• I sprang forward and came within inches of hitting Rave in the head. “Zero, are you okay?” I was panting, sweat rolling down my face. I looked at Rave and then wiped my face. “Yeah, I uh, just had a nightmare.” Rave was sitting at the foot of my bed, a washcloth in her hand. “Yeah I could tell, you were muttering loud and I figured you were sick, mainly because you were running a bad fever.” I put my hand to my forehead, it was like touching a steamy pot, and I took a deep breath and looked to the side of my room. “Thanks, I’ll be fine.” “Zero, you’ve been having these nightmares for the last few days. Tonight’s been the worst.” I took a deep breath and laid back down while covering my eyes. “What time is it?” “It’s 300, you should get back to sleep; you got to do a run tomorrow.” I felt the bed adjust as Rave stood up, then I listened as her footsteps got quieter and quieter until I heard her door shut.

    I slowly peeled my arm away and sat up again. It’s been four years now since they died, 4 years since Gaia Nova bought full control over the Black Guard by sending in a recon team to kill the owner of the Black Guard, Istavon Dragoonav, and then turned the Black Guard against my father, who was the second seat in command, and Commander Darcus, the third in command, with the order to kill both families and burn the remains. My father came running home after witnessing the attack on Darcus, and tried to get us to flee; he said he thought Darcus was dead for sure. We tried to run, but, bullets out run people. I was the only one who managed to survive the hellfire of bullets. I then ran to find Rave, my friend, who lost her parents that same day.

    I slowly stood up and walked over to a counter. I took a deep breath as I watched memories fly in front of me. Each memory I had in my mind was like a barb, the more I played with them; the more they sank in, and the more pain they caused. I opened a drawer slowly and pulled out a pair of boxing gloves. I slowly walked down the hall, trying not to wake anyone up. My head stirred, and these barbs made of memories sank further in, but I had to try and nudge them out eventually. I found my punching bag out on the porch, and then slowly slipped on my gloves. The sun had barely started to rise, and here I was, getting ready to workout. I took a few deep breaths then started to punch. My fists sliced through the air with each punch, each time landing with a thud, each whoosh from my fists flying through the air.

    “Seriously Zero?” A towel got thrown at me. I caught it and took a few pants while whipping off my face. “Sorry Scien, did I wake you guys up?” Scien looked at me before brushing his light brown hair away and readjusting his glasses. “Nah, I woke up a few minutes ago and couldn’t fall back asleep.” “You too, huh?” Scien looked at me and shook his head. “Different reasons.” I nodded and took off my gloves and threw them to the side. “Zero, you should talk to Rave about this all, she can help.” I took a deep breath before walking inside and running water over my head. “It’s not that Scien, it’s just, never mind.” I took a deep breath and started to dry my hair. “What do you want for breakfast?” I set my towel on a chair and started to rummage through the pantry. “Something that’s not made with fifty percent of preservatives.” I smiled and sorted through boxes. “We have instant noodles, uh, bread, soup, how about crackers?” “Yeah you made your point.” I shrugged. “We can’t afford too much right now Scien, its winter and food prices are on sky rocket. No real food for a while.” Scien frowned at the idea. “Hey, Greg is gonna be here at 700, so we need to get ready.”

    “Hey look on the bright side, we’re going to arrest a guy later today, he’s got a huge bounty on his head and who knows? We might get enough money to buy that new computer you were wanting.” Scien smiled at the idea before walking off to his room. I sighed and pulled out flour, dried milk and egg mix out of the pantry.

    “You’re up early.” Rave walked in the kitchen just as I started to add in chocolate chips into the pancake mix. “Pancakes for breakfast?” “Yeah, only thing I could think of besides cereal.” Rave nodded then watched me for a few seconds. I turned on the burner and set my frying pan on it. “Greg’s gonna be here in an hour. Scien is pulling up as much info on this guy as he can.” “Greg gonna bring the team?” “Greg said he’d bring Skyhawk, Striker, Cronus said he might, and so did Blaze, other than them, I don’t know who plans to show up.”

    Rave nodded and looked at the frying pan. “Well, I’m going to wake everyone else up, it’s 530, and we should get up now before Greg and company are here.” I nodded at her and set up a few plates with pancakes and syrup. Delta walked in and slumped onto the counter while sitting in her chair. “Good morning Delta” I messed up her hair, listening with an evil grin as she growled. “Well someone sounds grumpy” Aaron walked in and sat by the table. “What time is Greg gonna be here?” I shook my shoulders and started to eat some pancakes. Rave walked in carrying Xiina. “Slow down Zero, you’re gonna choke.” I grinned and ate another pancake.

    “I want a pancake!” Xiina grinned and was set in a chair as Rave handed her a plate. Rave stood behind Xiina and started to put her pale white hair into a ponytail. I slowly got up and grabbed a cup of water. Rave walked over and stood next to me. I took a few more sips of water then set the glass in a sink. “Zero, be a little more careful this time?” I smiled and nodded. “I know, I’m not going to be stupid again, It only takes one time to learn” Rave’s eyes slowly drifted over my scar that stretched across my eye from my forehead to my jaw.

    “It only takes one bullet Zero, only one shot.” “And I’ve survived getting shot before.” Rave sighed and glared at me before the door opened. Greg stood in the door way, his duster flowing behind him. “Good mornin’ ladies and gents, is that pancakes I smell?” “Yeah it is.” Greg took off her hat and revealed his dark stubbly face. “Anyone else here?” “Skyhawk’s rearranging the van, Cronus is making sure all systems are up, and Striker’s adjusting sites and everything on the guns, making sure everything’s got ammo, wouldn’t be a bad idea to give ‘em your guns for a quick tune up, never know, it’s been a few months.” I nodded and pulled out a few plates and put pancakes on them. “Blaze?” “He’s out scouting around. Turns out this one guy is a mob leader, and is highly dangerous. He got ‘emself a load of weapons and men to boot.”

    “Then let’s eat quickly and get on the road. We don’t wanna leave him out on his own too long.” Greg nodded before sitting down and shoving down pancake after pancake. “Hey now Greg, save some for us!” Cronus walked in and adjusted his glasses. “All systems are online; we’re just waiting for Blaze to pick up his caller.” “I’d give him about five, and then I’ll call it code red and go from there.” Striker announced as he sat down, his dog tags jingling in light. “Let’s hurry up and eat, Neo Storm, we need you to get your frontliner, you’re going in with me and Wolffang today.”
    I nodded and went back to my room and pulled out my assault rifle and slung it over my back. I shook my head and grabbed 3 pistols and 5 knives, one being placed in my sock. Rave walked into my room as I was slipping on my grip gloves. She sat on my bed and threw my bandana at me. I caught it before tying it around my neck. “Toss me that grenade would you?” Rave raised an eyebrow and looked next to her. “You have a grenade…on your nightstand?” “Just don’t ask; I got distracted at the time.” Rave picked up the grenade and tossed it at me, which I caught and put onto my belt. “Alright Rave, keep the house securely locked until I get back, don’t let anyone in, Remember, Delta and Aaron have to be at James’ by 1200 tomorrow, other than that don’t go anywhere, okay?” Rave rolled her eyes and got up. “And you mister, make sure you don’t get yourself hurt.”

    Rave walked up to me and gave me a hug before I walked back into the main room. “Alright vest, bandana, dog tags, assault rifle, other stuff, and looks like you’re clear.” Greg stood up and walked out with me as we headed towards the van. “Do you think Blaze got captured?” “Hell if I know, knowing him he’s probably torturing them more than they could possibly do to him.” I nodded as I set my rifle next to a seat. The seats were aligned next to the walls of the van, with only two small windows on each side, both covered with mesh fencing. “Alright guys let’s get this show on the road!” Striker jumped in the van along with Skyhawk. We sat down as Cronus got into the driver’s seat. “Alright ladies, take your seats, please remember to keep all hands in the vehicle at all times, if you begin to feel sick or nauseous at any time, suck it up.” We all laughed as the engine sprung to life.