8 years later...

Zaine: "Bishop! Your kids are playing in the cherry tree fields again..."

Bishop: "Oh sorry about that Zaine... I'm new to this fatherhood thing. Come on kids! Go to your mother! Hey! Don't run from me! Jazzy! Come get these damn kids!"

Judy: "Oh stop being a grumpy party pooper Zaine... They're just having some fun"

Zaine: "Well last time they were just having fun... They blew up most of the generators and let's not forget when they burned down a couple of mango and grapefruit trees last week!"

Judy: "Oh the generators were easily fixed... And I keep telling you guys I got a good suspicion that those trees randomly being set on fire was Big C!"

Zaine: "Yeah sure... That's what you said last time back in the bunker..."

Judy: "But it was him! He's always playing with fire!"

Big C: "Really Judy? Still, resorting to pinning your childish behaviour on that of a highly intelligent machine? Capable of handling something as simple of a flame?"

Judy: "Don't pull that smart shit with me you little shit... You know it was you!"

V: "Actually it wasn't the kids..."

Judy: "See I told you! Big C did it!"

V: "I saw the kids flying around in that crazy car, and the damn thing set the trees on fire, blazing through the fields like a rocket"

Judy: "Wait, so it was O'Ton-omi?"

Big C: "I am surprised it was not Judy, feeling the guilt of children taking the blame would usually leave her to resort to illogical methods such as blaming me, a machine"

Judy: "Big C... You piece of..."

Zaine: " Anyway, speaking of that damn car... Where's Axel and the others?"

V: "I believe the others are training today with Devilleno, shooting practice in the forest."

Zaine: "Wait with Devilleno? Judy, I thought you were training them to shoot? You're the best with firearms here..."

Judy: "Yeah I was... But then I got bored, being a teacher is boring! I trained all the other adults, so I thought maybe they should do the teaching from now on"

Zaine shakes his head, slapping his forehead. He looks up to a massive flock of birds scattering from the tops of the trees in the forest ahead.

Zaine: "Alright, I'll head over there. And Big C, go tell that damn car it has to manage the fields until next harvest after burning down those trees."

Big C: "Affirmative, locating O'Ton-omi now"

Within the forest, shadows zoom by across the floor from trees above. Multiple figures dash through the sun-kissed leaves, quickly leaping from branches sending startled birds and other creatures array. Zaine slowly strolls through the forest following the loud fluttering from the wings of the distressed birds.

Zaine: "You guys still training hard I see..."

Luca: "Zaine?"

Levi: "Uncle Zaine?"

"SSsssskkkkttt...BLAM! BLAM!" trails of smoke flow from between the trees after the sound of two shots being fired.

Devilleno: "Last two targets go to Raine. That marks the end of this exercise everyone, do better next time. Raine good job"

Raine: "It should have been expected, I am the best here"

Luca: "What?! That's not fair! Raine only got to the last two targets because we were distracted"

Levi: "Yeah, that shouldn't count. Uncle Zaine came into the field"

Devilleno: "Distractions are no excuse, in fact, this is a prime example of why you shouldn't have failed to hit the targets before Raine"

Raine: "Come on guys, you were never going to beat me anyway"

Zaine: "Sorry about that Luca and Levi... But distractions can lead to life or death situations, so Devilleno does have a point"

Aren: "Is that Uncle Zaine?"

Levi: "Yeah it is... He cost us the lead against stupid Raine though..."

Zaine looks up to the smoking targets placed on the trees.

Zaine: "Haha, just have to do even better next time. Glad to see you guys have improved so much in the past couple of years. No target has gone untouched, from what I've seen... with perfect bulls-eyes at that. What are the scores Devilleno?"

Raine drops down from the tall tree above, flipping flamboyantly, landing beside Devilleno and Zaine effortlessly.

Raine: "Yeah, let's hear the scores"

Luca, Levi, and Aren all drop down from the trees above Zaine and Devilleno.

Devilleno: "The top 3 for this exercise, stands at Luca in 3rd, with a total score of 74. Levi 2nd, with a total score of 78 and Raine in the lead with a total score of 82. Aren you ranked the lowest yet again with a score of 53, even behind that of Rosie's warmup score which was 67. You are not getting to your targets fast enough or hitting them with enough precision"

Aren: "Yeah... I'm really trying..."

Devilleno: "Gotta try harder kid! Everyone take a moment of rest, we move onto resistance training shortly"

Raine: "Alright Teach"

Luca: "Man I'm tired"

Aren: "You can say that again..."

Levi: "Come on guys we gotta beat Raine so she can shut the hell up already"

Devilleno: "So what brings you over here Zaine?"

Zaine: "Oh I'm looking for Axel, I was told he would be training with you about now. Wasn't he here?"

Devilleno: "Yes he was, he did the first warm-up exercise, scored an astonishing 95.5, the second-highest score I've seen all year"

Zaine: "Second?! Who has the highest?!"

Devilleno: "That girl named Lily, she scored a perfect slate... Every single time she ran a course with me. 100, every... Single... Time. No matter what curve ball I threw at her. Axel and Raine are the only ones closest to achieving her score, but if I'm being honest. That's only possible when Lily isn't competing..."

Zaine: "A perfect 100... Every time...?"

Devilleno: "You heard me right"

Zaine: "But she would need to hit every single target precisely before anyone else in the course could. How is that possible?"

Devilleno: "That little girl isn't normal..."

Zaine: "Anyway, where is Axel now?"

Devilleno: "I have no clue. As I said, he left after the warmup exercise"

Levi: "He left with Rosie Uncle Zaine... They both went down to the cave I think"

Zaine: "The cave? Alright, thank you, Levi. See you Devilleno, you're doing great with these training exercises"

Devilleno: "Later Zaine. Alright, kids! Rest is over! Down to the river we go, resistance training starts now!"

Luca: "Aww man..."

Aren: "Already?!"

Raine: "Another W on my belt, it's getting a little repetitive honestly. I might grow bored of it soon"

Levi: "Oh my gosh! I am so winning this!"

Zaine leaves the others in the forest, walking along a rocky path approaching a mass of decrepit ruins, remnants of a large stone building once etched and built into a massive rock. Now crumbled and shattered, with a deteriorated sign with parts of the word "Welcome" barely recognisable on it, blowing with the wind. Zaine passing by a destroyed stone frame, fallen to the side with the words "Harrison's Cave" carved into the stone.

Zaine: "Axel! You out here?!"

He shouts as he enters the ruins, walking down to the shadowy entrance to the extremely dark cave.

Rosie: "Uncle Zaine? Is that you?"

Zaine: "Rosie?"

Rosie waves at Zaine from on top of the stone ledge just above the entrance of the cave.

Zaine: "Rosie... What are you doing up there? Where's Axel?"

Rosie: "Oh, I'm waiting for Axel. We were just strolling down here together after our little warm-up obstacle course"

Zaine: "Why'd you guys come down here though?"

Rosie blushes slightly and she turns her face away. She drops down from the ledge and walks up to Zaine.

Rosie: "I wasn't sure at first, but he said he wanted to check up on Lily, see how she's doing. He said she likes to hang out in the cave most of the time since it's so quiet. He said to wait here since I didn't wanna go in because it's so dark"

Zaine: "So Lily is in there... Wait, are you afraid of the dark Rosie?"

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Rosie: "No! Of course not!"

Zaine: "Then why didn't you go in with Axel then?"

Rosie: "Because... Ok, maybe a little"

Zaine: "Well I need to speak with Axel, so I'm going in. If you want to join me, I will hold your hand until we get past the darkness of the cave"

Rosie: "Get past the darkness? what do you mean? It isn't all dark in there?"

Zaine: "No, there's plenty of light sources in there. It's very beautiful actually. Come on, let me show you"

Rosie: "Uhhh... Ok..."

Zaine: "Just take my hand"

Rosie grabs a hold of Zaine's arm, grasping tightly as they enter the dark and eerie cave. As they tread deeper into the cave, Zaine pulls a short pole from his waist and illuminates their immediate surroundings with the bright light as it sparks with electricity. Shining like a ball of flame on a torch, they continue down in the cave. Passing by giant pillars of stalagmites risen from the ground, reflecting the bright light, glistening beautifully.

Rosie: "Wow! These... Rocks are beautiful! I have never seen any like this!"

Zaine: "That's because you can only see them in a cave like this, we're almost out of the dark areas of this cave, you haven't seen the best part yet..."

They continue travelling deeper into the cave, walking along the pathway followed by a light stream of clear water running along the floor under their feet. Just then, soft echoes of metal colliding can be heard in the distance of the cave.

Zaine: "That sound, they must be this way"

They follow the gentle echoes throughout the cave, coming closer and closer to its origin, with each echo becoming louder. Suddenly, a large cauldron of bats swarms both Zaine and Rosie as they walk towards the sound startling the resting bats up in the roof of the cave. Rosie buried her face in Zaine's arm as she tried not to scream at the sight of the bats swarming her.

"Cling! Clang! Thud! Cling! Shing! Shang! BAM! Thud!" Just then, the bats subside their panic and clear their view of up ahead. Finally out of the darkness, up ahead they see the bright illuminated cave. Filled with crystalized stalactites hanging from the roof of the cave, with streams of crystal-clear running water dripping from the soaked and sparkling diamond-like stones. With running waterfalls forming deep emerald pools, covered with stalagmites emerged from the ground beneath the crystal-clear water.

Rosie: "WOW! This... This... This is..."

Zaine: "Breathtaking..."

Rosie: "Yes..."

Rosie gently releasing Zaine's arm as she slowly spins around looking at her surroundings.

"Cling! Clang!" As they continue down the beautiful landscape of the cave, the sounds finally become clear as it echoes loudly around them. "BAM! Thud!" Finally, they see Lily standing knee-deep in a pool of emerald water pouring from a waterfall above them, soaking wet and dripping of the sparkling water while loosely wielding a small blade. In front of her by her feet lays Axel, holding a sword as he struggles back to his feet.

Zaine: "Axel? Lily?"

Rosie: "Axel? What are you guys doing?"

Axel: "Ahh... Uncle Zaine? What are you doing down here?"

Zaine: "Well I was looking for you, There's something I got to talk to you about"

Lily turns around as she hears the voices of Zaine and Rosie behind her. She drops her little blade and holds her hands out towards Axel.

Lily: " Bro, are you alright? Can we stop now? Let me help you up..."

Axel: "It's alright Lily, I'm fine. But yeah we can stop, for now, I'm exhausted"

Axel grabs Lily's hands and helps himself back to his feet. He slicks his soaking hair back, as the emerald water run down his decorative patches of discoloured skin on his toned and muscular body.

Zaine: "Oh, you guys were training in here?"

Axel: "Yeah, decided to have some fun while we hang out in the cave together. Lily is so good at close combat, I thought I could learn a lot from her by sparring especially in an environment she's most comfortable in"

Zaine: "Trying to best her perfect score uh"

Rosie: "You guys were sparring down here all that time?"

Axel: "Yeah, I was just about to rejoin you outside Rosie, I just wanted to beat her at least once. But she's so good..."

Lily: "Hmm"

Zaine: "Anyway, let's get out of here Axel. We need to talk"

Axel: "Alright, got it. Lily, I'll come back later this evening alright? Are you gonna stay here by the waterfall till I get back?"

Lily: "Yes Axy"

Zaine: "Axy?"

Rosie: "Axy??"

Axel: "Yeah, that's her little nickname she gave me. She's really opened up to me after all this time. So what is it wanted to talk about Uncle Zaine?"

Zaine: "Let's get outside first, but question Axel. How many times did you lose to Lily in here?"

Axel: "Well, if we're just counting today... I'd say at least 40 times, I usually give up after 50 or 60"

Zaine: "Today?!"

Axel: "Yeah... Anyway, let's go"

The three of them head for the exit of the cave, leaving Lily behind as she sits down by the waterfall, listening to the soothing sound of the water hitting the pool below. Zaine looks over to Axel, observing the blunt bruises and fresh wounds on his body from sparring with Lily.

Zaine: "You're really taking this training seriously... Some of those wounds are gonna leave a mark"

Axel: "Yeah, I finally managed to convince Lily to not hold back... Honestly, I think she still does. But I'm definitely getting better"

Zaine: "Still you should be careful with exerting yourself. We don't know what caused this discolouration in your skin, it has clearly spread throughout your entire body since it first showed up"

Axel: "Uncle... I'm fine. Both Caesar and Big C ran diagnostic scans multiple times. It doesn't affect me physically in any way"

Zaine: "For now... We don't know what it is, what caused it or how to even cure it. It must be some sort of skin poisoning or infection, maybe even an allergic reaction. You did discover the first few spots after you finally washed away that metallic paint from your skin 8 years ago"

Axel: "Uncle... I am fine. Caesar said it's just the result of my skin losing its melanocytes, or pigment cells... something like that. Anyway, the takeaway from this is that it's nothing to worry about. In fact, I've grown used to it, looks cool to me honestly. Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?"

Zaine: "No, of course not. It's about V"

Axel: "Oh..."

The three of them finally exit the cave, standing at the crooked entrance. Axel stretches his arms out into the air, releasing a loud scream of relief as he looks up to the sky, watching the birds flying above.

Zaine: "Rosie, could you give us a moment alone?"

Rosie: "Oh uh, sure Uncle Zaine. See you back at the training grounds Axel"

Axel: "Alright Rose"

Zaine: "Rose? You guys have nicknames for each other now? You must really like her"

Axel: "Rosie? Come on Uncle"

Zaine: "You may not, but she definitely does... Anyway, that's enough chitchat. About V, I've been meaning to ask you"

Axel: "What is it?'

Zaine: "This other civilisation he's lived with. They may have some answers I seek..."

Axel: "Answers... For what?"

Zaine: "V told me to get over it... Forget about that damn machine that stole him from me and lead to the death of the only woman I ever loved. But that's... Impossible... You know I thought at first since I found my son since I found Virgil. That it would become easier to sleep at night, but no... Though it's been 8 years since I've found him, I still can't rest. With even the slightest chance of that machine still functioning... I have these ongoing nightmares that show no end..."

Axel: "Zaine..."

Zaine: "I need to find that fucking bot, and destroy it. Only then will I rest... So tell me, Axel... Has he told you anything about the ones who saved him? This city they're from or even a location?"

Axel: "No... He's never fully told me anything about them honestly. Haven't even spoken of it since 8 years ago back in New Anderthal"

Zaine: "Really? Nothing..."

Axel: "Nothing... Wait, if there's one thing I can remember... I think he mentioned coming from beyond The Deadzone... Yeah, he did say they were no machines where he's from"

Zaine: "The Deadzone? That's strange..."

Axel: "He also said the one who saved him was part of a group, who go out to rescue humans trafficked by machines..."

Zaine: "So I was on the right path... The underworld machines... The edge of The Deadzone... That's where they've made drops of weaponry enhancements and stolen machine bodies before. I've intercepted one of their drops before when searching for information"

Axel: "So the underworld machines are the ones who took V from you?"

Zaine: "I believe they're the ones who sent the metal fucker who did... I'll burn them all down to the ground to find that bot. It's been years since we left this island on an expedition. But I need to hunt... Hunt that machine who stole everything away from me..."

Axel: "I can help you"

Zaine: "No, it's far too dangerous. You stay here and continue your training. This is something I have to do alone"

Axel: "Only thing is, You're not alone... Aunt Judy and Big C are with you all the time! Why can't I do the same? Haven't I proven myself already?!"

Zaine: "Axel... I know why you're training so hard, why you spar with Lily in hopes of besting her... Why you push yourself every single day... It's not to one day come with me on this path of vengeance, it use to be so you can come on adventures with me and the others... But not anymore... Is it, Axel?"

Axel clenches his fist and shifts his eyes away from Zaine as he stands lost for words.

Zaine: "I tell you why you do it, though you may not want to say it out loud or even hear it from someone else... It's to prevent what happened to Leo and Alyssa from ever happening again, to protect those you care about... To never lose someone like you lost them that day... Axel, this is why you need to stay... You aren't capable of that, not yet... And I think you know that"

Axel: "But... I can help you! Make sure you're okay... I don't want to lose you..."

Zaine: "I'll be fine Axel, you don't have to worry about protecting me. Stay here, and one day go on your own adventures again... Capable of protecting everyone and everything you love. This isn't your battle, this isn't your journey... It's mine, Judy and Big C are just tagging along for now. But believe me, the moment I find that metal fuck... He's all mine"

Axel: "Okay..."

Zaine: "Thank you, Axel..."

Axel: "For what?"

Zaine: "For what little information you were able to provide. It made a few things clearer, showed me I'm following the right footprints to finding the one responsible. Now let's head back to the others, they're getting ready to celebrate your 19th birthday tomorrow after all"

Axel: "Wait what? Seriously? I thought we were finished with that after the 18th one. Come on, isn't it getting old now?"

Zaine: "Hahahaa... The only thing getting old to them is you kid. Let's go, walking along the beach should be faster"

The two of them walk along the beach heading back to the centre of the city. Axel watches the evening sunset falling below the horizon as they walk along the hills of dry and coarse sand, untouched by the crystal clear waves far below them.

Finally reaching one of the entrances to the city, they climb over the huge hill of sand, reaching the top surrounded by tall trees with scarce leaves and thin branches. As they walk out from under the trees they overlook the city they built years ago when they all first arrived. Their home, their safe haven.

Axel: "So when will you leave us?"

Zaine: "The day after your birthday of course. I can't miss that, now can I?"

Axel: "Nope... Haha"

Zaine: "Hahaha... I'll be..."

R3D: "There you are! I have been looking for you everywhere Zaine! Is this what humans call having the audacity? You were supposed to..."

Zaine and Axel watch as R3D approaching them from below, slowly hopping up the stairs.

R3D: "Stairs! My only weakness! I dislike stairs. Zaine! Get your mortal flesh down here, Bishop and Belthorne are waiting for you in the hall"

Zaine: "Alright R3... I know I know... Geez"

R3D: "Do not give me the sass. Hello Axel"

Axel: "Haha, hey R3. Take your time with those stairs now..."

R3D: "Haha. Very funny Axel. That was what you call sarcasm. It was not funny, at all"

"THUD!" Just then, the carcass of a bird strikes the ground in front of them. lightly burying itself in the dirt from the impact as blood splatters, pooling around it.

Axel: "What the hell was that?!"

Zaine: "The fuck? A dead..."

Axel: "Bird?"

They both look up to the sky to see a sea of massive aircrafts descending above them, unveiling their camouflaged exteriors, eclipsing the entire sky above the island.

Axel: "No way... These are... No, they can't be..."

R3D: "ALLLEEERRTTTT! ALLLLEERRRRRRTTTTTTT! ALERT EVERYONE!"

Zaine: "We need to..."

Axel: "Uncle Zaine... What is happening?"

As they watch the large aircrafts hovering above them, "BOOM! BOOOOOOOM! BOOOOOOOM!" Explosions erupt sporadically, while swarms of machines drop from the aircrafts hovering over the city unleashing showers of destructive fire. "PEW! PEW! PEW! PEW! SKKKKkkttt... PEW! PEW! PEW! PPSSSSSssttttt POW! POW!"

Zaine: "Shit, I need to get my weapons! R3! contact Judy and get a hold of her location right now. We need to evacuate this island! There's no way to fight off this ambush..."

Axel: "Evacuate?!"

Axel grabs Zaine's arm, stopping him as he tries to dash down the stairs.

Zaine: "Yes Axel, don't you see how many of them there are?"

Axel: "But... This is our home!"

Zaine: "We can't win this Axel! Go find V and get the aircraft ready, we need to leave immediately, Now is the time your training comes into effect. Protect the ones you care about comes first remember?!"

Axel: "...Yes"

Zaine: "Good, now focus and go find V and the others! I'll go get everyone else and lead them to the forest!"

"BOOOOM! BOOM! BOOOM! BOOOOOOOOOM!" Eradicative super charged missiles dispatch from the aircrafts. Destroying all of the exits to the city, water supplies and fields of food.

Zaine: "These fuckers... This is a strategic attack... They're blocking any means of escape and taking out our resources first..."

Axel and Zaine watch as the city before them burn in red hot flames, houses reduced to ashes within seconds and pillars of dark black smoke rising into the air. Machines flooding the streets, raining violent fire of destruction as they advance throughout the city.

Axel: "This can't be..."

Zaine: "Axel! Look out!"

Just above them, one of the missiles, rockets straight towards them. Zaine abruptly pushes Axel back off out of the way, sending him rolling into the tall trees behind him. "BOOOOOOOOM!" The explosion blast a massive hole between him and Zaine, sending them both flying into the air from the shockwave.

The heat singes Axel's hair and gear, as he tumbles down the hill of sand back down to the beach. He slowly raises his head, with his ears ringing at a ridiculously high pitch from the close proximity of the explosion.

Axel: "Zaine... Zaine? ZAINE?!"

Axel struggles to get back to his feet as he notices a huge log of wood from a destroyed tree is laid on top of his back and legs pinning him to the sand. He tries to crawl from under the tree by digging away at the sand under him, just then a wave washes up covering his entire head in the cold freezing water. Axel gasp for air from the sudden splash of the saltwater, unable to see from sand washing into his eyes.

Axel: "Ahhh... Fuck! Zaine... Zaiinnnneeeeeeeee!"

As he continues to blindly dig away at the sand, the huge hill of sand above him begins to crumble, sliding right on top of him burying him under.

Axel: "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! Mom! Dad! Rosie! Anyone!?"