War Games ch.1 Untold Beginnings (standard:adventure, 4455 words) [2/4] show all parts
Author: Andrew	Added: Nov 09 2009	Views/Reads: 2721/1932	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
As new friends are made his life begins to slowly reveal.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

you ready to listen.” I straighten up to show I'm listening 
attentively. She pulls the crate underneath her and thinks about where 
to start. 

“Alright well for a little over fifty years ago a war started. People
began developing abilities or powers whichever you choose to call them. 
Those people began taking advantage of the abilities. It started slow 
at first just robbing some stores, you know normal criminal things. You 
would think that not all of them would be bad but the power corrupts 
them somehow. They began to want more then just petty things. Cops kept 
it under control for a while but as they developed they got stronger. 
Soon the cops couldn't compete and they realized they had a real power 
at there control. They wanted to people to do whatever they wanted and 
some even wanted to be worshipped like gods. The few of them that 
wanted to do right were either turned by pressure from the others or 
done away with. Pretty soon the military started to intervene. They 
were able to take some of them down but not all. That's when the real 
war started and the Renegades, as they've become known though they like 
revolutionists, decided it was either kill or be killed. It was hard to 
identify them at first cause many look like normal humans but now 
they've all been identified. Well besides any new ones that surface. 
Many of them are here in this city flocking together to have a better 
chance. That's why you won't really see any people hanging around here. 
We were winning for the most part but they started getting more 
organized with plans and attacks. So many men were losing there lives 
we had to find another way to attack. That's when scientists finally 
discovered the perfect treatment.” 

“The treatment for what” I ask intrigued. 

“The medicine that can make regular humans like the Renegades. It worked
on one soldier but for some reason killed the others that kept signing 
up for it. Then they realized the first soldier was only nineteen years 
old. His body was still developing and accepted the treatment as part 
of that process. This means that only those under twenty years of age 
can take the treatment successfully. After using the limited amount of 
soldiers willing at that age and coming up short they decided to let 
anyone sign up. The only problem is in regular humans who develop them; 
they don't manifest the abilities till late twenties or thirties. So 
our numbers were growing but we have kids going up against more 
experienced fighters. Lots of casualties on our side but were slowly 
chipping away at them. We haven't found a solution to that problem yet 
and don't have time to train the new kids cause we need them in the 
field as soon as possible. Basically your first tests are your fights 
and its kind of pass or fail. Were known as Guardians out here as we 
try to rid the world of these wicked men that want to tear us down. So 
that's pretty much it I guess any questions?” 

My brains in shambles trying to take in all this information. “So am I a
Guardian or ...a Renegade?” 

“You're a Guardian as long as you choose to be.” 

“And why can't I remember anything?” 

“Well the treatment process includes emptying our memories. At the end
of the process they return them to our mind but it seems you were 
interrupted before they finished.” She looks sadly to the ground. 

“Can you help me get it back?” 

“Your memories should be backed up somewhere on a computer so if we go
back to the lab maybe we can restore them.” 

“Well then lets go” I start to get up off the cot.” 

“Whoa there buddy your in no condition to fight in a war. We need to do
some training first. You don't even know what your power is even less 
how to use it.” 

“Well I guess so, ok then lets train” I say eagerly. 

“Your still not fully recovered lets get some rest and train in the
morning.” She puts her hand on my shoulder and pushes me back on the 
cot. Though I want to argue I don't have the strength to resist and 
realize she's right. “By the way the names Pulse” she smiles and turns 
off the lantern. I lie back in the cot and start to wonder where she's 
going to sleep if I'm taking her bed. I want to insist she takes it but 
before I can speak my eyes grow heavy and the world goes silent. 

I awake in the morning to a soft light on my face. The sun warms me as I
open my eyes and begin to raise my head. I look across the room to see 
Pulse sitting against the window sill peering out into the street. 
Light dances across the leftover rain on the window creating a small 
rainbow on the floor. It appears the water is reflecting on her face as 
I notice a drop run down her cheek. Then I hear a faint sniffle and 
know it's not a reflection. I slowly slip out of bed and get to my 
feet, silently crossing the room to not disturb her. I stand right 
before her and move to put my hand on her shoulder. 

“The rain is soothing isn't it?” I freeze realizing she noticed me the
whole time. I chuckle a little and put my hand back in my pockets. 

“Yeah I guess it is in a way.” 

“Everything has a new beginning when it rains. The roads and buildings
all clean. All the tears, sweat and blood that were shed are washed 
away” she takes a big breath and sighs “but the pain still remains.” I 
reach up and put my hand on her shoulder trying to console her. 

“Don't worry it's going to be ok.” 

“You don't know that. Everyone has there own reason for being here and
what there fighting for. Some kids felt it was their duty, some out of 
vengeance for loved ones killed, and others just wanted to be heroes. 
No matter the reasons were all out here and we all die as Guardians. I 
joined because I left my family for differences we couldn't settle and 
had no other place to go.” Tears begin to well up in her eyes at the 
thought of her family. 

“Hey I promise it's going to be different this time. I may not know the
reason I'm here or what I'm fighting for but I do believe in a greater 
reason for everything. I was meant to be here and I know I can make a 
difference. Maybe you're here to help me accomplish that.” She wipes 
her eyes and look back up at me. 

“You really think so?” 

“I know so and I'm going to need you to be strong to help me through
this ok?” 

“Ok” She relents to my reasoning and begins to cheer up. I walk over to
the other side of the room. 

“Now then...” I try to get into a fighting stance “how about that
training. She smiles and gets up off her crate to face me. 

“Alright then” she raises her arms and puts her hands behind her head
“if you think you're ready.” Instantly she throws her hands forward and 
two drumsticks fly through the air. Before I even have time to react 
I'm pinned to the wall with one under my left arm and the other just 
above my right shoulder. My mouths drops open at the speed of her 
attack. She walks up to me and grips both sticks. 

“How about we work on your power before the combat practice ha” she
smiles slyly and snatches the sticks from the wall. I rub my shoulder 
where the stick grazed me and wonder what other surprises she has in 
store. 

“What is your power anyway” I wonder staring at the drumsticks in her
hands. She slides them back into small straps on her upper back. 

“Wouldn't you like to know” she says giggling. “First we need work on
your then you'll see mine. Alright so your entire body can apparently 
turn into metal and since we don't know your name I'll call 
you...Steel.” Hmm had a certain ring to it, simple yet strong. 

“Alright so how do I turn it on?” 

“Hmm let us see here” she walks over to me “maybe here.” She pokes my
stomach and giggles at the thought of a button to turn on powers. “Well 
seriously your abilities are part of who you are just like anything 
else. In the same way you think, move your arms or walk around, you can 
activate your powers.” 

“So all I need to do is think it and I can turn back to steel?” I close
my eyes and try to concentrate. 

“Well in theory anyways.” She laughs but then quiets when she notices me
concentrating. I feel a soft fire burning inside and work to fan the 
flames. It's so close now I can almost smell the smoke. It grows steady 
but slowly coming into view. I feel the heat and reach out for it but 
as I the flame extinguishes and I lose it. With a long sigh I give up 
the fight. 

“I thought I had it but I just can't access it.” My eyes hit the ground
in despair. 

“Well don't worry about it I'm sure you'll get it lets practice some
sparring first.” She takes a few steps back and gets into a fighting 
stance. “Come at me.” Looking at this young girl, who has to weigh a 
good forty pounds less then me, egging me on almost makes me laugh. I 
try to remain steady though knowing she's more of a threat than 
appearance lets on. 

“Alright if you insist” I take a couple big steps rushing her but before
I make contact she moves and pushes my back with both hands. I slam 
into the wall and crumple to the ground embarrassed at my futile 
attempt of an attack. 

“Ha ha don't give up keep trying till you find my weakness.” She walks
to the other side of the room about fifteen feet away and sits on the 
ground. I get up and try to think of a plan but I can think of nothing 
else to do but move forward again. I cautiously walk closer to her 
trying to read her movements. She slowly grabs her drumsticks and 
begins to tap them on the ground. “You really better be ready for this 
one.” I can sense a slight fire in her words but continue to walk. The 
ground under me begins to shake and I feel the vibrations growing 
stronger and stronger. My feet feel almost numb at they vibrate beneath 
me. You can hear the building breaking down within its walls and I fear 
the worst is about to happen. I rush at her quickly with no other 
options just as she slams the sticks down hard on the ground. A 
shockwave pulses from the point of impact and flies across the room 
striking into me with the force of a truck. I'm thrown back hard 
smashing into the far wall. After crushing into the wall I crumple to 
the ground with every bone aching. 

“You still alive” she says hoping up to her feet. I slowly get to my
feet stretching out my muscles. “Well apparently you are” she laughs 
“sorry about that just needed to test out your durability when your not 
all metal you know.” I rub the back of my neck with my hand and look up 
sheepishly at losing again. 

“Yeah I guess so but did you have to make it hurt.” We both laugh and I
feel out my limbs that seem to be fine again. “Lets go again” I return 
to fighting stance. 

“I see someone is eager” she readies herself holding the sticks tightly
“don't worry I'll hold back a little.” 

“I'd rather you didn't” I smile slyly then wink and my body turns to
steel. “Now let's do this.” She looks surprised at my change but still 
stands firm. I run with my feet thrashing the ground underneath me. I 
fear for her safety as I run headlong towards her but she doesn't seem 
phased in the least. My right arm stretches forward as I go for a 
punch. Before I connect she drops to a knee and swings both sticks out 
wide. They slam into my lower legs and throw me off me feet through the 
air. I flip forward and my back hammers into the wall. I land on my 
side on the floor breathless for a minute. 

“Tsk tsk you really need to control your movement better, rushing
headfirst into a fight will get you nothing but a headache. She laughs 
and then helps me to my feet. Taking a few steps back she gets into 
fighting position. “Alright now go again but this time controlled.” I 
get up and try to slow my breathing finding my center of gravity. I 
throw a right jab but she taps it with her drumstick that sends a 
small, concentrated shockwave bouncing my hand back. A left hook shares 
the same fate as the first. Punch after punch thrown and she knocks 
them back like its nothing. Beginning to grow frustrated I try a new 
approach throwing a punch and knee at the same time. Both her hands go 
into action blocking each attack at the same moment making me stagger 
backwards. I step back about ten feet and get ready to run again. 

“Oh no you're not going to rush me again are you” she says laughing. Not
saying a word I dash forward. About five feet out I just and spin my 
body horizontal. By spreading out I hope to have more chance that part 
of my steel body will smash into her. She looks momentarily surprised 
but...not enough. With both sticks in hand she jumps in the air and 
tucks her body into a front flip.  As she comes around the sticks make 
contact with my side blowing me to the flow. Landing softly on the 
ground she turns around to see me scrape across the ground before 
stopping at the wall. “So are we done for today?” A big smile 
stretching from cheek to cheek. 

“Yeah” I cough out some dust “I think were good.” I smile and sit up
against the wall. She walks over and sits next to me. 

“Don't worry about it everyone takes a while to get used to their
powers. I been fighting for a while now and no how to anticipate and 
react. Plus I've learned a few tricks along the way that help.” She 
chuckles and nudges me with her shoulder. 

“Yeah yeah tricks alright” I nudge her back “you couldn't have told me
about these tricks.” 

“Now what fun would that be, then they wouldn't be tricks would they”
nudging me again. “Besides your going to see a lot of surprises on the 
battlefield and no ones going to give you a heads up either” her voice 
turns serious. “I'm not going to sugarcoat it Steel you won't get any 
mercy out there. The Renegades are fighting to kill no matter what.” 
Her head drops down. “Trust me I know.” I put my arm around her “hey 
there it will be alright.” 

“Yeah I know it's just hard sometimes to think about.” 

“Well then let's not think about it” I jump up to my feet. “First things
first” the steel on my body slowly fades away. “There we go, much 
better. Now we need to get a game plan.” Her discouragement fades away 
as her brain gets to thinking. 

“Ok then first of all we need to get your memory back. So we'll have to
get back to the lab where it should be stored on the computers. We have 
a few miles to travel so we'll start in the morning.” 

“A few miles but I barely ran at all.” I look at her confused. 

“Oh you ran quite a ways my friend. Almost three miles to be exact. You
must have been so pumped with adrenaline and not used to your new 
strength to notice.” 

“Yeah I guess you're probably right so how dangerous you think its going
to be?” 

“Who knows we might see a bunch of Renegades or not at all. Anyways no,
need to worry about it, now let's get some sleep.” I walk over and help 
her off the floor. 

“Tonight you get the bed.” I push her towards the cot. 

“What? You sure you wont be to uncomfortable I don't mind the crate?” 

“Don't worry” I wink and my body turns to metal “I don't think it will
bother me to much to sleep on the floor.” I lie down on the floor and 
close my eyes. Pulse lies down on the cot and pulls the blanket over 
herself. 

“Goodnight Steel” she says softly but I don't respond acting fast
asleep. I feel were getting to close and don't want to fan any flames 
with even a simple word. The light goes dim and I close my eyes trying 
to settle any such thoughts. 

Standing in the open doorway I feel the warmth of the sun on my body
once again and the wind sweeping across my face. I decide to let Pulse 
sleep after yesterdays training. To think this small girl goes through 
this fighting everyday of her life almost brings tears to my eyes. 
Living out here on the brink of death everyday never knowing what's 
going to happen to you. I hear a rustle from behind me. 

“You ready for this” I ask looking back at her. 

“Shouldn't I be asking you that” she yawns and jumps out of bed.
“Alright let's go but remember to keep silent. We want to be able to 
see them before they see us.” Without another word I slowly make my way 
into the alleyway ever cautious. Pulse slowly gets ahead of me to lead 
the way to the hospital building. Coming out of the alleyway into the 
street I notice all the buildings are low simple structures with flat 
roofs. Most just have wholes for doorways and windows. “There you see 
that” she points to the north where a tall building stands a few miles 
away. It stands above all the other buildings around sticking out like 
a sore thumb. “That's the research and development building we are 
heading for.” 

“Man they didn't try to hard to keep it hidden did they.” 

“Well its only one of our bases and the only place in town big enough to
keep all the equipment needed. The Renegades would never attack it 
because we had so many soldiers there and at least ten Guardians at all 
times. The night you were attacked they caused a huge fight just to the 
east that drew away most of our soldiers. By the time we realized what 
happened and came back they were gone and so were you.” We continue 
walking up the streets passing overturned cars and trash everywhere. 

“Yeah I thought I was going to get shot so I got out of there as quick
as I could.” Just then I hear a faint crackle from behind a garbage can 
in an alleyway as we pass. I stop cold and set my hand on Pulse's 
shoulder to get her to stop. She looks back and I motion my hand 
towards the can. We walk over and I push her back a couple of feet. 
Kicking the can to the side I get ready to spring into action but 
there's nothing there. 

“Wow maybe I'm going crazy did you hear anything Puls..” before I can
finish something forms in the air next to my head. A quick kick to the 
side of my head knocks me back and I stumble over the fallen garbage 
can. Looking up I squint in the sun to see my attacker, it appears to 
be a small boy hovering with membrane wings like a bug. 

“Are you Renegades” he says accusingly while flying out of reach. 

“Hey now were Guardians” Pulse lifts up her sleeve to reveal an arm band
with the insignia GP on it. The kid seems to lower his guard at the 
sight of it and hovers down so were eye to eye now. He lifts his sleeve 
to reveal the same symbol and they shake hands. 

“Wait I'm confused, what's the GP for?” 

“It stands for Guardians of Peace” she explains. “We all wear them to
identify each other from the Renegades. Sometimes you'll see them on a 
Renegade but they'll be bright red.” Her voice grows dismal for a 
moment. “They take them from fallen Guardians and soak them in their 
blood to symbolize their now a true Renegade. The more bands they have, 
the more you need to be careful.” 

“Wow duly noted” my face grows dim. 

“Well anyways we shouldn't stand in the open to long lets get inside”
the little guy says leading us away. We follow him into an old gas 
station and I sit on a stack of tires. 

“So what you doing out here alone anyways kid” he appears to be no more
then fourteen years old, about five younger then myself. 

“I was a scout for my team” he sits on the floor and looks up at me.
“One day I came back from scouting and ...no more team. The Renegades 
had found our base and blew it sky high. I think they'd forgotten about 
me but I kept tracking them until one day they saw me. I managed to 
escape but they've been hunting me now. My ability to shrink to 
microscopic size keeps me pretty well hidden but I'm running out of 
places to hide” I notices tears start to well up in his eyes at the 
thought of his team. 

“Don't worry kid you kid you can stick with us we'll protect you” Pulse
says setting her hand on his shoulder. I get up and walk to dirt 
smudged window. 

“You said they're hunting you though right?” I wipe away some dirt
staring outside. 

“Yeah they are” his face melts with hopelessness at his situation. This
is it I finally have a purpose for once now. I have to help my friend 
with his problem. Well it's a start for now, but how? 

“I think I know how were going to do this.” They both stare at me
confused. 

“Do what” Pulse asks. I look back at both of them with a fire in my
eyes. 

Clenching my fists I answer “kill them...” 


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