Matt sat at his flimsy card table that also doubled as his dinning table. Spinning the vintage 1911 from the second World War, as he thought about ending the constant pain he had endured for the past sixteen years. Shrapnel embedded in his back from the improved explosive device that had ejected him from the humvee and had nearly shredded his spine. Nearly being the key word, he wasn't paralyzed, but the agony of sharp pain shooting constantly down his legs wished he were. The VA said is was just phantom pain and that besides the load of steel rods and pins holding his lower spine together, he was completely healed.
The VA would claim him to be an alcoholic, but in reality he hated being drunk and not in complete control of his facilities. It was just the only legal thing he could get his hands on that would numb the pain. Looking over the bottles of prescription medications the VA sent to him monthly that did jack shit didn't help his mood.
A silhouette of a man in his peripheral vision had him snaping up the old 1911, safety disengaging as the barrel sighted in on the intruders nose, finger resting on the half pound modified trigger.
Hands coming up slowly the stranger broke the tense silence,
Letting out a sigh as the click of the safety renengaged, Merlin continued his recruitment speech. "What would you give to be fully healed and able to proform feats of strength that would be considered super human?"
Lowering the pistol to his lap but still firmly aimed center mass, Matt coldly replied, "Don't know what kind sick joke this is or how you got in here. But if you haven't noticed I ain't got a whole hell of alot to be giving anybody."
"Well this world, Earth is what we consider a cradle planet. Used to safely hold humanity incase the worst should happen."
"Oh and what's the worst that could happen", Matt asked.
"War on a galactic scale that puts all the wars on earth to shame, an alliance against humanity to exterminate it."
Looking over at the bottle of whiskey on the table, Matt slowly shook his head a bit before he replied, "Let's back up a bit. Because i dont believe ive drank nearly enough to hallucinate you appearing out of no where with that kind of offer. Hi I'm Matt, and you are?"
"I currently go by the name Merlin, maybe you've heard of me and my last set of recruits? A brash young man named Arthur and his group of self proclaimed knights."
"You're serious?"
"Yes, look Matt ill be honest I'm currently traveling around the world recruiting for the Atlantis Guild. We're a group of like minded individuals who wish to raise Atlantis back onto the galactic stage as true powerhouse to curb the anti human sentiments currently plaguing galactic politics."
"And I'm supose to help how?" Matt asked.
"You’re not, at least not immediately, and definitely not alone. In a few centuries if your diligent you and others like you I'm recruiting might be able to help. That is all in the future should you survive. Yes while I'm offering to heal your current mortal body, the struggle to get stronger is a long bloody road build on a foundation of bodies left in your wake. What I'm offering you is the chance to be something greater than you could ever imagine, but it's just the chance you'll have to seize the opportunity I'm providing."
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"I'm definitely interested, but I'm done killing for killings sake. I won't be some dog of war to be let lose and then chained once my job is done with nothing more than a pat on the head and an attaboy."
"What do you know about cultivators? Using the universes energy source to grow stronger and to command the primal sources of energy. Conjuring fire and lightning to rain from the sky, walls of earth and ice to shield allies, tsunamis of water or sand to bury your enemies."
"Oh do I get to be the next hokage, will my chakra be strong enough?" Matt joked.
Merlin looked down cringing, "Yea some bad translations and adaptions does make this more difficult. I'm talking about ancient Chinese cultivation, cleansing meridians, forming a core, channeling Qi into powerful techniques that can reshape continents. While I would be happy to go in depth, until you agree I have to be somewhat vague."
"OK, last question, why me?"
"So this leads into alot of what I can't explain yet. Suffice to say the earth has been purposely stripped of any free essence. And humanity has mostly adapted to the essenceless environment. While maybe only one percent of the current population could weild essence. It's even rarer for someone to have a high affinity towards it like you do. Now considering the fact that you're unattached to any clan or sect and have no family and can leave earth with the prospect of never returning you're quite rare. That's the gist of why I'm here to recruit you."
"OK wow, that's a lot to take in." Matt slowly lowered the pistol onto the table and took a deep breath. "That opens up so many more questions than any actual answers given."
"Yes, I'm sorry I can't be more forthcoming yet. But I have to ask you now Matt. In the official capacity of recruiting you into the Atlantis Guild, Matt Breaux are you willing to join into our brotherhood. To search for the Dao in all things and try to maintain peace and stability in the galaxy."
Merlin's hands started to glow a pure white light as he continued, "do you so swear on your foundation as a cultivator?"
Matt absently nodded his head, "I swear"
Merlin suddenly shot forward faster than Matt could track. Placing a glowing hand over his stomach and looking Matt in the eyes. "I'm sorry but this will be unpleasant."
Blinding pain shot through Matt. Starting in his navel and radiating out, the same pain Matt had known for the past sixteen years. Now however it wasnt concentrated in one spot but throughout his entire body. The last thing he heard before passing out into oblivion. "Welcome to Atlantis."