It's the early morning just hours before daybreak and Zane has woken up before the daily training drills. The sky is still dark outside and the base is quiet. He looks around and sees his comrades still sleeping, getting all the they can for the drill but Zane can't sleep. He hasn't been able to get any sleep at all for the past 2 days for some reason.
He gets out of bed, cleans himself up, wears a jacket, takes his Talum and leaves the room. He gets a coffee from the cafeteria and after drinking it up he walks outside the barracks building towards training camp. Its cold in morning, very cold.
Zane warms-up with some exercise. Even though he has been doing it daily, the exercise pains him and he doesn't seem to gain muscles which frustrates him even more. But he persists and does it anyways. He can at least see small changes so its not like everything is in a vain.
After doing his exercise he picks up his Talum. He still can't get a clear grip of his long spear. There very little a spear can do. He can't cut and slice his opponents, he needs to thrust the spear with all his might to make some damage which he can't do and the spear itself might break if his aim is not well. Add to that its hard to handle a large sharp stick and a hassle to carry it around too.
He sighs.
"well I gotta do something about it then" Zane says.
He swings his spear, trying to blend and smooth in the spear's size with his reflexes. He attacks the practice doll, thrusting, slashing and then throwing. But his aim is poor and the intensity of his swings is weak. He keeps practicing doing whatever he can to make himself strong. That's when he hears footsteps behind him.
He turns around only to see Archie, who has quite a surprised look on his face seeing Zane training.
"What're you doing big fella?" Archie asks in a sarcastic tone.
"I'm sorry.....I was just training" Zane says.
"what's the formality I'm just 2 years older then you" Archie says.
Zane raises an eyebrow. He definitely did not think archie was that young because he looked quite mature, despite his long green hair.
"so I see you trying to tame that stick?" Archie asks.
"yeah I am" Zane replies.
"I'll have you let it know I am good in combat and although I do specialize in close ranges I could teach you a thing or two" Archie says.
"I'd figured it after seeing you fight with no regard for your own life" Zane taunts.
"hahaha well maybe I like fighting that much" Archie says.
"so what's the problem with you?" Archie asks.
Zane frowns a little. He isn't adamant to let someone show him how fighting is done and certainly not from someone he doesn't know.
"I have problems handling my Talum" Zane admits.
Archie takes Zane's spear and then faces the practice doll. Zane watches from behind. Archie then grips the spear and swings it in a beautiful succession, striking the doll multiple times in just a few moves. He blends his movements with the spear, moving his body to give the most intense strikes and then grips the spear with his backhand and charges the doll with such force that the spear completely pierces the hard metal doll.
Zane is thrilled at what he had witnessed. Archie then hands him the spear.
"It's a good weapon but the way you can wield it depends on how you hold it. When you're using a spear, changing you're grip and the angle of your grip will allow you to make precise and powerful strikes. If you want to bash, then hold the spear from the rear and use your body as weight to leverage a good smash. If you want to thrust, you need to hold the front with your left-hand, elbow first, and then connect it from the back with your other hand to give more support, that way you can pierce with full force and your aim won't miss."
Zane soaked in whatever Archie said. It was like revelation to him.
"how do you know all this?" Zane asked out of curiosity.
"my dad was a combat specialist in the army. He taught me a few things before he killed himself" Archie said in a light tone.
Zane paused after hearing what Archie said. He looked at Archie with his eyes wide.
"I'm sorry.." Zane said.
"Don't be, what's done is done, he was going though a lot and after my mom and sister died in a car accident it was all down the drain" Archie said while picking up his jacket he had thrown earlier.
"That's awful, how did you get over it?" Zane asked.
"I didn't but whenever I think of them, I work on myself in one way or the other. I know they are watching me from somewhere and they know I am sad but if I keep myself up, atleast they wouldn't feel worse for leaving me" Archie said with a smile on his face.
Those words struck like thunder to Zane's heart. It crushed him because even though he loved his family, deep down, a small part of him hated them for leaving him. He never was able to get over their demise. And neither was he able to deny that he cried every time after coming back from the hospital.
"Thanks for teaching me all this." Zane spoke sincerely.
"No problem buddy just let me know if you got any questions" Archie says.
Then a buzzer goes off in Archie's pocket. He takes out his phone and receives the phone. He talks then puts it back into his pocket.
"Captain's calling for us both in the office" Archie tells Zane.
"Aren't we supposed to do the drill?" Zane asks.
"I don't know but i guess an order is an order" Archie says.
Both of them the walk towards their barracks to meet Captain Will. An officer apprehends them to join the daily drills but thankfully a call from the Captain lets them free.
They are soon in Captain Will's quarters.
"so why'd you call us?" Archie asks.
"I have a mission exclusive to both of you. It will provide as training and it will help Zane to know how far his powers can go" Captain Will answers.
"Well that sounds great" Archie says.
"what do we have to do?" Zane asks.
"You will be exterminating a category 3 Azazel that's erupted in near the Mexican border. Supposedly its hiding and preying on law enforcement that is trying to catch it. Its proving difficult to subjugate it and that's why you two are going after it. It's an Arachnid class fire type that's about 23 meters long and the heat its producing it hot enough to melt road tar so you better be careful" Captain Will briefs.
"So it's a spider? " Archie asks.
"No, A scorpion" Captain Will replies.
Both of them then suit up, arm themselves with guns and their Talum and then are asked to sit in a police car that will drive them to the Azazel's spot. Before they are about to exit the barracks, Captain Will pulls Archie aside and speaks with him as Zane is standing in the doorway unable to hear what they both are saying.
Archie then gives a long look at Captain Will before exiting with Zane.
"I want you both to come back!" Captain Will says.
"Yes Sir!" Archie replies.
Both the boys then exit the base and enter a police SUV with their things stored in the back. The police officer salutes them both then get in the car and they drive off.
"Why do we have to be in a police car? And why is it only us?" Zane asks.
"Apparently this mission is a bit discreet. Category 3 and lower are not first priority to exterminators but to the military but now its seems they are having a hard time and so they called us. Category 3 and lower Azazel need at least two exterminators. The military doesn't want to embarrass itself that they called a bunch of outcasts for a category 3 and that's why we are in a police car." Archie explains.
"well that sound really ridiculous" Zane remarks
"HAHAH yeah I know man" Archie replies
#
Soon they are dropped off the site. The police officer then gets down and speaks to them pointing at some structures in the distance.
"There ya see there, that's where it was last spotted. Its an abandoned town and helicopters have confirmed it's hidin' there. Now I will say you boys be careful, that thing is absolutely horrid" the police officer says.
Archie smiles at him.
"We will sir don't worry" Archie says as he salutes him.
The officer salutes him back and gets in the car after telling them he would be back once their job is done. Both the boys walk towards the town. Its not very far away and in a few minutes they are at the gates of the 1980s looking town. Apparently there was a huge violent riot that made all the residents leave. The boys enter the town. Many of the buildings have been destroyed or burnt but they can't tell what or who has done it.
"god I feel a lonely" Archie says.
They walk carefully and vigilantly. After a few hours walking in the hot sun and not being able to find the scorpion they both get tired and sit down on the porch of a house.
"Damn these guys, can't even get personal glory" Archie says.
"You aren't scared?" Zane says.
"Scared? No, afraid that I'll die which inadvertently keeps me alive? Yes." Archie states.
"I thought you enjoyed fighting" Zane says.
"yeah well you see a little fear keeps me from being reckless and if I'm not reckless I'll stay alive. Some people do say that there are men who don't even fear death but that's false, they fear losing. So if I do something reckless and die that will mean I lost that's why I have fear, fear of losing. Everyone has fears." Archie says.
"how very philosophical of you" Zane says sarcastically.
"Oh c'mon man-"
Before archie can say what he wants the road in front of them explodes throwing both the boys on their backs with injuries.
"CONTACT!" Archie yells.
Zane gets back on his feet, clenching his spear before laying his eyes on what stood past the disappearing mist of explosion.
A large black and red hot creature, with six legs and a giant towing tail with a sharp pointy stinger as big as a radio antenna and two large claws. It looked like it was clad in thick iron armor which was so red with the heat it was melting the ground. The tips of its legs were bright orange from the heat and it moved with incredible speed. Zane stood and watched as Archie got himself up looking at the same thing.
"Oh god…..that so not looks like a Category 3" Zane says.
"Well that's one big and hot scorpion" Archie remarks.