shouted.

Jayden closed his eyes and concentrated on controlling the flow of mana through his body again. He sent the flow to his Omni-Canon and it began to glow from the inside. On Jayden's scanner, it said "fully charged". "Okay! Let's do it!" Jayden shouted.

"Omni-Blast!"

Jayden fired his cannon but the blast was so powerful that it sent him flying back, hitting the steel wall. He fell off the wall and onto the floor. "Ow." Jayden groaned.

"Jayden!" Ziera shouted. She ran over to him and picked him up from the ground. "Are you okay?" Ziera asked.

"Yeah I'm fine. The armor saved me from any major damage but man I think that crash gave me a headache. So did I do it-oh what the!?" Jayden looked back at the hologram and it's top half was completely vaporized. Not only that but there was a huge burned mark across the room on the walls.

"Ohh. My bad!" Jayden said, cringing behind his helmet.

Ziera sighed again and bridged her nose. "I told you to be careful with the mana output." Ziera lectured.

"Sorry." Jayden said, bowing his head in shame.

"Stop apologi-ugh. Never mind." Ziera may have been upset about last night but she knew she shouldn't be so hard on Jayden when he's really trying. It wasn't fair to him. She put her hand on his shoulder. Jayden noticed and looked at her face to face. "Look, don't sweat it alright? It's your first time doing this. No one gets it right on their first try. Just keep practicing and I promise I'll be there for you every step of the way. Okay?" Ziera asked with sincerity.

Jayden appreciated Ziera's kind words. She was right. He just had to keep working on his powers and then he'll get the hang of all of it. "Thanks Ziera." Jayden couldn't smile since his helmet had no expression but Ziera could tell he was happy.

Ziera nodded. "Now. We'll pick up the blasting stuff another time. Take off that suit Cortez. It's time for something more old fashioned." Ziera declared as she walked back to the center of the training room floor.

Jayden didn't understand at all what she meant. "Uh old fashioned?" Jayden asked.

"Yep." Ziera turned around and smirked at Jayden. Cracking her knuckles. "Hand to hand combat."

***

Jayden Pov

"Ugh. Goddamn girl. You do not hold back."

If you couldn't tell from my groaning and limping. I had just got done getting my ass whooped by Ziera in hand to hand training. Ziera said I had to work on my self defense skills if there were ever times I couldn't rely on Ragnarok to survive. However, I stood absolutely no chance against her hand to hand.

I mean sure I've been in a good amount of fights growing up against assholes who made fun of my parents or caused trouble at the shelter, but Ziera? She was on a whole other level! For the past hour she just kicked the shit out of me. I hesitated at first cause I had never hit a girl before but she didn't hold back whatsoever. Everytime I threw a punch she'd counter and send me to the floor. She also didn't pull her punches that much. Man, that girl is ruthless. I'd hate to be the guy who pisses her off.

I then thought back to Cozar back at Lockwood. After Ziera took him for interrogation I never saw him again. Hehe poor bastard though he kinda deserved it. I kept limping and was very close to reaching my room. Ziera did apologize for going hard on me and said she could take me to the nurse but I told her it was fine. It's not like she broke anything, I'm just sore. Plus I rather be in pain then get healed by that horned freak show.

"Damn she put you to work today huh?"

I know that voice. Oh Guardians, just what I needed. This asshole. I turned my head around and saw Henro smirking at my expense. "Now's really not the time man. I had a long day and I wanna sleep."

"Are you sure about that? You didn't seem to get much skeletons the other night. What's the matter? Ziera didn't read you a bedtime story?" Henro snickered.

"Screw you." I retorted. I didn't have the patience to deal with Henro right now so I kept limping to my room.

"Hey that's mean. After I went through the trouble of making this for you." Henro said.

I turned around facing him. Intrigued by what he meant. "What are you talking about?" I asked.

Henro pulled something out of his pocket. They were pills. "Here." Henro said as he threw the pills at me.

I caught them and looked at them. These were sleeping pills and they had my subscription. "Wait. How did you-?"

I had a chat with your mom over the phone. She told me you've had issues with sleeping ever since you were a kid and take sleeping pills a lot to just get some rest. I got her consent and conjured some up myself with magic. These are a special kind that'll help with those scary dreams of yours. Well, there you go." Henro said uncaringly. He turned around and walked away.

"Hey wait!" I called out. He stopped and looked back at me. "Why?" I simply asked. Henro had a blank expression at first but he then just smirked.

"Don't look too much into it. I just can't stand all your boo hooing when I'm trying to get some sleep. I mean hell, I don't really sleep at night myself anymore but since I was beat from that mission I didn't really have a choice. But anyways, I didn't do it for your sake. I'm just doing my job as the ship's doctor. Nothing more, or less. Later loser." Henro said, turning back around casually waving a hand goodbye.

As I watched him return to his room, I stood there baffled. I don't get this guy at all. First he's a jerk to me for no reason, then he calls my mom and gives me sleeping pills out of concern for my health? Although he claims he doesn't care. I just can't read him one bit. Ugh. Just thinking about this is exhausting. I looked at the sleeping pills. Well, I can't help but try at least. I went inside my room, got my water bottle out and took the pills in my Mount. Chugging them down either water. Hopefully now I can get some decent sleep and not have those nightmares again.

Henro Pov

"Henro. Henro it's okay baby! Mommy's here. Mommy's here."

"It hurts mom! It hurts!" I cried into my mother's arms as she held me tight.

"Where does it hurt baby?"

"Everywhere! My head, my arms, my legs, my chest, my face! It's all burning mom and it won't heal! Why won't it heal mom!? Why!?" I had acid burns, large cuts and needle holes all over my body. I was bleeding so much it was dripping onto the floor. My mom wasn't any better as she was covered from head to toe in cuts and dirt from our prison cell.

"Ssh. It's okay. It'll heal again. Just give it time. You'll be back your adorable manly self in no time."

"Promise?"

"I promise. Pinky swear, remember?" My mother giggled.

"Mom. Why aren't the Guardians coming to save us? Did we do something wrong? Do they hate us?" I asked.

"Of course not sweetie. We've done nothing wrong."

"But that man. He keeps hurting us because of what we are. Because of what I am. And other people call me a mistake. Are they right? Am I a mistake? I started to break down again.

My mother cupped my face and made me look directly at her. "Listen to me Henro. You are not a mistake. And you are not a monster either. You are my smart, strong and kind little boy. Don't let what those people say control you. Because there are others out there in the world who will accept you and love you for who you are. As Henro Akumura."

I wiped my tears and gave a weak smile. "Thank mom!"

My mom smiled at me and patted my head. But then suddenly she started coughing up blood again.

"Mom!" I shouted. Then I heard a noise. It was the cell door. There was no light in the cell, only darkness. The only light came from the door opening and what stood there at the entrance.

He was back again.

"6167". He said in a distorted, emotionless and menacing voice.

I started tearing up. Petrified. I couldn't move but just shook in terror at hearing his voice, and seeing his disgusting figure from the door.

"6167". He repeated.

I still couldn't move. But my mother did, she shielded me. Blocking me off from him with his body.

"Get back! Don't you dare hurt my boy again! You'll have to go through me!" My mother threatened. But it wouldn't work. He wouldn't leave no matter what we would say. He took one single step into the cell and slammed his metallic foot onto the ground. It was so loud it echoed in the dark cell.

"6167". He repeated once again in an emotionless tone.

My mom wouldn't leave but he didn't care. He wasn't interested in my mom. He was after me. If she wouldn't move, he'd kill her! I had to do something. I got up slowly. Still injured from the last trial, but I stood up all the same. I began walking past my mom and she noticed.

"Henro! Stop!" My mom shouted trying to hold me but he whipped her back with his large mechanical tail and into the wall. She gagged and coughed up more blood.

"Mom!" I called out. I tried running to her but he wrapped his tail around my neck and grabbed onto me rising my whole body into the air. I coughed trying to break free but he kept strangling me with his tail harder and harder. "Mo-mmy!":I caught d out weakly as he began dragging me out of the cell with his tail slowly. My mom wasn't responding. She was out cold lying on the floor. Blood pouring out of her head.

"MOM!"

I jolted up from my bed. I didn't scream or make much noise like Jayden but I was terrified all the same. I hugged myself tightly. Completely falling apart and crying my eyes out.

"Fuck!" I cursed. Those pills I gave Jayden should help him but they'll do fuck all for me. Goddammit. Will this nightmare never end!? Will I even be able to find you?

Mom.