Sahaad stood, dusting off the remnants of the torn bandage from his lap. The wound on his head still stung, but he ignored it. His mind was restless, the adrenaline from his earlier encounter with his father still pumping through his veins. He needed to move, to get out of the slums for a while. The city—Babylon, or whatever version of it this was—stretched endlessly before him, and Sahaad wanted to see more of it.

He made his way through the narrow alleyways, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar streets.

As he passed through a quieter street on the outskirts of the main hub, Sahaad's eyes caught sight of a group of children standing in a cluster near a crumbling building. They were dirty, their clothes torn and faces smeared with dust and grime. Something about their gaze made him pause. There was a hunger in their eyes—not for food, but for something else.

Before he could react, they closed in on him.

"Hey, lemme get a look of that?" one of the boys, a little older and larger than the others, sneered as he stepped in front of Sahaad, blocking his path. The others quickly surrounded him, cutting off any escape.

"Nothing," Sahaad muttered, trying to step around them, but they were too quick. The largest boy shoved him hard, sending him stumbling back against the wall.

"Nothing, huh? I see that sack, you have a coin on you?" the leader growled, stepping closer, his fists clenched.

Sahaad felt a familiar twist in his gut—fear, anger, helplessness. In his old life, he had faced bullies like this, but never in such desperate circumstances. Before he could think of a way out, the first blow landed—a fist to his stomach that knocked the wind out of him. Then came another punch, this time to his face, sending him to the ground.

They swarmed him like vultures, kicking and punching as they rifled through his clothes, searching for whatever coins he had left. Sahaad tried to fight back, but there were too many of them. The world blurred as pain flared in his head, his body bruised and battered by the relentless attack.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the beating stopped. Sahaad lay on the ground, gasping for air, as the boys stood over him, laughing and counting the coins they had stolen.

"Your great Sahaad," the leader said with a cruel grin, tossing Sahaad's empty pouch aside as he turned to walk away with his gang.

Fuck man, kids are so cruel.

He forced himself to his feet, ignoring the sharp pain in his ribs and the blood dripping from a cut above his eye. His gaze fell on a clay vase, an example of ancient pottery.

I can't let some brats beat me up and mug me, sorry kid.

Sahaad wrapped his arms around the vase.

This'll do, he smiled.

In a flash, Sahaad rushed forward, catching the boys by surprise. He aimed straight for the leader, who barely had time to turn before Sahaad smashed the vase against the back of his head. The boy yelped in pain, stumbling forward as Sahaad tackled him to the ground. The other children froze, watching in shock as Sahaad mounted the larger boy's back, and used his whole body to put the boy in a chokehold.

"Stop…grrk.. S-stop it!" the minister cried,frantically tapping Sahaad's arms which were wrapped tightly around his neck, but Sahaad didn't stop. The other children, wide-eyed with terror, turned and fled, disappearing into the crowded streets.

Breathing heavily, Sahaad continued to hold his position, ignoring the pleas to stop. The boy whimpered, before his struggle began to slow down, until his arms gave out and his body slumped in Sahaad's hold . Without a word, Sahaad snatched the pouch from the boy's waist and opened it. Inside, he found not only his own coins but a few more the gang had likely stolen from other victims.

Sahaad pocketed the money, before staring back at the boy. He lying prone on the floor, in an almost death-like state.

Crap, Sahaad kneeled down to the body, gently pressing his pointer and middle fingers on the boy's wrist.

Bump! Bump!

Phew, Sahaad breathed a sigh of relief, before collapsing on the floor exhausted. He could not believe the technique he learned from watching online videos would actually prove to be useful.

After a few more seconds of rest, Sahaad forced himself to stand and turned to leave, but just as he began to walk away, a shadow fell over him.

A deep, metallic hum filled the air. Sahaad turned slowly, his eyes widening in shock as he saw a massive figure standing only inches away from him. The thing was clad in what looked like some kind of metallic armor, the plates glistening in the sunlight. The armor was bulky and covered in intricate patterns, with glowing lines of blue light running along its surface. Most shocking of all was the obscured face, hidden behind a visor that glowed with the same eerie light.

The sight was impossibly out of place in the ancient city.

The armored figure took a step forward, its heavy boots crunching against the ground. It looked down at the boy Sahaad had just beaten, then back at Sahaad.

"Impressive," the figure said, its voice distorted by the helmet, deep and resonant.

Before Sahaad could speak, the armored giant moved with startling speed, grabbing him by the arm. Sahaad struggled, but the giant's grip was like iron. Without a word, the giant leaped into the air, and with a deafening roar, a jetpack on its back flared to life. Flames shot from the engines incinerating the sand below it, and before Sahaad could even register what was happening, they were airborne.

The world blurred as they shot into the sky at impossible speeds, Babylon shrinking beneath them as the wind whipped around Sahaad's face, preventing him from opening his eyes or closing his mouth.

No, nope I am definitely dreaming. There's no way this is the real, Sahaad tried to explain to himself the bizarre events that had just unfolded.

Then, just as suddenly as they had taken off, the figure descended. They landed in the middle of the desert, the sand shifting beneath their feet. The armored figure released Sahaad, who stumbled, gasping for breath as he tried to regain his bearings.

Is this thing some sort of alien? He's too large to be human. Oh come one, you can't mix two genres at once, that's cheating, Sahaad cursed under his breath, addressing whatever entity had transferred him to this world.

Before Sahaad could react, the sky darkened. He looked up to see a massive starship descending from the clouds, its engines roaring as it hovered above the desert. The ship was adorned with jagged edges and spiked ridges. Its angular frame was covered in heavy, black armor plating that was scarred and blackened. The ship was loaded with what seemed like weapons of war, and massive, crude, and rugged turbines flared with intense flames as it descended, kicking up the sand around it.

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The man grabbed Sahaad again and, without a word, dragged him toward the ship. The cockpit of the ship raised itself with a violent hiss, and the giant threw him up into the cockpit.

"Argh!", he yelped as he landed violently inside. He winced as the pain from his earlier beating flared up, but he forced himself to sit up. The figure followed soon after flying into the cockpit and seating itself at the cockpit seat.

Sahaad rubbed his eyes, however the scenery still did not change.

This was no dream. This was actually happening, he was getting abducted by aliens, ancient aliens.

He scrambled to his feet, looking around for any possible escape. The inside of the cockpit was massive, with seats for four other people. There was a small stepway in the back that led to a metallic door, perhaps leading to the main areas of the ship.

The giant finally turned to face him, its glowing visor scanning Sahaad from head to toe. The silence between them stretched out uncomfortably, and Sahaad felt his chest tighten.

Suddenly the figure detached its helmet, lowering to its lap. It was human-a man- with fair skin and dark hair. The man's face was covered in healed scars, exuding a rough texture, he stared at Sahaad with blank, emotionless eyes unnerving the boy.

Who is this guy? Why had he taken me? What does he want? thoughts raced in Sahaad's head as they continued the staredown.

"You fought well back there," the man said finally, his voice was deep and guttural commanding attention.

Sahaad narrowed his eyes, his heart still pounding. "Who are you? What do you want with me?" he demanded, trying to keep the fear out of his voice.

The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned his chair around, and began pulling various levers on the control center of the ship. Sahaad could hear the faint hum of the ship, as the engine roared to life.

"I am Captain Azel of the Iron Vultures, part of the 7th siege assault company serving his majesty god king Aeryis ," the man introduced, however Sahaad had no clue what that meant.

"Um…uh, are you… human", Sahaad asked nervously. The man was gigantic, easily measuring to 2.5 meters, and his broad shoulders made him look inhuman.

Ignoring the boy, the man pushed another lever. Suddenly, there's a sharp jolt. Sahad could feel his body being pressed hard onto the floor he was laying on, as if an invisible hand was pinning him down.

The force is immense—the sensation of multiple G-forces weighing on his chest, making it difficult to breathe for a moment. His vision began to blur slightly, and his heart raced in response to the sheer acceleration.

As the ship ascended, the vibration smoothed out, and the engine muted to a hum as the ship exited the atmosphere. Sahad felt the gravity of the planet leave him as he began to float.

The man pressed another button on the module, propelling Sahad to the metallic floor as the ship's artificial gravity activated.

Thud!

"Ow!", Sahaad fell onto the cold hard metal. The man got up from his seat, trudging over to where Sahaad had fallen.

Sahaad looked up, staring back at the icy- cold eyes that seemed to pierce through him.

"You are from a backwater world, so you would not know", Azel explained. "I am a Praetorian of the empire, sent to look for new recruits. Now I believe I have found one. Did I find one?"

Azel continued to stare, waiting for an answer.

"Um… what if I said you did not…just theoretically of course?"

"Then I will simply drop you off wherever you came from, and leave this planet".

"Yea okay, I guess you found a new recruit", Sahaad confirmed, holding out his hand to be shaken. If he were to ever find a way back home, he knew he had to leave the planet and join the giant.

Azel ignored the boy and headed back to the command chair. Pressing another button, the panels all around the ship gave away, revealing windows where Sahaad could see the stars out of.

As Captain Azel manned the controls and guided the ship to its destination, Sahaad stared out the small viewport to the right, watching as the planet, a yellow ball seemingly covered in deserts, below shrunk into a distant speck.

After what felt like hours, the ship approached something in the distance—an enormous, glimmering structure floating in orbit above the planet. It resembled a castle, but one that seemed to defy the laws of physics, hovering weightlessly with massive spires reaching out into the void. The structure was surrounded by ships and platforms, and from it radiated a sense of grandeur and power. Sahaad's breath caught as they neared, realizing the size and complexity of this floating fortress.

Azel piloted the ship toward one of the docking ports, and as the vessel connected with the airlock, Sahaad felt the familiar jolt of landing. The whirring of engines quieted, and the metallic hiss of the doors opening echoed through the ship. Azel turned to Sahaad, motioning for him to follow.

"Come", Azel commanded in that same deep voice.

Sahaad followed the giant warrior out of the ship and into the hallway of the floating castle. The interior was just as intimidating as the exterior, with towering ceilings, metallic floors, and walls lined with intricate, glowing patterns. Soldiers marched by in crisp formation, they wore yellow flack armor with strange symbols adorned on the breastplate. Unlike Azel, the soldiers were all human-sized and wore helmets that exposed their faces.

The soldiers stared at the captain with a mix of apprehension and admiration, making sure to stay out of Azel's way. Sahaad, who was barely keeping up with Azel's walk, earned stares of disdain and curiosity.

They soon arrived at a large set of doors that slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a vast chamber beyond. At the far end of the room sat a figure on an ornate throne, raised on a platform above the rest of the hall. The minister of this floating citadel and the planet that Sahaad had just left, a man who radiated authority and power, was waiting.

The planetary minister was a tall, imposing figure with sharp features and a cold, calculating gaze. His body was a blend of flesh and machine, with visible cybernetic enhancements across his arms, chest, and head. His left arm was entirely mechanical, polished metal with whirring joints, and his eyes glowed faintly with an unnatural light. His brown skin was barely visible under all the metal.

Captain Azel approached the throne and bowed slightly, a gesture of respect but not submission. Sahaad followed suit, his eyes wide as he took in the scene.

The minister, who exuded confidence and royalty, changed his expression when he saw Azel.

"My-my, lord. You're back so soon", The minister's face turned to a sign of fear, as he descended from his throne and kneeled to Azel.

"Yes I have found a potential recruit. As agreed your planet will be exempt from paying taxes to His throne for one terran year".

Terran? Could that be Earth? Sahaad noticed the minister eyeing him from behind Azel's titanic figure. The minister's mechanical eyes studied him with an intensity that made the boy shiver. "So, this is the boy you've found," the minister said, his voice still nervous but tinged with a hint of skepticism. "I must say, he seems… unremarkable."

Azel grunted at the cyborg, causing the minister to lower his head again. "I apologize, I meant no insult...ah what of the recently awakened, will you be collecting them", the minister pointed to a closed door to the left of his throne.

"Yes, a collector will arrive soon to collect the awakened. Remember you must bring at least 200 according to cover for the year".

"Yes, yes I understand. Thank you my lord".

Awakened?, Sahaad wondered the context of their conversation.

"Hmm, if that is all taken care of then we will be on our way", Azel stomped back to where he had parked the ship, motioning for Sahaad to follow him.

The minister turned his gaze to Sahaad, his mechanical eyes narrowing. "Wait, boy. Do you wish for your family to live a life of luxury? You have done a great service for Arkkadia by volunteering to serve for the empire. Your parents could live like royalty, free from any monetary burden."

Volunteer? I was practically kidnapped! Sahaad chuckled to himself, before giving the minister's words some thought.

"My father…" Sahaad hesitated, then shook his head. "No. I don't want anything for him."

Sahaad thought of Mr. Amar, the old man who had helped him when no one else would. "There's an old man in Babylon," Sahaad said. "His name is Amar. He's done more for me than anyone else ever has. If you can, take care of him. He deserves a better life."

The minister regarded Sahaad for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Very well. Consider it done. Your father will remain as he is, and this man—Amar—will be cared for. I swear it on the god-king's name"

"Then you better get it done. Swearing on His name is the highest form of a promise", Azel commanded, still heading to the door.

"Thank you, sir", Sahadd quickly bowed to the minister, before sprinting behind Azel.

As the meeting ended and Azel led him out of the chamber, Sahaad couldn't help but reflect on everything that had happened. His entire world had been turned upside down in a matter of hours.

"Will I ever be able to return here", asked Sahaad to the giant.

"Maybe, Maybe not. We will see what the future holds", that was the only answer he got.