After I woke up... everything had changed. A new race dubbed the 'Lacerta' by humanity was discovered, and they were extremely hostile. In just six months, they had taken over most of the South American continent. Humanity tried to contact them, to discover what they wanted...
But it was all futile...
Rapidly videos of these lacerta began to spread across the internet. Videos of one of them demolishing an entire platoon of human soldiers by themselves wielding a strange power and explosive physical strength. Its thin tail cut through metal, and its claws and fists were lethal, reaping life wherever it went. As I watched the censored version on the news... I felt a chill run down my spine.
As the camera zoomed in before cutting off the frame froze, and I got a good look at this new race. Dark green scales framed the sides of its face, stopping just before the chin and framing the jawline. More of these scales continued to run down the sides of the creatures neck and over top of its arms. Its face looked human, save the reptilian slit eyes that shone a hue of emerald in the firelight of its destructive aftermath. The lacerta had short claws that ended in razor tips, and wore some sort of loosely hanging robe and pants that were white in color. I could make out some scales running along the sides of the torso that peaked out of the open front of the robe, which exposed a lean but chiseled figure.
"It seems that they have some sort of strange power, and much higher physical capabilities than us humans!" the news anchor on the T.V. stated. "Just one of them wiped out a platoon of forty men by itself... that seems quite troubling, as we don't know how many came through the rift."
"That's right, not much information has been released by the United Government. All that's know now is how much land they have taken control of. The death count for this surprise invasion keeps mounting... will humanity survive the coming months?" the co-anchor replied, they were visibly nervous despite their attempts to appear professional.
The death count at this point was already well into the tens of millions, at least the estimated death count. Over three hundred million people live in South America, and the lacerta aren't known to take prisoners often from what little we know. In all likely hood the death count was probably much higher, but the United Government was keeping it under raps as to not alarm the public.
'The United Government...' I thought.
A central government that got formed after the lacerta's explosive progress in South America. Humanity seems to be attempting to rally under one banner in order to fight back. Overall, it wasn't looking good for us humans right about now. If one of them can wipe out forty trained soldiers with ease, it's looking pretty bleak.
"Jin, school's shut down today as well, but make sure you're still keeping up your studies okay?" my mother said as she got ready to leave for work.
"Yes mother, of course," I replied with a smile.
"Good boy," my mother said as she gave me a peck on the forehead. "I'll be heading out now then, remember there is some leftovers in the fridge for you to eat for lunch."
"You got it boss!" I replied with mock seriousness.
She flashed a small smile before heading out the door and to her vehicle. I gazed out the window at our small town, I could see the massive city of New York in the far off distance. In all honesty our small town was quite tense, South America wasn't very far if you thought about how much progress the lacerta made in six months. I shook my head, attempting to dispel the dark thoughts, and turned my attention back to the news.
"This just in! The United Government has cleared the trial of a nuclear weapon on these new enemies of humanity!" the news anchor exclaimed while holding his finger to his ear, seemingly being fed information through an ear-piece.
My eyes widened. 'So, the situation really is that desperate then....' I thought solemnly.
Despite me just being eleven years old, I understood the gravity of the situation. Nuclear weapons are humanities crown achievement in destruction after all.
"You're still watching the news my boy?" my father said from the kitchen, shaking me out of my own thoughts.
"Yes father, the United Government just gave the go ahead for a test of nuclear weapons on the invaders," I replied.
My fathers mouth arched into a frown, and his brows creased at a downward angle. He then started to mumble some thing to himself and shook his head. He then turned to me and gazed at me with a very serious look on his face. He seemed to be deeply in thought about some thing.
"Son, we are going to move soon, start packing your bags," my father said in a serious tone.
'That's odd, we are moving?' I thought. 'He seems pretty serious, so I'd better just listen...'
"Okay," I replied. "I'll start to pack right away."
'Maybe he knows some thing the public doesn't, after all he does work for the Government...'
I made my way upstairs to pack, and heard my father speaking to my mother on the phone. I assume it's about the move.
* * *
It's been a few days, and we are ready to move. My father told us to pack light, so I packed only my favorite hoodies and sweats. Even though they all look about the same.... well, whatever.
We left our house out the front door, and my mother turned to look at our once home. I followed her gaze.
'I wonder if I'll miss this place,' I thought while observing the old house for the last time.
We then made our way to a black hummer that was parked at the front sidewalk.
"Everyone get in, I'll ride in the front," my father said to my mother and I.
"You got it, old man," I replied as I began to open the door to the dark vehicle.
He flashed me a smile, and opened the passenger side door to climb in. I climbed into the vehicle and slid to the far end, making room for my mother. After climbing in I look towards the front where I saw a man with a stocky build and a buzz cut. He glanced at the mirror and noticed my stare.
"So, this is your genius kid I've heard so much about eh Liam?" the middle-aged man grinned.
"Yes Lewis, this is my son Jin," my father replied with a proud smile. "He's number one in the region on the yearly aptitude tests."
I sighed and scratched my head. The aptitude tests are taken yearly, and adjusted for peoples age. They are made to gauge problem solving, and how fast you can grasp new concepts. I never found these tests very challenging, and have always been number one for my age group.
"Yes, I guess I can do those tests quite well..." I replied awkwardly.
"Oh-ho, you even talk all fancy dontcha kid!" Lewis exclaimed while slapping his knee.
"Quit teasing him Lewis," my father said in an exasperated tone.
"Fine Fine," Lewis's grin never left his face. "Lets get going then, long trip eh?"
"Yes lets," my father replied.
The vehicle then started to move, and we slowly left our old small town behind.
"Where are we going?" I asked after a bout of silence.
"I guess its okay to say it now... we are going to a very special place," my father replied in a very serious tone. "We are going to what will be known as the 'Die Feste'. Humanities largest strong hold. It has been built by all nations coming together and pooling their recourses."
He took a brief pause.
"It's located on the border of what used to be Belarus and Russia, but it was decided at the last conference of the United Government that there would be no more borders between human countries. Only between humanities land and the land the lacerta have claimed."
I put my hand on my chin and fell into thought. That had some massive implications. Humanities largest stronghold....
"How big is it?" I asked curiously.
"The plans outline roughly fifty-one thousand square miles... Of course at the moment it's nowhere near complete."
'Holy snickers...' my eleven year-old brain struggled to comprehend the scale of such a massive stronghold.
"That's... hard to comprehend..." I said slowly while rubbing the sides of my head.
My father let out a chuckle and said, "it's hard to comprehend even for us adults... my genius son!" He gave me a wink and turned back to face the front of the vehicle.
I glanced at mother, who was currently taking a nap.
'Maybe I should just take a nap too, that sounds easier than thinking.' I thought to myself seriously while my chin rested on my palm.
"Well, I decided I'm going to nap instead of thinking about it," I declared in a serious tone. "Goodnight."
Lewis burst out laughing and my father let out a chuckle.
"Sleep well son," my father said while still slightly chuckling.
I then closed my eyes, and immediately began to feel lethargic.
'Guess I was more tired than I thought...' I thought as I drifted off to sleep.
* * *
After I woke up, the next however many hours passed were a blur. We boarded a plane and took off for this new mega stronghold. Before I knew it we had arrived before a massive heavy metal gate. Lewis who was still at the drivers seat of a new car that we picked up after landing, pulled up to what appeared to be a guard post.
"Identification please," a stoic looking soldier prompted in a heavy German accent, holding his hand out.
"Of course," Lewis replied, his usual joking demeanor completely gone.
Lewis then turned to my father, who handed him all three of our IDs. Lewis then turned back to the guard and handed them over, which the guard promptly took and entered the small outpost behind him. After some few odd minutes he returned and gave Lewis a salute.
"Welcome sir, I hope you enjoy your stay at Die Feste," the soldier said. "The gates will open shortly."
"Thank you soldier," Lewis replied with a salute of his own.
He then rolled the window up and continued the car forward. Stopping just before a thick yellow line that separated us from the massive gate. Now that I was up close I got a good look at it.
The gate was approximately fifty feet tall, and made out of what appeared to be solid metal of some kind. The gates started to groan as they heaved themselves open, and I gaped at the thickness of these massive gray behemoths. These things had to be at least sixty inches thick!
A loud noise filled the area as the gates pulled themselves open, revealing a massive city landscape under heavy construction. My gaze was drawn to the left, then right of me and we passed through the gate, and I could see the massive walls stretching out across a massive expanse. I could see the people responsible for its construction getting out of vehicles near the gate, seemingly changing shifts with a fresh crew. A long and decently wide road ran in-between the walls and the nearest buildings, wide enough to fit a couple massive semis side by side. I assume this road is there to transport the workers and resources to the section of the wall under construction.
I then fixed my gaze onto the city itself. There were massive skeletons of sky scrapers that reached out to the sky as if to hold it up. Sparks from the welders crafting these massive structures lit up the darkening sky in occasional bursts of light that I was strangely drawn to. Lewis continued to take us deeper until we reached an area that looked more complete.
"Here's your stop, Liam," Lewis said, now once again wearing his usual grin.
"Thank you Lewis, sincerely," my father replied and my mother also gave Lewis a firm nod.
"Hahaha it's the least I could do... and you, little genius, I'll see you around okay kid?" He flashed me a toothy smile.
I returned it, and replied, "of course uncle Lewis, thanks for driving us all the way."
"Oh-ho I'm an uncle now am I? Hahahaha, well you guys take care," Lewis then proceeded to drive off, and a brief silence filled the air.
"Okay," my father said while clapping his hands together. "Let's head inside!"
"Sounds good," my mother said as she followed him inside while guiding me by the shoulders.
I entered the house, and my eyes began to dazzle as I continued to look around in a frenzy.
'Woah... isn't this a little too nice for my parents budget?!?' I thought to myself excitedly.
The house wasn't all that big, but it was all brand new expensive looking furniture and appliances. I quickly ran around the house, looking to test out our new stuff.
Before I knew it dinner was ready. We all sat down at the table and there was a slight awkward silence.
"So... how do you like the new place Jin?" my mother asked, putting on a smile.
"It's... amazing... but how did you guys afford a place like this if you don't mind me asking?" I said in a questioning tone.
My father and mother exchanged troubled looks.
"Sorry son, I can't say for now, is that okay?" my father relied in a serious tone.
I put my hand on my chin, and replied after a short pause, "yeah that's fine, you'll tell me eventually right?"
"Of course," my fathers face eased into as smile.
"Well now, lets dig in!" my mother said, now seemingly much more enthusiastic.
'It seems like she was dreading me asking a question like that...' I thought.
I then picked up my fork and began to shuffle the amazing home cooking of my mother into my mouth.
* * *
Somewhere within Die Feste main HQ
"Sir!" two soldiers guarding a door went into an instant salute as a man with a buzz cut and stocky build passed by them.
The man then gripped the door-nob and pushed the door open, he had a very serious look on his face. After entering the room, he himself entered a prompt salute.
"Head Of Governance sir! General Lewis of the United Government is here to report!" the man revealed himself to be General Lewis of the United Government.
The large man, sitting behind a massive wooden desk that was lined with paperwork, waived his huge hand in the air. "At ease, General," he said in a laidback tone.
"Very well sir," Lewis replied as he went to take a seat.
"Now then, the report?"
"Yes sir, Liam, the thirty-seventh fallen child along with his family, have been safely escorted to their new home within Die Feste," Lewis then continued "He says we should be okay to begin the tests in three days once he's settled in."
"Hmmm very well then, how was the trip here?"
"Uneventful sir, although his son was pretty entertaining, he's a rather smart little one," Lewis replied.
"Oh? His son you say? And quit calling me 'sir', Lewis, it gets so stuffy in here... we are old friends after all, so just call me by name," the large man cracked a smile.
"Alright then, Ragnvaldr, Head Of Governance.... and the first fallen child." Lewis said in a seemingly very serious tone while putting on a super super serious face.
The large man, known as Ragnvaldr Thomas continued to smile and scratched his head. "Was the sarcasm really needed though, Lewis?"
"Ha ha ha you should see the look on your face Ragnvaldr!" Lewis gave a hearty laugh and slapped his knee.
Ragnvaldr sighed, "what am I going to do with you Lewis?"
"Hopefully keep me around!" Lewis said with a smirk and a wink.
"Whatever, let Liam know that we have agreed to start the testing in three days from now." Ragnvaldr then proceeded to rub his old face with his big hands exasperatedly.
Lewis gave a chuckle, "alright then big boss!"
Lewis then stood, gave a quick salute, and headed for the door. All traces of his previous joking demeanor wiped from his face once again. He then quickly exited the office and made his way back past the two soldiers who once again gave a salute.
Once he was outside he lit himself up a cigarette and pulled out his phone. Dialing the contact labeled 'Liam VIP'. The phone range once before a voice could be heard from the other end.
"Hello, Lewis?"
"Hey Liam, the big man has agreed to begin the tests in three days." Lewis said, taking a drag from his cigarette.
"Okay... sounds good. I'll see you then." Liam replied in a resolute tone.
"Alright, see you then."
*Beep* *Beep*
Lewis looked down at his phone and thought to himself, 'fallen children huh, just what has the world come to?'
He then gazed up at the clear night sky for a little while, before snuffing out his cigarette and turning back around and entering the building once more.
-Chapter One End-