Their time for preparation was up. The teens were in the hangar, and an airbus transport ship was ready and waiting. Ameer and Cherrae stood before them. Cherrae addressed their final concerns. “There have been multiple findings of similarly decimated corpses in the surrounding areas. We triangulated the sites, and we found the search radius for your target.” One of Ameer's light bending drones produced a holographic map.
“You will drop in this wooded area dead center. From there you will scatter. It will give equal chances to all of you to meet your” Siobhán chimed in. “Who is our target by the way?” Ameer spoke, “If you guys had been studying the bestiary, you would be able to deduce that yourselves. That being said,” he continued as the hologram on the light bending drone changed, “from the behavior and the way the bones were smashed as a way of marking territory, you are likely fighting something in the ogre family, or a creature with similar behavior.”
The images flashed from the projected hologram. “Things like the common troll, the Western ogre, and the Japanese Oni. Of course a Wendigo is also a pssibility for this region but they don’t typically smash bones.” Cherrae spoke again. “While on the trip you will be briefed even more. The transport will get you there in about 25 minutes. Please be careful. Don’t fight by yourselves and remember, U.N.S.E.A and the local authorities are in the area. With all that in mind, be safe ad good luck.” Ameer addressed them one last time. “Any other questions?” He looked at TaeJean specifically. T.J.: “Nah, I got nothing.” None of the other Soul-Borgs spoke, and Miguel shook his head. Ameer spoke up. “Now then, good luck.” They all entered the air-ship. There were two dozen of Ameer's light bending drones in the ship. The hangar doors opened and the ship began to move.
Four of the light drones activated and produced various holograms. Ameer's voice spoke. “Now is your time to study your potential enemies.” T.J. and the others began to study:
Trolls, ogres, oni, wendigo, black dogs, kishi, wear wolves and other such creatures.
Siobhan spoke. “This really is just like school.” TaeJean sighed and agreed “That's what I'm saying.” Ameer spoke up: “Unlike most of school, you will use this information in life.”
As they flew off, Keshawna felt all their conceptual energy fade away. She continued to lay there in the darkness. It was about one more hour before the funeral service was played live on TV. When she was told she couldn’t actually attend by Cherrae, she had broken down crying. But she was a logical girl and she understood. In fact, she would understand on a deeper level fairly soon. “Be safe TaeJean.” She said as she felt his conceptual energy fade away.
On the ship the teens ate their breakfast out of metal bento boxes: breakfast burritos, fried rice, and donut holes. They had bottled grapefruit juice as well.
“Good breakfast.” Siobhán said. TaeJean agreed, "Better than school.” Ryu: “American problem.”
The mountains swelled in the distance. The teens got up, nearly above their target. The bottom of the transport opened, and they were above a wooded area with tall trees. Ryu-Tora got ready first. "Let's jump,' he said. As they fell into the forest, each of the young Soul-Borgs maneuvered in the air, attempting to land on their feet like a cat. Ryu-Tora landed first, at the top of a tall tree with much grace. Siobhan missed, but a branch reached out and grabbed her in mid air, and stretched, gently placing her on the ground. The other two boys came crashing through the tree branches. They snapped repeatedly under them, and the two crashed to the ground with a thud. T.J. and Miguel got up and started brushing the dust off them. Floating next to each one of them was one of Ameer's light bending drones. His voice spoke. “The rest of the drones are canvasing the area in a 50 square kilometer radius. TaeJean that's about thirty-one miles.” TaeJean: "Why me specifically?" Ameer: “You’re the only American here. Everybody else knows the metric system. Now, you guys will canvas the area on foot. We will let you know if you are getting to close to someone or something.” Miguel spoke: “Why have us go on foot if you have the drones?” Ameer: “Technology can’t see through most magic. But I can still find things here and there. If I find what we are looking for first, it will reduce the stress for you.” Ryu-Tora spoke, “I think these three should go about on foot. I’ll stay right in this tree.” T.J. spoke up, saying “Lazy much?” Ryu spoke down, both literally and metaphorically: “Think strategically dummy. I’m the fastest amongst us. The drones are searching anyway. As a collective, you guys have a fairly decent chance of running into the enemy. I can use my speed to cover the distance. The same applies if the drones discover something in the direction I was to search. However, if I go that way, it creates much more distance to travel.” TaeJean realized he was right but didn’t like being talked down too. He flipped him the bird. Ameer spoke up. “Save your energy for whatever monster we are hunting. I’d agree with your plan if there was a 5th Soul-Borg here. For now, just fan out. When you get to action, I will signal the others. Now be careful everyone.”
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
Siobhán spoke, in a very confident tone. “Don’t be embarrassed if a girl outdoes you today boys.” She smiled. Something about the woods gave her confidence. It was as if the forest sounds told her, “this is your domain.” She stepped away from the tree towards the north. Ryu jumped down and landed gracefully, then disappeared in an instant, kicking up dust. T.J. and Miguel headed east and west respectively. The hunt had begun.
Siobhán took to the task naturally. She had never been hunting, but the tomboy always had wanted to go. She had never been “girly” or “delicate.” Neither had she ever had a problem jawing anyone, whether they were a boy, girl, stray dog, peer, or adult. She had always played outside and loved the green. Football was a hobby for hers when she was younger. In fact, she had come to enjoy American football in the 2 years she had been here. She didn’t understand the name though. She felt it should be called armor rugby if anything. The forest sounded like home to her. It smelled of morning dew and the cold fog was very familiar. She scanned and searched, looking upon the grounds. Then she saw her clue. She stepped over a few feet as Ameer's drone followed behind her. “What is it?” his voice asked. “A trail, like something was dragging prey away. In fact, look at these spots.” Ameer activated a blacklight function on the drone. They both said it at the same time. “Blood.” Siobhan: "I think I should follow it." Ameer: " I’ll call the others." Siobhan: "I don’t think that's wise." Ameer: "Oh, you make the strategies now?" Siobhán:" Well it’s just that, this is far from the most recent attack site. Whatever it is encompasses a large territory and this blood is dry. What if it doesn’t make it back here anytime soon? The guys might miss it." Ameer:" You make a valid point."
Siobhán smirked in her head. It was actually an excuse because she wanted to take out whatever monster they encountered on her own strength, no assists. Ameer chimed in: "If you run into it don’t engage on your own, especially if it doesn’t notice you. Are we clear?" Siobhán: "Crystal clear boss!" Ameer: "Good. I will still put the others on standby. Also, U.N.S.E.A. about 4 miles east of you at the moment and they are headed this way." Suddenly the girl had an idea. “Well then I better get a move on then, right?” She instantly activated “Flow” around her feet, and began a power walk that was equal in speed to an Olympic runners sprint. Ameer followed right behind, the drone continually lighting the blood trail, though the sun would be fully risen soon.
Elsewhere in the woods the boys had been alerted by Ameer of what the young lady had found. And so it was that they deduced what too look for. The next to find a clue was Miguel. If you could call it a clue, for it was in no way subtle. Broken branches and mangled remains of various creatures strewn about, some possibly human. And they looked fresh. Ameer's drone saw them too. “Be careful right here. Don’t go any further, I will call the others.”
Ryu was having no such luck in his zone. Long dried bones here and there, when suddenly his drone spoke. “Miguel has found another clue. It looks fresh. I want you all to start heading that way.” Ryu complied instantly.
At the time of the message, T.J. was nearing a clue as well. At a clearing near a cave he saw a spit over a fire, and some type of meat on it. It looked vaguely familiar. Ameer chided him (and Siobhán who was also ignoring the message) again. “YOU GUYS DID HEAR MY ORDERS RIGHT?” T.J. responded, “Hold on a second my guy.” He walked to the campfire, looked at the meat on the spit and realized why it was eerily familiar. The boy spoke. “Is this…” Ameer finished “A cooked human torso. Yes.” His drone scanned around. There were other cooked human remains as well. T.J. looked towards the cave. “Well, here goes nothing.” Ameer spoke: “Be careful. I will have Ryu divert this way. You two will investigate. After that I will have you guys head towards Miguel.”
That was a plan that wouldn’t come to fruition however. Siobhan, who was making her Conceptual Energy rather noisy via her power walk had found a new fresh trail of blood, gore, and parted shrubbery. They she saw her target. A very big green creature, walking on it’s cinderblock sized fists because it had tiny vestigial dangling legs. A big armed troll! It had a fawn carcass in one had. This was obviously the current creatures nesting ground. Suddenly it turned towards her, and flung the carcass! The creature ruptured as it broke the sound barrier, with viscera and bone becoming a deadly projectile. The girl easily ducked the projectile. She saw next to her a walking stick, obviously belonging to some poor soul who recently came by. She grabbed it, and instantly “knew” the wood. “Strong oak innit?” She thought. Suddenly, her emerald green conceptual energy instantly began to “Flow” around it with maximum efficiency. The big arm troll roared! The trees around it shook as if a small hurricane had entered the area!
Suddenly, at TaeJean's location, the cave began to echo with a similar roar! And another came from Miguel's! As he braced himself for what was coming, a green blur burst forth through the clearing, and crashed against him, sending him 20 meters away! As he came too, he saw the creature. Tiny vestigial arms, thick velociraptor like feet down to the claws, a thick gator like tail, and an ugly tusked face! A big legged troll!
Back at the cave, a green blur dashed from the opening. TaeJean caught the punch, but just barely and he was still pushed back! He looked his foe in the face. Standing at 7 feet tall, completely humanoid save for the long tail, and with a green tusked face. A perfect troll.
Back at the base, Cherrae looked at the drone screens with Ameer. “Well this isn’t good, is it? U.N.S.E.A definitely heard those roars as well.” Ameer: “Ryu, there are three enemies, not one! Make a distraction for U.N.S.E.A, then help T.J. first! His is the strongest!” “Hai!” Ryu-Tora responded
Back at the various locations, TaeJean and the others stared down there foes and prepared for battle.