In a stadium roughly the size of a football field, stood a thousand plus children in the Nazu graduation uniform, and at the forefront of the army of children stood a massive circular structure equally as large. It was called the Rift Gate, and it was what connected this world to Elysium.
Standing in the midst of the children was a boy who seemed more anxious than everyone present. Though a deep fear was taking up residence in his heart, he made sure to keep his cool.
Everything was riding on this. Drawing his attention was the strange mix of lights which was emitted from the hovering spheres overhead. There were at least a hundred of them hovering over the children in one location or the other.
Pulling his cap closer to his face, Saturis made sure to not reveal his identity, while guising it as trying to repel the gentle rain that patted on everyone. He couldn't reveal his identity no matter what, the rebels risked their lives to make sure he made it in here this very day.
Stealing a glance at the hovering spheres, Saturis could see a Nazu safely inside its hovering sphere as it inspected the children. It looked like an overgrown squid with crab-like exoskeleton covering the bulk of its body and tentacles.
The Nazu was tapping on several points on the sphere so that icons which were blurred by the falling rain appeared on their screen and wrote things out in native Naz.
Saturis did not know what they were doing, but what he wanted to do most was to get through the Rift Gate. After what felt like an eternity, the Rift Gate finally began to emit spots of lights from its circular structure.
The lights increased in number and ran up the circular structure so its entirety began to emit lights. Then, a sharp sound which was reminiscent of a grinding mechanism broke into the air. And shortly after, a bright green light appeared in the middle of the Rift Gate.
Within seconds, the light spread out in all direction so it chased away a good bulk of the night's darkness.
Then a massive wind shot out from the Gate so the immediate environment resembled a windy biome. Likewise pushing the gentle rain in a single direction.
As the winds proceeded, Saturis held his cap, afraid it would fly off his head.
'Dammit.' Saturis thought, as he began to tap his index finger on his thigh in an almost erratic manner.
Following the opening of the Gate, all the Nazus converged to its front. Then the one in the middle spoke into its screen, and what came out of the other side was a translation in a robotic voice.
{All Encoded}
Its robotic voice rang into the air and rippled across the stadium like water.
{March}
Once the leading Nazu said this, all the children addressed as Encoded began to march. The sound of a thousand footsteps reverberated into the air with such a might, one would assume the entire structure would collapse from the weight.
Getting closer to the Gate, the Encodeds at the forefront were the first to enter. Once they stepped in, they disappeared into the light, so that nothing was left of them in this realm.
One after the other, hundreds of Encodeds made it through the Rift Gate. Though it was happening at a reasonable speed, Saturis felt the world moving at a snail's pace.
"Come on." Saturis whispered as he tapped his index finger on his thigh.
He was getting closer to the Gate, just a couple of more...
*BEEP*
*BEEP*
An alarm had gone off like an orchestrated musical number, alerting the Nazus to something in the midst of the children while flashing something on their dome screens.
'Shit!' Saturis exclaimed in his mind, as he watched the Nazus scanning the children that were anxiously making their way into the Rift Gate.
They went through hundreds of Encodeds in seconds, inching closer to him faster than he could even process it. Feeling anxious and eager to run, Saturis began to rapidly tap his index finger on his thigh.
Looking into the distance, Saturis started gauging how far he was from the Gate and if he could make it before being turned to dust.
'I can do it. I have to.' Saturis thought, as he waited.
The Nazus got closer and closer, until they reached his row. Ready to scan him. But just then...
*ZAP*
Lightning struck through the sky, incinerating the Nazu that was in front of Saturis. Several more Nazus were incinerated before Saturis finally launched himself forward.
Following this, gasps and murmurs filled the air. Roaring even above the might of the winds pouring forth from the Rift Gate. Ignoring it all, Saturis ran with everything he had, as the already heavy atmosphere became all the more claustrophobic.
Saturis paid this no mind as he shoved his way past several Encodeds, running as fast as he could. Ten feet more and he would be past the Gate.
As he ran, buzzing sounds flew into the air. Chaos erupted, more artificial lightning ran amok, screams reverberated and explosions lit up the darkness of the night.
Behind Saturis, he could see at the corner of his eyes all the struggle. The rebels were engaging in a losing battle with the Nazus, one by one dying with a lightning striker in their hands. All turning to ash with each second that went by.
All giving their lives in an attempt to protect Saturis.
Gritting his teeth, Saturis poured everything he had into his dash. And before he knew it, the intense light of the Rift Gate was only a breath away. So that when he breathed in, he found himself consumed by the light.
Just when he was about to shut his eyes from the intensity of the light, it dissolved and became less harsh.
Squinting a little, Saturis found that it was now daytime. But this wasn't what took his attention.
Looking down and feeling the aggressive winds slamming into him from down to up, Saturis' eyes widened when he had found himself falling from a height he couldn't even begin to comprehend.
Almost immediately, Saturis was overcome by acrophobia. But just then, he steeled his nerves and shook the fear away. As he was taught, if he let fear control him, then it would already be over.
Composing himself, Saturis controlled his body and spread out his arms so his descent reduced in speed.
Looking down, Saturis found several hundred Encodeds likewise falling from the sky.
This was one of many scenarios in which they would be welcomed to Elysium.
Unfortunately they had to get one of the worst.
Keeping his gaze on the world below, Saturis found that a little below him, there were shiny jellyfish-like creatures floating. Without being told he instantly knew what they were.
"Kritens." Saturis whispered, but was unable to hear his voice as it was drowned out by the aggressive winds.
Kritens, their ticket to surviving this horrible fall, and their only chance of surviving Elysium.
One by one an Encoded chased after a Kriten, only to miss one after the other. And what followed for those closer to the ground was a loud *THUD* which was accompanied by a spray of blood, flesh and guts.
Seeing this sight left many numb, which likewise sent them to their deaths.
Now within reach of the Kritens, Saturis did not immediately try to catch a Kriten, but instead streamlined his body so he bulleted faster toward the ground. Upon reaching an Encoded who was frozen in fear, he grabbed him pulled him toward a Kriten. Tossing them toward it so the Kriten puffed into the Encoded.
One by one Saturis helped as many Encodeds as he could. So much so that many eyes were drawn toward him.
By the time Saturis had helped all the Encodeds who went numb, he had discovered two things.
One: he was dangerously close to the ground.
And two: every Kriten in sight were very very far.
Starting to feel fear creep into his heart, Saturis did his best to keep his cool while searching for a Kriten before he would hit the ground.
Though he initially thought his endeavor was fruitless, a strange Kriten made its way toward him.
Without hesitation, he dived for it. And just when he was about grab it, it swerved over his hand.
Looking at the Kriten, Saturis couldn't help but became confused. Not only was this Kriten strange in that it came toward a person as opposed to running away, it wasn't trying to get away from him. Instead, it evaded his grasp but still stayed near him, looking as though it was mocking him.
Not lingering for long, Saturis tried to grab it again. But his effort was a waste. Now feeling more and more fearful by the ground that was getting closer and closer, Saturis threw his whole body at the Kriten.
But it swerved across him till it reached his leg and even stood on the tip of his shoe.
Looking at it, Saturis found his fear replaced with confusion. He could've sworn that for a second, he heard the Kriten laugh as it swerved across him.
Pushing this thought aside, Saturis reached for the Kriten. And as per usual he missed. Except this time, the ground was ten feet below.
'Shit!' Saturis thought, as he felt his entire being crumble.
Shutting his eyes, Saturis prepared to be crushed by the forces of gravity. But just before he could completely close his eyes, he found the Kriten surprising him once more, by r
acing toward him.
And just before Saturis could make contact with the ground, the Kriten dissolved into him in a puff of smoke.