“I will go,” answered Dyamion nervously. Igetis smiled and the rest of the team looked at him with concern faces.

Tharros walked down the steps to him and nodded her head. “It is intense, but I have to say that it is worth it.”

“I guess it is why we are here,” said Dyamion with anxiety in his voice. “I only hope we are not making a mistake.” He walked up the steps towards the machine and there awaited the General who nodded and prepared him for what came next.

Dyamion could feel the intense sensation that made him feel that his body was being ripped apart. Everyone else watched as the device continued to intensify in power and sound like it did before with Tharros. Dyamion’s breathing became very erratic and his heart was beating faster than ever before, but the program continued. Then the sensation stopped and Dyamion was floating away much like Tharros and then there was blackness.

He heard his name being called from a familiar voice and he opened his eyes. He noticed that he was much younger, and he was on his home planet looking across a large valley of golden wheat and a red sun setting in the distance. There was wildlife all around, running and calling out to different animals. The whole scene brought him peace and life felt wonderful again. These were the days that he missed the most where he sat and contemplated the future of his life. Never did he think that the destruction of his planet would be within his future.

“Dyamion!” said the familiar voice again. “Come here!”

He rose and spurt out the words, “Coming Father.” He raced out across the valley floor and stood next to a large wolf creature standing on two feet looking out across the valley. He bent down to his level and looked at Dyamion directly into his eyes. His eyes were the same color as his and his facial features looked very much like him now.

“Now it is time you learn to hunt,” said his father. “A true hunter follows his instincts before his senses. Senses can lead you away from your true goal. But understanding your environment and learning from true experience is the only way you can be a successful hunter.”

“Yes Father,” answered the young Dyamion.

“You see those beasts out through that wheat?” asked his father.

“I see many different animals, Father.”

His father put up one long finger in front of his son’s face. A large claw topped the finger with scratches and a very sharp point which showed that it had hunted many times. “Pay attention now, son.” He pointed with the long finger out across the wheat. “There are many animals, but only one that is our prey.” There was a beast that was hiding within the wheat that had light brown fur and a tiny nose. “This beast is most shrewd because it hides itself among the other beasts to hide its scent. You must learn to train your senses to distinguish among them all and focus on the one you hunt.” The father sniffed the air and then looked at Dyamion. “Try my son.”

The young Dyamion sniffed the air like his father and many scents were found. “I smell so many things. How can I determine which one is the one I hunt?”

“In time my son, you will learn. Anything that comes easy is not worth the fight.” His father then crouched down keeping an eye on the beast in the wheat that they hunted. “Now is the time that we strike. We must be silent because if this beast hears us coming, it will run, and we are no match for its quickness. You must learn to use your strengths to overcome your prey’s strengths. Only by doing so, will you become a great hunter.” His father then turned and looked upon his young son. “One more wise word of council from your old father. Learn your weaknesses then learn and grow from them. Do not let them drag you down. This is not only for hunting but with everything in life.”

“Yes Father,” said the young Dyamion, nodding as he always did, acknowledging his respect for his father.

Then his father did something that he was not known to do. He smiled and caressed the top of his young son’s head. “You’re a good son, Dyamion. You will be great in whatever life has in store for you. I have a feeling you will be well known and cherished by many for the good works that you do.” This amazed Dyamion because his father did not speak this way that often. His Father then turned back to hunting the beast. “Ready yourself my son.” Dyamion crouched down and placed himself in the stance that his father had taught him to silently approach the prey. They both silently advanced, keeping their eyes forward, watching their prey’s every movement. Dyamion’s senses were intense. They were urging him to attack at everything around him, but he watched his father step cautiously ahead. He followed his father’s every movement and learned from his example. When they both became in striking distance his father gave him the signal he knew so well, to ready himself to strike. Dyamion’s eyes narrowed, and all muscles tensed. His Father then gave him the signal to strike. Dyamion launched forward with incredible quickness, his eyes completely focused on the prize. His teeth sank into the prey’s flesh and tasted that sign of a successful hunt, the sweet blood of the beast. His eyes closed and darkness appeared.

Dyamion opened his eyes, and he found himself a few years younger than he was now. His son was at his side, and he was showing him the skills that he learned from his Father as they walked the fields of his planet not far from where he first learned to hunt.

“Do you see him?” asked Dyamion to his son.

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“I see many different animals, Father,” answered his son.

He crouched down to his son’s level and pointed across the field. “There in the weeds, do you see that beast with light brown fur? He is hiding among the other animals to hide his scent.”

“I do! I do see him!” shouted his son. This scream alerted many animals around including their prey. They all ran from fright. This brought a smile to Dyamion’s face.

He turned to his son and said in a calm tone, “We must learn from our weaknesses then grow and learn from them.” He gave his son a wink. “First one to work on is how to hunt silently.”

“Sorry…” the son said with a shout then immediately stopped. “Sorry, Father,” said the son in a whisper.

Dyamion smiled again and then his communication device began to vibrate. He felt it going off in his bag, so he grabbed the device and clicked a button with his long claw. He recognized who was trying to communicate with him, so he answered with a friendly gesture. Immediately his face turned to panic.

“How long ago was this?” Dyamion asked with a nervous tone that scared his son. “Ok, ok!” He immediately grabbed his son’s hand and started walking back towards their vehicle of transportation. “We are leaving now and heading back to you.”

Upon arriving home, Dyamion’s wife came running out. “They are saying that they attacked our planet’s ships at the border of our galaxy, and they are quickly approaching! They say to take shelter! Where should we go?”

Dyamion looked around at the large city that they lived in. There were many of his people running in all directions. Screams and shouts were everywhere as panic filled the air. The defensive ships of their planet were flying in all directions, readying themselves for battle. Transportation vehicles had clogged the many highways, looking to escape the battle that was coming. “If we try to run, we will be caught with everyone else in the open!” Dyamion shouted. “I know of caves in those mountains close by that can give us a cover! Let’s grab our supplies and make our way there on foot!”

His wife agreed and immediately began grabbing important items and throwing them into bags. Dyamion helped and the son stood and waited, panic on his face. A few moments later they were walking out of their home. Suddenly, loud noises resonated across the sky as they saw many ships entering their planet’s atmosphere. More screams and many running, leaving their vehicles and searching for cover. The defensive ships of their planet came flying in from everywhere. Explosions were everywhere and objects fell from the sky.

Dyamion and his family raced towards the caves that he spoke of earlier. The trip would take at least thirty minutes to arrive, but there was no other option. More explosions were heard as the incoming ships fired on the cities. Other ships began to land, and large green creatures departed, firing powerful weapons at anything that moved.

“Quickly this way!” shouted Dyamion. His son and his wife followed his direction as they continued to flee. They saw others running their direction and Dyamion stopped but told his family to keep going. He cried to the others, and they followed his voice. Suddenly there were explosions close to their position. He saw the creatures coming their direction. Dyamion removed the small laser rifle from his bag and pointed it towards the creatures. The rifle was not that powerful against these creatures, but Dyamion was determined to help anyway he could. He fired the weapon multiple times. Direct hits and one of the creatures fell but there were many others. The laser fire drew the attention of many other creatures and soon there were many explosions around them. The others that Dyamion was trying to help were hit with the creatures’ weapons and many fell rolling in pain. Dyamion looked behind him and saw his wife and child still running. He looked in front of him and there were creatures approaching their position. He knew he stood no chance against them, so he turned and quickly ran to catch up with his wife and son.

As he approached his wife and son, he could see many others running in the same direction. Suddenly, enemy ships hovered above them. Dyamion screamed to his wife and son to hide. His voice showing his panic. Explosions ignited all around. His wife and son were able to hide behind large rocks. Dyamion ran towards his family, as more laser fire and explosions surrounded him. In a few moments, he would be at their side. Another large explosion erupted in front of him. He felt the heat burn his whole upper body and face as he was sent flying backwards. He hit the ground hard, and he knew he had broken his arm when he felt sharp pain radiating up his arm. He found the strength to stand and began walking towards his family again. His legs gave out and he found himself hitting the ground hard. He tried to stand again but then he noticed the gash in his leg. The pain was overbearing, but he needed to get to his family. Dyamion, then began to crawl. Every inch he moved made him feel as if he were to pass out.

With no strength left to move, Dyamion could only call out to his wife and son. There was no answer. He looked around, with fear and pain radiating through his whole body. He saw them about fifty yards away, but they were not moving. He shouted their names, but they still did not move. With every last ounce of strength he had, Dyamion was able to stand and began walking towards his family. He was in agony with every step. One last large explosion sent him flying and then darkness appeared. He opened his eyes, and found he was roaring with extraordinary power. The General was standing in front of him with a shocked look on his face.

The General calmly took Dyamion’s hand. “The program has finished.” The General could see tears in Dyamion’s eyes and the General lightly sighed. “The device makes the memories incredibly real. It uses their power to increase our strength.”

Dyamion quickly removed his hand from the General’s grasp and wiped his eyes. “Yes, it does.” He stood up straight, trying to hide the fact that he was crying. The General gave him a smile, stood to one side and gestured for Dyamion to leave through the glass doors. Dyamion slowly walked out through the glass doors and eyed Igetis.

“How do you feel?” Igetis calmly asked.

Dyamion, still terrorized by living his worst memory, began to look around the room. He then noticed that his eyesight was quite incredible and that his sense of smell had greatly improved. He felt his arm that had still ached from when he broke it and there was no pain at all. He felt his leg where it was gashed. No pain there as well. He stood up tall and took a deep breath. He could feel the power in his lungs, heart and other vital organs. He could hear everything around him with incredible distinctness. “This is incredible!” he thought. With this excitement, he let out a roar more powerful than ever before. Everyone immediately placed their hands over their ears and their faces turned to a look of shock and fear. After Dyamion finished his powerful roar, he looked at Igetis and with a giant smile, he said calmly, “I feel like I want to go hunting.”

“That’s just hope that none of us are your prey,” said Gelio.

Dunamis then stepped forward before anyone could speak. “I am next!”