Silverware clacked on exquisite plates as Aj, Sammy, and Lion ate breakfast. Outside the window of the lake house, the artificial lake could be seen, the expansive blue surface of Neptune swirling beyond that. A small wooden archway had been made besides the lake. Aj had a light buzz, his stomach twisting with nervousness, today was the big day.
“So, are my two favorite little humans ready to tie the knot?” Lion grinned.
Sammy looked at Aj searching wide eyes.
“We can wait until everyone is back, love,” she said softly.
“I’m giving you the wedding you deserve one day, but I think this is best for now,” Aj smiled.
She grinned, then looked at Lion.
“I’m ready.”
“Great! Okay, bride to be, please go to the bedroom, I got some lovely helpers in there who will help you with that dress we bought. Aj, you’re coming with me bud,” Lion smiled.
“Okay,” Aj said nervously.
Sammy kissed him on the cheek, then happily walked away to the bedroom, sliding the wooden door shut.
“Nervous?” Lion chimed as he took a swig of wine.
“Dude, I’d rather be fighting Zyhara’s dad with a wet noodle right now,” Aj sputtered.
“Weddings are crazy man, but it’s gonna be okay. Today’s gonna be the best day of your life! Oh, uh a little wedding present from me,” Lion said.
He held out a pamphlet, and Aj took it, reading the cover. It was a medical ward advertisement.
“She’s ain’t preggers enough for normal doctors to know whether it’s a boy or girl, but this place has a lab that can find out for ya. Just take her up there once we’re done, and you guys can find out what you’re having,” Lion said warmly.
Butterflies fluttered inside AJ’s chest. He wanted to cry, his hands trembling. He was not only marrying the love of his life today, but he was also going to find out what the child was.
“Thank you so much,” Aj mumbled.
“What are Vagabonds for, man?” Lion smiled.
A tear went down Aj’s face as he held his hand to his trembling mouth. Lion smiled and hugged him.
“You’re gonna be the best husband, and dad they could ever ask for,” Lion said gently.
“You think so?”
“I know so. C’mon big guy, we got a nice ass suit for ya!” Lion said.
Aj followed Lion as they went out of the kitchen, to the guest bedroom. On the bed was magnificent tuxedo, made from the finest silk Earth could provide. The handkerchief and bow tie was beautifully embroidered.
Aj nervously held up the top, holding it in his calloused hands.
“I ain’t never worn something as fancy as this before,” Aj sighed.
“I mean, I got an Ashura you can borrow if you want,” Lion winked.
“I ain’t marrying my girl in a dress bud.”
“Your loss hombre, I’m gonna go make sure everything else is ready. Take your time man,” Lion said as he walked away, closing the door.
Aj slowly put the suit on, then looked himself in the mirror. He seemed out of place, his broad shoulders and muscular frame perfectly underlined by the suit. He tied his dreads behind his head with a silk band, then sighed. He wished the other Vagabonds where here. But no matter, once all of this was over, he’d raise their child on that cozy farm, and have them visit as often as possible.
Aj stepped out of the bedroom, and walked out of the house, to the wooden archway. Lion was now in pure Laydren form, his fingernails covered in gold nail polish, with golden eye liner. His blonde hair was neatly combed, his muscular body framed by a white and gold seemed Ashura. His pupil’s glowed orange as he grinned. In his heads held a New Age Martian scripture.
“By which tenets does Sammy abide?” Lion asked.
“She’s a follower of Nema,” Aj sighed, fidgeting.
“Neeeeema,” Lion said absentmindedly, thumbing through the scripture.
Aj started sweating, nervously shifting his weight.
“Ah! Nema’s tenets, says here the Children of The Garden, or the Follower’s Hand may be invoked at a wedding. Which one do you think she’ll like?” Lion asked.
“Um, I dunno man, I ain’t too religious,” Aj stammered, looking out over the lake.
He felt like his stomach was gonna drop, as his hands shook.
“She’s a medic, so maybe the Follower’s Hand is best,” Lion chortled.
“This suite is so fucking hot,” Aj spat, wrestling with his bow tie.
Lion smiled as Aj fought with the bow tie. Across from them, a small woman with a camera was grinning. She raised her camera, and started taking photos, as soft music began playing.
“Hey bud,” Lion whispered.
“What?” Aj seethed, looking up.
“Behind ya,” Lion chuckled.
Aj turned and saw the most beautiful sight he had ever seen in his life. Walking towards them across the green grass, was Sammy in a pearl white dress. She held three roses. A blue, red, and black rose signifying Nema’s exchange. Her hair was beautifully braided and interwoven with silk white lace. Her makeup and skin was perfect, shinning in the overhead light.
Aj’s chest burst with emotions, as tears silently flowed down his face. He put a hand over his mouth as he gently sobbed. Sammy slowly strolled up to them and faced Aj.
“You look amazing, baby,” Aj sobbed.
“You look great too,” Sammy grinned.
Lion cleared his throat, assuming an official posture and expression.
“As a disciple of the Great Truth, wanderer of the stars, and shepherd to the faithful who wander the Martian Dunes, and seek the thirteens’ guidance, I am ready to bear witness to this exchange.
“Samantha Caoimhe O’Sullivan, daughter of Nema, and Anthony James Burke, son of Bellum, have come here today join in the sacred partnership, and holy binding of their souls and destinies known as marriage.
“The Follower’s Hand is the sacred and precious role all faithful devotees of Nema may undertake. The Follower must guide, protect, and tend to the weakest of the flock. It must be their duty to mind and protect the health of the formation. The Hand of the Follower is firm, yet gentle. Kind, and understanding. It is the Follower’s Hand that both saves and takes life,” Lion recited.
“Samantha Caoimhe O’Sullivan, I invoke the tenet of Follower’s Hand. Will you guide, protect, aide Aj until your very last day?” Lion asked.
“I swear by holy mistress Nema that I will guide, protect, and aide Aj until my very last day,” Sammy said.
Lion nodded, then bent over and pulled over a steel basin which he put in between them. He poured oil into it, then lit it aflame with his gold energy.
“The black rose symbolizes death, pain, and suffering. You may now cast it into the fire, signifying your devotion to Nema, and a promise of your faith to Aj,” Lion nodded.
Sammy tossed the black rose into the fire.
“The blue rose symbolizes change, your soul, and former life as a single mind. You may now cast it into the fire, as a promise to Nema, to show that you will no longer walk the singular path of your life as you once did,” Lion said.
Sammy tossed the blue rose into the fire.
“The red rose symbolizes affection, blood, and your love for your partner. You may now hand him the rose, signifying your undying love, and oath to stand by him in pain and defeat. Victory, success and long years together at your hearth,” Lion said.
Sammy held out the rose, and Aj took it.
“Mistress Nema, see and bless this exchange. May you judge this woman’s soul and see that their partnership is faithful and worthy.
“The warriors of Bellum are the bulwark that stands to protect the weak, and the sickly. They are the shield wall that comes together to protect the brothers and sisters on the left, and the right. The sons and daughters of Bellum are tenacious, unyielding, and righteously wrathful.
“Just as your blood and strength is devoted to your companions, so too must you now devote all of your being to this woman. By the fifth tenant, you are charged to protect and support Samantha. Your partner is to be your hearth, your one and only love, the one whom you fight and bleed for. No matter the hardship, whether by sickness or enemy forces, will your devotion wain.
“Anthony, do you stand by the fifth tenant of Bellum, and devote yourself to this woman? Will you honor, cherish, and defend her from all that may accost her?”
“I will,” Aj nodded firmly, holding the rose.
“Do you, Samantha Caoimhe O’Sullivan, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, as witnessed by Mistress Nema, and the dead god Bellum?” Lion asked.
“I do,” Sammy smiled.
“Do you, Anthony James Burke, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, as witnessed by Mistress Nema, and the dead god Bellum?” Lion asked.
“I do,” Aj nodded.
“Then you may both hold hands, no longer as two individuals, but as one,” Lion said.
They held their hands together, and Lion wrapped a thin silk band around their hands. “I now pronounce you, man and wife,” Lion smiled.
Aj and Sammy kissed, while everyone else clapped. Aj laughed, and swept Sammy off her feet, carrying her back the way they came to the beach house. As Aj walked, Lion popped open a bottle of champagne, cheering.
“Hey, baby appointment is this evening! Don’t forget lovers!” Lion happily called.
Aj and Sammy laughed, as he carried her into the beach house, where he set her down. She looked up at him and smiled. He knelt softly and hugged her by the waste.
“I love you. Both of you,” Aj murmured softly.
“I love you too,” Sammy said softly, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
Aj look up at her, grinning.
“That dress looks amazing on you, but I think you’d look even better with it off,” he chuckled.
“Be gentle! I’m keeping this,” Sammy giggled.
Sammy grabbed his hand and together they charged into the bedroom.
Aj lay in bed naked with Sammy, staring at the ceiling. He had a glass of liquor, while she sipped on juice.
“I wish you could drink,” Aj chuckled.
“Gimme some then,” Sammy giggled.
“Hell no! What about the kid, man?” Aj asked.
“My mom probably drank when she had me, and I turned out fine.”
“Just juice, you can catch up when the baby comes!”
“No fun,” Sammy pouted.
The two silently gazed as the swans lazily swam by in the lake.
“Do you think it’s a boy, or a girl?” Sammy murmured.
“I think it’s a boy,” Aj chuckled.
“I want a girl,” Sammy sighed happily, resting her head on his chest.
“Don’t matter what it is, we’re gonna give them the best life a Martian ever had,” Aj smiled.
“We had it on Zion love, it’s a Zion if anything,” Sammy chuckled.
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“It’s a damn Martian, my child ain’t gonna be no space kid,” Aj said firmly.
“Whatever you say baby,” Sammy chuckled.
She slowly got out of bed, as Aj marveled at her exposed and perfect body. He twitched beneath the sheets, and she chuckled.
“I can’t do any more rounds love, I won’t be able to walk to the appointment,” Sammy giggled, picking up some clothes off the ground.
“I’ll carry you,” Aj grinned, pinching her bottom. She giggled and pulled away.
“You have me for life Muirin, you can wait a few hours,” Sammy chuckled, pulling pants on.
“Let’s just stay here all day. Just fuck and eat, and fuck, and then eat some more!”
“Ya know, now that you mention it, I have been dying for pickles. I hate pickles!” Sammy scowled as she pulled a hoodie on.
“I’ll get all the pickles on this station.”
“You might have to. C’mon, put some clothes on!” Sammy laughed.
“Make me!”
Aj launched out of bed, and picked Sammy up from behind, spinning around as her legs swung in the air. She giggled, as he set her down and hugged from behind.
“I love you, so fucking much,” Aj said, his chin on her shoulder.
She reached behind and held his head, resting her other hand on his over her stomach.
“I love you too,” she said softly. “Clothes, now!”
“Yes ma’am,” Aj groaned.
He let her go, and meandered around the room, picking up his clothes. Once both were dressed, they walked outside of the destroyed bedroom, into the front lawn. Lion was grinning, quiet drunk as he was behind the wheel a small hover cart.
“Move,” Aj said firmly.
“Whaaaaat? It’s just a gulf cart, you humans drunk drive these things everywhere!” Lion groaned.
Aj gently shoved him aside and sat behind the wheel.
“Precious cargo, I drive,” Aj nodded.
“Holy shit, he’s actually pretty sober,” Lion said with wide eyes.
“That’s my sexy, responsible man,” Sammy giggled.
“You two are so fucking cute, I think I’m gonna barf,” Lion groaned.
“Don’t get any on her!” Aj barked.
The speeder launched forward, going down the pebble pathway that lead to the traffic tunnel that access the higher and lower levels. Lion grabbed the side of the cart and vomited unto the luxury gardens as they cruised forward.
“You want some stuff for your tummy?” Sammy asked calmly, digging into her backpack.
“Yes please,” Lion moaned, wiping his mouth.
“Great Truth, kid ain’t even here yet and you guys are already good parents,” Lion chortled, washing down the pills with beer.
“Damn right we are,” Aj smiled, looking at Sammy from the drivers mirror.
The cart approached the traffic tunnel and was guided unto a floating pad by the station’s staff. The wheels locked in place, and the platform rocketed upward, passing several levels. Soon they arrived at the second highest floor. The wheels unlocked, and the staff expertly guided them off the platform to solid ground.
Aj drove the gulf cart down the pathway, in between the buildings of the level. This level had everything anyone could ever need. Spas, shopping malls, restaurants, clinics, everything. The people that walked along the side walks where the richest in the solar system, garbed in magnificent luxury clothing. As they cruised along, Aj spotted a street cart, with pickles and flowers for sale. He made a mental note as they took a turn, arriving at the clinic.
“You mind checking her in, Lion? I got some stuff I wanna pick up for her,” Aj asked.
“You’re not coming in with me?” Sammy asked with wide eyes.
“It won’t take long at all baby,” Aj nodded.
“Promise?” Sammy asked, holding his shoulder.
He held her hand and kissed it.
“Promise, I’ll be right back,” Aj smiled.
They all got off the cart, Lion and Sammy entering the wide double glass doors that opened for them. Aj put his hands in his pocket and whistled as he strolled down the sidewalk. He took a right and arrived at the street merchant.
“Howdy, howdy sir! What can I get ya?” the street merchant asked happily.
“Lemme get a jar of those pickles, some of those mini whiskey shots, and some flowers man,” Aj said.
“Yeshur! Would you like gift wrapping, or any kind of bag? I have quite the inventory,” the merchant smiled.
Aj leaned down, and studied the gift wrapping, noticing the deep-sea blue. Sammy’s favorite color.
“Yeah man, can I get that blue wrapping? Make it as fancy as you can,” Aj nodded, straightening up.
“Shall I add a note?” the merchant asked.
“Yeah, uh, write down if boy, Mark, if girl, Samantha,” Aj smiled. “You’re expecting? Well congratulations sir! Hey just so you know, all children conceived here on Utopia get a lifelong discount!” the man chimed as he worked.
“Good to know, but my kid is Martian,” Aj laughed.
“Well then sir, I hope I am not the first when I say we are honored to accommodate the first Martians here on Utopia,” the worker said warmly.
The man slid over the fancy paper and pen, nodding happily. Aj looked down and realized that the merchant wanted Aj to write it.
“I can’t read. Or write,” Aj said dryly.
The merchant’s eyes widened as his face paled.
“I am so sorry sir; I didn’t mean to insinuate anything! Here, we offer several discounts and coupons, I have them right here,” the merchant desperately searched his drawers. “Don’t sweat it man, just write it yourself if you don’t mind? Sign it as Aj.”
“A-J,” the man nodded slowly, quickly writing down the names in cursive.
With all the items packaged, the merchant happily handed Aj the bag.
“Have a great day in Utopia!” the merchant chimed.
“Yeah, thanks man,” Aj chuckled.
With the bag in hand, and two shots in the other, Aj strolled back the way he came. As he walked through the crowd, his mind wandered. What was his child going to be like? He couldn’t imagine raising a girl, but he would do his best.
Soon, he came into the clinic, and entered into the lobby. Lion was sitting in a chair, studying his holographic notes, a desk with a lady in a fancy uniform on the other side of the room.
“Where’s Sammy?” Aj asked.
Lion looked up, smiled, then got up.
“She’s in the back, they are getting the results already!”
“Shit, that quick?”
“I mean it’s just some blood and DNA work, but they call em miracle workers for a reason my boy,” Lion grinned.
The two men walked down the hall, as nurses and doctors warmly greeted them. They soon came to a window in the wall. Aj looked inside, and saw Sammy laying on a medical table, with two nurses. One was a woman in a smart uniform, the other was a blonde doctor with a surgical mask.
Sammy looked over, and saw Aj hold up the present bag. She smiled brightly, waving him inside. Aj nodded happily, and saw the door was on the other side of the wall, behind a turn in the hallway. Aj was about to walk around when he noticed the doctor was looking right at him.
The hairs on the back of Aj’s neck stood up.
“You ever seen that guy before?” Aj asked slowly.
“What guy?” Lion asked absent mindedly, sipping from his flask.
Aj watched, in growing horror as the doctor pulled down his mask, revealing his face. It was a Shrike replicant. Aj drew his pistol, and instantly put three bullets into the man’s face, through the glass. Screams and alarms went off as everyone panicked. Aj sprinted for the door as Lion studied the body.
“Aj, don’t!” Lion bellowed.
Aj’s hand grasped the door handle, when Lion ripped him back, and flung him down the hallway. His energy was activated, encased in golden fire.
“What the fuck?!” Aj shouted, pushing himself up ten feet away.
“He’s got a vest on!” Lion shouted.
Lion ripped the door open and sprang inside. As Aj got to his feet, the building shook. Fire erupted from the room, collapsing the walls and ceiling. The concussion from the blast hit Aj like a tsunami wave, ejecting him from the building via the glass window. He crumpled on the ground, his vision blurred, and his hearing gone.
Trapped in a world of static, Aj blindly tried to get up, and fell back down. The ground was shaking, and as Aj looked up, he saw bright red flashes everywhere. Slowly, his vision returned, a pounding headache and terrible pain all over his body. Aj gazed down, and saw he was bleeding.
Aj then looked up, and saw the medical clinic was on fire. People were running out of the building, as parts of the roof collapsed. He gritted his teeth and tried to push himself up again. Slowly, gunshots and screams pierced the wall of static in his ears. He looked over, and saw men in Zion trooper uniforms, firing into the crowd, killing dozens. More buildings where on fire now, and the station itself shook.
Aj looked back at the clinic, and saw the burning rubble was shifting. Slowly, a figure encased in golden fire emerged from the building, empty handed. Aj pushed himself to his feet, as Lion extinguished his energy, his eyes, and ears bleeding.
Aj slammed into Lion, gripping both shoulders with vice grips.
“Where is she?!” Aj screamed.
Lion’s chin trembled, as he shook his head.
“Where is my family?!” Aj shouted.
“I’m so sorry,” Lion mumbled.
“No.”
Aj shoved Lion aside, looking into the burning building. He held his hands on his head, unable to believe what he saw.
“Aj,” Lion said softly.
He turned, and punched Lion as hard as he could in the face. Lion ate the strike, standing there miserably.
“You stupid fucking bastard! I left for five minutes!”
Lion slowly nodded, staring at the ground.
“Why would you leave her alone in there?!”
Lion shook his head slowly.
“I thought-”
“You thought? You never fucking think!”
Aj turned and looked at the building. He noticed the present bag was still in the hallway, amid the growing flames.
“Go back in there, get that jar from that bag, and put whatever is left of them inside it,” Aj seethed.
“Dude,” Lion whispered.
“They’re dead because of you! You owe me whatever is left of them!”
“I’m not the one who shot a suicide bomber in the face!”
“The hell else was I supposed to do?!”
Aj grabbed Lion by the collar.
“Go in there, and get what’s left of them,” Aj sneered.
Aj shoved Lion towards the flames and watched as the golden flames engulfed the general. As Lion reentered the bombsite, Aj collapsed to his knees. He screamed and wept, sobbing harshly as he held his head. Moments passed, as more chaos erupted. Aj looked out and saw a family had been gunned down. The parents and children lying close to one another, as the gunmen continued to empty their weapons into the fleeing crowd.
Lion reemerged from the fire, red smeared ashes in the jar. He was squinting and coughing as the building fully collapsed. Aj wrenched the jar from Lion and studied the remains. He wanted to vomit, scream, threw himself in with them. If he could go in, and his family come out, he would have.
“We need to get out of here,” Lion coughed.
Aj said nothing, putting the jar in a satchel from the ground. He slung the satchel, then reloaded his pistol.
“What are you doing?” Lion arched an eyebrow.
“I don’t ever want to see your face again,” Aj spat.
“Aj!” Lion called.
Aj charged down the alley way. In the street, bodies lay everywhere, as buildings burned. Aj followed the screaming and gunshots, charging down the street. Soon, he arrived at the center of the level. A lone gunman was toying with a weeping women who was guarding her children with her body. As the gunman taunted them, Aj snuck up behind him.
With a swift movement, Aj grabbed the man from behind, squishing his fingers into the man’s eyes as he screamed. The man collapsed, and Aj stomped on his face until the gunman stopped moving. Aj bent over and ripped the man’s mask off. It was another shrike variant. In that horror filled moment, Aj realized what was happening. An army of Shrikes replicants were disguised as Zion military, and were killing indiscriminately.
Aj knelt, and pulled the man’s body armor off, then put it on himself. He then picked up the rifle and took all the ammunition. He was going to die that day, he wanted to die, and he was going to drag as many of these monsters as possible down to hell with him. Aj wasn’t human anymore, his vision red and blurry. He was a rage filled; grief stricken killing machine.
Aj prowled alongside a fountain marble wall, coldly calculating what to do next. The events of that day were crushing his mind, but he had learned to compartmentalize trauma. If he lived long enough, he would deal with everything he felt later. Right now, he needed to kill.
He noticed a squad of gunmen running out of the mall. Aj grinned and rested his barrel on the wall. He slowed his breathing, and gently squeezed the trigger. The perfect shot blew a gunman’s jugular clean open, sending red strips of flesh and blood everywhere as he collapsed, the bullet ricocheting off of the targets spine and hitting another man.
The squad faltered, trying to find who had killed their men. Aj fired another shot, a man’s face crumpled like paper, another shot, a gunmen collapsed, his kneecap eviscerated. Another shot, a man went howling to the ground in excruciating pain a bullet piercing his stomach. Aj knew exactly where to aim, he knew which body parts sent men down, but kept them alive bleeding out for a few minutes.
The last few men retreated, into the orange hued fog. Aj rose from cover and followed steadily. As he walked, he picked up more magazines, and one of the men’s radios. As the fog enveloped him, the radio crackled.
“Fall back to assembly area Zulu, exfil in five,” Shrike’s voice said over the net. Several other Shrike voices acknowledged.
Aj advanced through the smoke-filled mall, stepping over bodies and destruction. Soon, he saw several black clad shadows running away. Aj cautiously followed, gun up. Soon, he saw a gunmen dragging an injured comrade across the mall floor. Aj sighted in and fired. The man fell down next to his wounded comrade. Aj slowly strolled over, as the man screamed, his left kneecap gone.
“Where is the assembly area,” Aj growled.
“Fuck you!” the Shrike shouted.
Aj nodded and shot the man’s other kneecap. The other wounded terrorist tried reaching for his pistol, and Aj shot him in the face point blank. The man’s blood and brain matter spattered Aj as he turned his barrel pack to the initial terrorist who was screaming.
“Where is the assembly area?”
“It’s in the town hall!” the man shouted.
Aj nodded, then stepped on the man’s right blown out kneecap, putting his full weight on the broken limb. The man screamed a blood curdling shriek. Aj leaned down and shoved the barrel of the rifle in the man’s mouth.
“Nod yes, shake no. If I kill the original Shrike, can you guys still make more of yourselves?”
The Shrike slowly shook his head.
“Do you know where he is?”
Again, he shook his head. Aj nodded.
“When you get to hell, tell Lord Nemos I’m bringing the rest of your friends with me,” Aj growled.
Aj pulled the trigger, and the top of the man’s head evaporated, the internal contents within spraying out across the floor. Aj spat on the body, then ran forward to the mall map. He searched the plastic covering and saw where town hall was.
With the route in his mind, Aj ran through the mall, emerging out on the far side. He went from cover to cover, killing as he went. As he made progress to the town-hall, he became a specter. A shadow encased ghost that haunted every movement of his enemies. Soon he arrived at town-hall.
It was a large, terraced building of luxury. At the base, was a bright red circle of fire. At least twenty Shrikes where milling about, leading prisoners in cuffs, or carrying objects.
“Be careful with those girls! They’ll fetch a nice price at Barouge!” one of the Shrikes called.
“Why can’t we have ‘em now? There ain’t no point in rushing! We’re the last ones anyway, not like they’re gonna detonate while we’re still here,” another Shrike cackled.
He grabbed a young girl by the hair and dragged her screaming towards a secluded corner. Aj watched, then crept along the alleyways, silent as a shadow. The alleyway they were heading towards had the perfect sector of fire.
The Shrike pulled the girl behind a dumpster, then began ripping her clothes off. He had managed to get her jacket off, when Aj’s knife penetrated the base of his skull, the blade slicing into his brain. The man went limp, and the terrified girl looked up at a blood and ash covered Aj.
“Gather who you can and get off this fucking station. They’re probably gonna blow it out of orbit,” Aj growled.
“Thank you,” the girl nodded.
Aj wordlessly pulled down the fire escape ladder and climbed up it. At the top, he prowled towards the tallest point of the roof. There he set in as comfortably as possible, laying magazines beside himself. He rested the gun on his kneecap, tucking his arms in as he sighted in. Bang.
A Shrike far below fell dead. The Shrikes scattered, taking cover, and scanning frantically. Bang. A shrike fell dead. Bang, another Shrike screamed as part of his face was blown off. Bang, bang, bang, bang. As more and more Shrikes fell, they noticed where Aj was shooting from. Bullets crackled and whistled overhead as Aj dove for cover, low crawling back to the ladder. He popped up, let off a shot, then swung himself unto the ladder, rapidly descending.
At the bottom, Aj reloaded, then assaulted forward. These Shrikes were cowards, they were vermin who preyed on the weak, they didn’t have actual training or tactics. As they died, Aj smiled, relishing in the dominance he was enacting.
Soon, only one Shrike was left, crawling towards the portal, leaving a snail trail of blood behind him. Aj reloaded, then pulled out his knife. He stomped on the man’s back, bent over, and slit his throat. Satisfied there was none left alive, Aj looked at the portal which was still open.
The blood red circle of fire swirled, a distant vague picture of another world beyond. Aj sighed, looking behind him. The chaos around him disgusted Aj. Bodies of all ages, genders and sizes littered the ground. The station shook. He nodded, feeling the jar in his satchel.
Having gathered himself, Aj charged forward, and leapt into the portal.