(Author: Hello. I found a story in my USB I wrote that sounded cool. The only science fiction and fantasy story I wrote...that I actually like. There are a few chapters written. Gonna take some time to edit as the date on Microsoft Word says it was written during my graduation class year. Yikes. Well, enjoy. I wonder if I can add machines into this story.....Hopefully you like it. It is my current side project. My main story, Chronicles of the Tiger Immortal, will start the third book tomorrow. Enjoy.)

-------------Prologue: Cadet Lieutenant Ao, Aeron---------------------

"Sir, why am I even here? I thought the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. does not recruit until spirit week, like all the other clubs," a boy sighed. "I'm wearing my cadet officer uniform on the first day of school."

"You know the CO, Cadet Commander Morales, Timmy. He always wanted to reach the cadet captain rank, Cadet Ensign Cruz. Unfortunately for you, Alpha Company was chosen as none of your battalions were the best of the month last year," another boy sighed. "Still, he ordered all the students at the officer ranks to wear our uniforms, hoping to inspire the new freshmen and transfer students to join. Don't complain man. At least we get to wear rapiers at our hips. Even if they have blunt edges, it is better than the students who are not officers. They have to carry all the rifles and make an honor guard with the flag team."

"We should have been gathering for early morning practice for Air Rifle. I've been waiting all summer for it. Unlike you, I've never been to the Junior Olympics for it," Eddy Cruz sighed. "Since NJROTC took one of your free senior classes, since magnet students only need three years of foreign language classes; what is your free class?"

"Guitar," Aeron Ao, the Cadet Lieutenant of Bravo Company answered. "I need one more visual performing arts class to graduate. Unfortunately, magnet students need four years of science, history, math, and science instead of just four years of science and math. I wanted to join a sports team this year so NJROTC is my seventh period. I got in the basketball club this year so I have NJROTC afterschool instead of during school."

"First Sergeant is not going to be happy. He probably wanted you to join the physical training team. You are our fastest runner," Eddy laughed. "It kind of sucks how the NJROTC program switched out Chief Park, an actual Navy retiree, for a Marine retiree. Man, he changed so many rules."

"Just keep at attention at the front gate and endure until homeroom. You're a junior now, little brother. I'll see you at nutrition," Aeron said.

"Come on, step brother. Save me," Eddy begged as he was forced to watch him leave and head to the gate.

"Looking sharp, Aeron," Jorge laughed as Aeron appeared in his homeroom class. "You're not at the front gate?"

"I'm the CO, commanding officer, of Bravo Company. I'm not being punished as my company outshined Alpha Company last year," Aeron grinned, holding his white navy officer cap as he was indoors. "No one touched my guitar, right?"

"Nah, man. I kept others clear of it," a student named Oscar laughed. "I tuned it a little as I played it. Jorge was busy checking out the hot girls in the halls outside."

"What happened to that other girl you were dating from that other high school? I thought you don't date girls from Franklin High School as you don't want to date girls from our school?" Aeron asked.

"Senior year is different. Now that the girls are comfortable with me, all I need to do is collect and select," Jorge said. "It's a pity the girl I selected was into girls."

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"A girl that pretty, it's no wonder she is not satisfied with guys," Oscar nodded as they looked at Samantha flirting with Janet.

"Didn't you and her have sex?" Aeron asked Oscar.

"Yeah. She's a free spirit," Oscar laughed. "I think the drinks were mixed with beer during that summer party two months. It's a damn shame I only remember from the middle of it to the end. Still, as her belly ain't round, I ain't a dad. Fuck. You know, Steven's a dad now."

"That jock was always flirting with the cheerleaders," Jorge shrugged. "Most of us are surprised he didn't get a girl pregnant already."

"Finally, the five minute bell," Aeron sighed. "I hope our senior year gets a Grad Night. Last year, they voted to go to California Adventure."

"Oh yeah. That was lame. We better go to Six Flags. Most high schools send their senior students there anyway," Oscar agreed as the class began to fill with other students.

"Whoa. Did you feel that?" Gary asked, appearing in the room before the final bell rang.

"What? Something happen?" Aeron asked.

"I felt the ground shake a little downstairs. I thought maybe...." Gary began as the whole school began to tremor violently.

"Earthquake! Everyone get below your desks!" Aeron roared and all the students in his homeroom class hid under their desk, holding their backpacks as the floors and walls cracked.

"Help me!" a student cracked as the floor broke, revealing the first floor below as a student desperately held onto the leg of his desk that was unable to fall through the hole.

"Grab the guitar case," Oscar shouted as he held onto the handle of the metal case while the girl grabbed the straps on the side.

"Thank you," the girl sobbed as he pulled her to him before the desk fell.

"Don't get up yet! With an earthquake this violent, the after shocks are sure to be like regular earthquakes," Aeron warned. Some of the students covered their ears as they heard the screams on their floor and the floor below. They could hear bones break and cement cracked as three after shocks appeared in quick succession.

"I think it's over," Oscar said after twenty mintues passed without another after shock.

"Everyone alright? We all here?" Jorge asked.

"Fuck. We only have us, the girl I think is our transfer student, Samantha, and Janet," Oscar answered, the girl he held nodding when Oscar thought she was a transfer student as he didn't know her.

"Let's get outside first. Stick to the walls. The floor has to be unstable due to the many cracks," Aeron warned. "The armory and supply room is on the way. We'll get some first aid kits and try to find the First Sergeant. He's usually in there and the rooms are on the way to the soccer field where we are supposed to go after an earthquake."

"I'll carry your guitar," Jorge said as Oscar had to help the girl who had sprained her ankle. It seemed the desk banged into her ankle as it fell while Oscar pulled her to safety.

"Is it the end of the world?" Jorge asked, unable to see anything from the window due to clouds of dust.

"Don't jinx it," Samantha said as she helped Janet, the girl having hit her had on the desk as she hid under it.

"I'm Melissa. Thank you for saving me," the girl said.

"Yeah. No problem," Oscar said.

"Something's wrong. Why are people screaming and cursing downstairs?" Aeron frowned as they all headed to the stairs. Suddenly, they heard a ping and saw a blue box appear in front of each of them.