Sunrise

Ilia, the tropical world. Rainforests and seas scatter the surface. This is where it starts, 
happens and ends. This is where the fate of this galaxy, and all the others, will be decided.

Thousands of years ago, the Ilians constructed the Timegates. Massive machines that could 
transport individuals from one Timeline, to another. This was their legacy to the universe. 
The Ilians disappeared from their homeworld not long after that. Leaving only ruins and 
writings that proved that they existed once. It was silent on Ilia after that

But thousands years later, the planet saw the first lights approaching the surface. Engines 
from one large spaceship, The Kobe. The world was colonized by humans. Now known as 
Terrans. named after the system the humans lived in: Terra.
The Terrans had set up their own superpower: The Northern Terran Alliance. The NTA had   
already colonized several other worlds. Ilia would be their next goal. A small settlement was 
built on Ilia by the Japanese. Every planet the NTA had discovered was colonized by one 
specific country. The Japanese were chosen to colonize this new world. The Japanese raised a 
whole civilisation in very little time. They lived in prosperity. But in time, the NTA became 
corrupt. It started to dominate every world it had colonized in a quest for power. Lead by 
Augustus Phillipus, the NTA had most of the known universe in it's power-craving hands. 
Augustus thought he was the only one who could lead the universe in an age of peace and 
prosperity. He was a megalomaniac in short. It didn't take long for the NTA to find out about 
the Timegate. They tried to use it, harvest its power for expansion of their wealth. 

But the Ilians knew that something like this was bound to happen...

There was one critical measure made:

Only one person could open the gate and unlock its secrets. Only one...

But the NTA wasn't going to give up. They threatened one small faction called the Denzi to 
build a Timegate for them. The Denzi are perhaps the most mysterious and quiet people in the 
known universe. Most of their actions are shrouded in shadows and secrecy. It is said they 
have an enormous amount of influence on the Timelines. 

So the Denzi constructed their Timegate. It worked, but the squad of Marines sent through 
was never seen again. 

This Denzi Gate was no safe mean of transport. Frustrated, Augustus ordered the whole Denzi 
faction to be executed. Then, rumours about a Prophecy filled his ears. It was said there was 
one person who could open the Gate. He had to find that one individual, at all costs. 
"For the better of the galaxy." As Augustus would say. 

Soon the door will be unlocked, the Gate will open and the Prophecy...will become reality...


Unlikely persons...

Ho-mu, the capital of Ilia (or Nihon as the new inhabitants would call their planet). It's a big 
sprawling city. Sky-high buildings and large shipdocks make this city THE trade-city of  
Eastern-Terran Space. Many pilots seek relaxation and excitement in the crowded streets. 
Large Holo-signs fill the night-sky. Bars, both big and small, provide drinks, women and the 
occasional fight.
But there's one special bar in this big city, not because of its location, not because of its name, 
but beacuse of one particular person. Sitting in a lonely corner as far away from the bar where 
all the big spenders and hot-shots are sitting. He didn't like those attention-craving guys. No 
he was just where he wanted to be: Alone in a quiet corner, clearing his mind. He had been 
sitting here for maybe 4 hours. Just because he had nowhere to go. His whole life had turned 
in one big no-man's land. In fact he was a no-man. But he didn't mind. Atleast he wouldn't be 
bothered with anything. But it was getting somewhat boring. He sipped some of his drink. It 
was strong. Ironic, he was actually too young to drink this. 17...he had been alive for more 
than 17 years. Though it felt like he was dead for 2 years now. He sighed and sipped some 
more of his drink.
A woman entered the bar. The young man immediately took notice of her. Not because it was 
unlikely that a woman would enter a bar like this, no not at all. She wore special clothing. She 
looked like a commando in that black military suit. On her back was a sword. Swords had 
become quite common after the coming of personal energy-shields. So everyone had one. 
He followed her moves, she walked over to the bar. She had a calm look on her face. But her 
eyes were...desperate. She needed help with something. She began talking to the crowd: "I'm 
looking for someone brave. Someone with skill and experience, someone who doesn't mind 
he won't get alot of..." The whole crowd started laughing, which was not completely out of 
place. Most of them were mercenaries and smugglers. Anyone coming her asking for their 
help without bringing serious money would be laughed at.  "Sure I'll help you, if you'll be the 
payment." One mercenary joked. The young man felt sorry for her, so he stood up and said : 
"I'll help you." Perhaps this would bring some excitement in his life. The same mercenary 
stood up. He was tall, taller than the young man. "You, the young bug?" The no named man 
ignored him. "Hey I'm talking to you!" The mercenary was getting agitated. "Who cares?" the 
young man responded. The mercenary wasn't going to take this lightly. He bolted towards the 
young man, ready to strike him down from behind. The man noticed, unveiled his sword, 
pulled it, and was about to slice through the mercenary's head. But he stopped, just before the 
neck. Silence filled the bar. Everyone was amazed with this sight. A small man, a boy, almost 
killing a mercenary that was one foot taller and twice his age? The man lowered his sword, a 
katana, and walked out of the bar. Followed by the woman. 

"Impressive." She said as the duo entered one of the busy streets of Ho-Mu. "Hmmm..." was 
the only response she got from the young man. He turned around and faced her: "This 
'mission' what's it about?" She sighed. This was no ordinary young man. He was so confident, 
and yet so closed. She wasn't going to find anything out about him. Not now at least.
She was silent for a couple of seconds. She broke it saying: "You ever heard of The 
Followers?" The young lad looked at her like she just said she was a vegetable. "You mean 
those guys who believe in some prophecy." They were talking about a group that beliveed in 
The Prophecy, but unlike any other normal person. They were quite...extreme in their ways. 
Ritual suicides, sacrifices and such were their fields of expertise. "And they have kidnapped 
someone you know?" The young man was fearing the worst. "Not just someone..." The 
commando replied. The young man knew enough of this prophecy to think of the person in 
question. "You mean they have the 'chosen one'" The way he said it implied he wasn't taking 
it very serious. She looked at him like she was about to slap him in the face. He adjusted the 
look on his face to a more surprised one. "You mean the prophecy is...true?" He still didn't 
believe it, but he was faking it to avoid a punch from her. "So you want me to help you 
saving...him?" "Her." She corrected him. "Oh...okay then, let's go." The young man turned 
around and started walking. "By the way," she said, "I didn't get your name." The young man 
was about to say "I never told you.". But he decided it was better to answer her for the sake of 
this mission.
"Isaac." He replied, without turning around. But he was curious about her name. So he turned 
his head and asked: "What's yours?"
"Neko, Arisu Neko."
"Cat?"
"Yes, Arisu 'Cat'..."
"Hmmm..." 

Feather in a cage

A small white feather, floating, drifting on the current of the wind. It slowly makes its way to 
the world. Gravity gets a hold of it and the feather breaks free of the current. It floats through 
a barred window and lands gently on the shoulder of a young woman. She looks to her right 
and grabs the feather, gently. She looks at it, curiously. Strange, this feather, a symbol of 
freedom. It just floats onto her shoulder. She, a prisoner of a group of lunatics. Was this some 
kind of sign? Freedom, coming to her? She had hope, for the first time in 2 long months, she 
had hope. She smiled while looking out of the barred window. The moon was smiling back at 
her. 

"So what's her name?" Isaac asked as he and Arisu were approaching the Followers' Enclave.
"Josi Sendatsu." She looked thoughtfull at the enclave. Josi had been her protégé for 15 years 
now. Arisu had always protected her, she was her godmother. And 2 months ago she had 
failed. Josi was kidnapped by the Followers and she had been searching for her ever since. 
Eventually she found her missing friend and she was going to need all the help she could get. 
But she had faith. Faith in the young man, he was an able warrior. And for some reason she 
thought he wasn't going to leave when they had Josi back. But first things first. 
"There is a door at the east of the complex, some kind of emergency-exit. I think it's open."
Arisu said, she was trying to sound convincing. "You think it's open?" Isaac was surprised of 
how 'well' this mission was planned. "Well atleast you were inside." He sighed, looking at the 
enclave. It looked more like a medieval castle. He guessed it was one of the many Ilian ruins. 
There were 4 towers, each at one corner of the building. Connected through walls that looked 
like they were made of white marble. Strange how such a beautiful place could hold such 
twisted and evil people. He checked his weapons and made his way to the enclave, cautiously.
Arisu followed his lead closely. They were approaching the door at the east. There was a 
computer-panel on the right of the door. Numbers on it, suggesting it was the lock. "I assume 
you know the code?" Isaac asked, whispering. "55672." Arisu answered, also in a whispering 
tone. Isaac entered the code and a green light turned on. The door opened up a few 
centimeters and Isaac and Arisu sneaked in. They entered a hallway, slowly walking forward.
"You know where they've locked her up?" Isaac wanted to get this over with.
"Somewhere on the west side of the building." Arisu whispered. Isaac sighed. "Well this is 
just..." He stopped himself from finishing. Maybe he was being too hard on her. There was no 
way she could know Josi's exact location. "Let's move on." Isaac lead the way deeper into the 
base, followed closely by Arisu. 

The air inside the enclave was thick and warm and there was this disgusting smell. Rotten 
meat? Realising that Josi had been in this place for quite some time Arisu speeded up her 
pace. "Arisu wait!" Isaac said that a bit too loud. A guard was just walking by and 
immediately noticed Isaac. He was holding a deadly Plasma-rifle and was about to fire a 
deadly charge right at Isaac. "Oh crap..." This wasn't looking good. Arisu quickly intervened 
and smacked the guard down to the floor with one fast move. She picked up the guards 
weapon. Casually...
"Impressive..." Isaac said. 
"Thanks..."

Josi sighed. She was looking out of her window. Staring at the stars, counting them. 
There was someone at the other side of the door. She turned around and grabbed the wooden 
chair next to her. This could mean her chance to escape. She stood against the wall right next 
to the door. The door slowly opened. Josi was ready to strike. "Hel..." Josi rammed the chair 
in the face of whoever was saying that. The person fell to the floor and cursed. Josi didn't 
even care to look who she had smacked down and began to run. But she bumped into Arisu 
almost immediately. "Josi?" Arisu was so happy to see her long lost friend. "Arisu!!" Josi 
yelled and the two friends hugged eachother. "Ooh man..." Isaac got up from the ground. He 
checked to see if his nose was still in one piece. "Oh sorry." Josi said when she saw Isaac 
wasn't one of the Followers. "Are you all right?" She was so sorry and embarrased. 
"Never been better." Isaac let a out a short moan. "We should get going before they know 
we're here." Arisu advised. "Good plan."

The trio quickly made their way back into the hallway. A few meters were between them and 
a successful mission. Almost near the door. A mechanical sound began echoing through the 
hallway and the door closed. One by one, the lights went on. Someone began applauding. 
"Nice, very nice." A man stepped out of the shadows. Unveiled himself. No doubt he was the 
leader. "Well, almost nice, considering you didn't get out." He looked at Josi. "Oh lovely Josi, 
the thought of losing you pains me." A group of five men was standing behind him, armed 
and ready. Arisu chuckled. "Only five?" She said. "Well, don't get too brave here. These are 
my elite soldiers." The man said confident. Isaac slowly put his hand on his sheath, reaching 
for his katana. The man quickly raised a weapon: "I would not try that if I were you." 
Then Arisu rammed her fist into the man's kidney. He cried out in pain. Isaac pulled his 
sword. The five men began firing immediately. Isaac dodged bullets, blocking them with his 
blade. Lead was richocheting all around. He stabbed into the first of five, taking him out with 
one precise stab through the heart. The ribcage wasn't enough to stop the razor sharp metal. 
He blocked another another bullet rain. And sliced through the second soldier. He fell to the 
floor. Paralyzed because his nervesystem was cut by the neck. The third one attempted to 
block the incoming katana with his weapon. But it just sliced through, and through his right 
hand. He screamed out in pain. Silenced by one quick stab in the chest. The two remaining 
soldiers weren't going to take Isaac on. They looked at eachother and began running for their 
lives.   

The leader was getting up from the floor. He just had missed one of the fastest fights ever. He 
was immediately welcomed by a gun held by Arisu. "The key..." She said. The man reached 
in his pocket and grabbed a small key-card. He gave it to Arisu who punched him 
unconscious with the butt of the gun. Arisu opened the door with the card. Josi was still a 
bit...shocked by what just happened. The two left the Enclave, followed by Isaac. He stopped 
because he noticed something unusual. He was looking at what looked like an NTA-badge on 
one of the bodies. Stolen? Or was the dead man...working for the NTA. If he was, Isaac 
wouldn't be left alone anylonger. He had to be more careful now.

He quickly resumed his path. Arisu had already started up the hovercar. Isaac jumped in and 
they lifted up. Arisu engaged the thrusters and the car flew away, to the horizon. 

"So, what do we do now?" Isaac asked. Arisu smiled a bit, she was right. He was going to stay 
for a while. Josi leaned over to Isaac. He had a nasty cut above his right eye, probably from 
the chair. She gently touched the wound. "Hey cut that out!" Isaac pushed her hand away. "No 
let me see." Josi insisted. She got a handkerchief and wiped some blood of Isaac's face. 
"We'll go and get some food first. I know a small restaurant." Arisu answered Isaac's question, 
though a little late. She adjusted the hovercar's course, turned it on auto-pilot and sat back.

Memories, revelations, mysteries...

"That was really brave." Josi thanked Isaac.
The trio sat in the drive-by restaurant. The ride didn't take very long. But it was long enough 
for Isaac to set some things straight in his mind: "What was?" He said after a few seconds.
"You freed me." 
"Ah, it was nothing, all part of the job." Isaac sipped some of his coffee, he guessed that it 
was cappucino, though he wasn't entirely sure. He wasn't really interested in Josi.
She knew this and tried to push a little: 
"Yes it was. You risked you own life while saving mine. And you're not even asking for a 
reward."
"Hmm...I did what had to be done." Isaac stared out of the window. Josi was completely 
puzzled by him. He was no ordinary person. No, he had seen something, something horrible,  
it was a dark spot in his heart. A wound, barely healed. She didn't knew what he had seen. But 
you could see it in his eyes: war, sorrow, death. 
Isaac was thinking: Damn, it must be hard for her, people are expecting so much from her.
Though he didn't believe the Prophecy yet, he knew what it was like, a big responsibility.
His thoughts continued: Should I stick with them? Not that I have anything else to do and it 
looks like I'll be stuck on this rock for quite some time. 
He looked at Arisu, strange. She would guard Josi with her life. He had never encountered 
something like this before. So much loyalty, so much faith, so much...love. The two of them 
really believed in this mission. Then...could this whole prophecy...
Isaac stopped himself from jumping to conclusions. 
He looked at Josi. It seemed that she was glowing, glowing from...from. He couldn't descrbe 
it. He shifted his thoughts and turned his look to Arisu: "So what's your story?" He asked, 
completely out of nowhere. Arisu looked somewhat surprised. 
"Well...where should I start?" She said.
"When did you join the NTA?" The answer came very reapidly.
"What? How do you know that I had joined the NTA?"
Isaac clarified himself: "Your sheath, is made of Trilinium. It has the Shadow symbol carved 
into it." Isaac knew that the symbol stood for the NTA Spec-Ops. "Hmm..." Was the only 
sound Arisu could make. She had never met anyone that could tell half of her background by 
looking at her sheath. "Yes...yes I was a member of one of their Spec-Ops teams. I served the 
NTA for 8 years..." She stopped, just before telling more. Isaac could see why, Arisu had 
trouble telling him about her past. Like pulling out an arrow from her shoulder. So he decided 
he shouldn't ask for any more.

It was getting colder outside. Isaac sighed. He could see his own breath coming out of his 
mouth. He was sitting on a rock next to the hovercar. Looking at the sun as it began to hide 
behind the mountains. He was clearing his mind from every thought. Feeling the air flowing 
in and out of his longues. He liked this, being alone, looking at the sunset. 
"Hey..." Josi sat down next to him. Isaac responded with something that sounded like : "Hm."
She was hoping for a conversation to start. She was interested in her savior. But all she got 
was a young man looking at the sun. So she did the same. It was truly a breathtaking sight. 
The sun colored the sky around it orange. It slowly made its way behind the mountains that 
were covered with trees. There were a few clouds hanging above Isaac and Josi. Perhaps it 
was going to rain soon. She looked at Isaac. His look turned from serious to a surprised one.
He stood up. Was he sure? Josi wondered what was so strange. She looked in the direction 
Isaac was looking. A black shadow came over the mountain. A silhouette. It climbed and 
dived towards the restaurant. The rumbling of engines filled the valley. Arisu came outside, 
wondering what that noise was. She would soon find out...
The silhouette launched something, two somethings. Isaac gasped. Two missiles ignited their 
rocket-engines and began closing the gap between themselves and the restaurant. 
"GET DOWN!!!" Isaac threw himself over Josi. The two projectiles propelled themselves into 
the restaurant and blasted the poor building apart with an enormous explosion. Wood cut 
through the air like blades. and the shockwave threw Arisu in the air. Josi got up. Wondering 
what just happened and where Isaac was. He was busy starting up the hovercar. She jumped 
in and the car lifted up. The silhouette, which turned out to be a gunship, fired a rain of lasers. 
Isaac steered the hovercar around it and steered it towards Arisu. She just got up from the 
ground. A nasty cut in her left arm. She jumped up and landed in the hovercar like a cat.
Isaac engaged the thrusters and the hovercar blasted away from the charred, smoking remains 
of the restaurant. The Gunship quickly began pursuit

"Strap yourselves in!" Isaac pushed his foot down.

Arisu grabbed her pistol in an attempt to fend of the attacking gunship. She was a cunning 
markswoman. But sitting in the back of a hovercar was something new for her, and a Gunship 
was not an ordinary bird. Isaac was going for the forest he saw earlier. But the Gunship was 
not making his attempt easy. Firing its lethal rounds. There was a bridge in front of them. 
Isaac hoped he could clear it safely. The Gunship took notice and plowed a missile into it. 
Isaac kicked his foot down on the air-brake. Stopping centimetersaway from the hole created 
by the explosive projectile. Left of him was a canyon. A very deep one. He didn't even care to 
look into it and turned the hovercar away from the gaping hole. "Nice flying!" Arisu said. 
Isaac didn't know whether it was sarcasm or that she really meant it. Another barrage of 
lasers. Arisu fired a few rounds, merely scratching their pursuer. If she could just hit one of 
the engines. Josi was keeping her head down. Isaac steered the car onto a mountainpass. The 
pass was only a few meters wide. The side of the mountain at the left, absolutely nothing at 
the right. The Gunship fired unstoppable. Though missing his target he created massive 
avalanches. Rocks the size of vans rained from above. The car had reached the top of the 
mountain and would now make its way down. The road leading to the foot of the rock was 
luckily somewhat easier than the one going up. This road would lead them to a small town: 
Point Jinkei. Seeing this, the pilot of the gunship fired his last missile in an attempt to stop the 
hovercar. Chasing it in the town would be much more difficult than here on the mountainpass.
The missile proppelled itself just behind the hovercar. Plowing into the mountain, it struck 
gold. Not a direct hit, but it did send the hovercar flying. It landed on it's main thruster, 
damaging it severely. Isaac cursed. It was now impossible to fly this hovercar properly. 
He hit a tree and rammed through a fence. He got on Jinkei's main road. 

"New car?" A man was admiring the new Toyota Supra his friend just bought.
"Yeah, it goes like the wind. 450 KP/H, 0 to 100 in 3 seconds." The other man bragged about 
his newest toy. Though it was a nice looking hovercar. Dark metallic red, sporty look.
"Son of a bi..." Isaac cursed. Having no control whatsoever, the hovercar steered itself to the 
Toyota. "No not the..." The man cried...The hovercar rammed the new car. Completely 
destroying it. It made one corkscrew, landed one the ground and grinded the street a few 
hundred meters. It came to a halt when it hit a lamppost. 

Isaac immediately turned to Josi. "Are you alright?" Josi was fine, some cuts and bruises.
She was still a bit shaken up though. "You?" He turned to Arisu, who turned out to be fine 
too. He got out, not even noticing he had a large, deep wound in his right side. Blood was 
dripping from every part of his body. But he didn't care, al he cared about was the gunship at 
the other end of the street. It was hovering there, it's weapons eagerly awaiting the command 
of the pilot. Isaac slowly raised his hand and grabbed the handle of his blade. Lifting it from 
its sheath he thought he could see the pilot's eyes. His katana was now fully unveiled. He 
raised it, pointing it at the pilot. A threat? Against a gunship? Or he was completely out of his 
mind, or he was a brilliant swordsman. Or he could be both...
The pilot thought this was a threat and opened fire. Bolts of energy screamed around Isaac. he 
only dodged the ones that were coming a bit too close. The pilot stopped the energy-rain. It 
was now time for his opponent to attack. Isaac slowly walked forward. Between the two there 
were only a few cars, some burning. Isaac speeded up his pace. Faster and faster, clsoing the 
gap between him and the gunship that had chased him for too long. A battle cry escaped his 
mouth and he jumped on a bus, using the wreckage of a car as help. He ran up to the end of 
the bus and jumped. The Gunship fired a few rounds. The bus exploded moments after Isaac 
caught air. Sound faded away, his surroundings faded away. It was just him...him and the 
flying piece of metal containing a human. Landing on the cockpit, he pierced his blade 
through the gunship's canopy. Probably piercing it through the pilot as well, because the ship 
stopped hovering over the ground and crashed down with a loud bang. Metal and sparks 
flying everywhere. Smoke and dust filled the street. Arisu and Josi were still wondering how 
Isaac could pull something like that off. The smoke eventually faded away. Leaving the 
wreckage of the gunship and Isaac, who was still standing in the same pose when he landed 
on their former pursuer. He pulled his katana out of the canopy, blood and something fleshy 
dripping from it. He cleaned it using a piece of his sleeve. Not that it helped because that was 
also covered with blood. He placed the blade back in its sheath and jumped off the wreckage.
He walked towards Josi and Arisu, like nothing had happened. But then he stopped. Feeling a 
sudden pain in his right side. He touched the wound, looked at his hand. Blood...
He took one final look at Josi and Arisu, and blacked out. 

Start...

That was it, the start. They wouldn't be safe anymore. The NTA would hunt them down 
relentlessly. Arisu sighed. She looked out of the window. They were on the 6th floor of the 
Jinkei Hospital. Isaac had been in a coma for 4 days. Good thing the NTA wasn't that popular 
in these regions. She looked at him. Who seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Bandage around 
his head, neck, and most other parts of his body. It was a wonder he didn't collapse right at the 
beginning, the doctors said. Josi sat next to the bed, asleep. Her head resting on the mattress.
Arisu sighed and went out of the room to get a cup of coffee. A few coins in the machine and 
not lng after a dark brown liquid was filling a cup. She sipped some of it and looked at her 
side. Two men were sitting in the corridor. Just like yesterday, and the day before. She would 
have to keep a close eye on Josi and Isaac. 
She didn't like this, this situation. She could handle those two men, but that wasn't the point. 
Eventually, the NTA would send more men. More and more. They had an endless supply of 
men willing to die for some cause. And that freaked her out. The blind loyalty, the devotion. It 
was almost a religion. Those soldiers, were the most dangerous. Just because of that. They 
would keep coming for their 'God', the Emperor. 

"What of the pilot?" Augustus talked about the pilot like he had lost a brother.
"His skull was split into two, my lord." Haro Takoma, his right hand enlightened him. "Bring 
his remains here." Augustus ordered. "Yes my lord." Haro answered, not knowing sure for 
what reason his emperor wanted the corpse.
He got up from his knees, bowed one more time and turned around. The 8 meter, silver doors 
opened up by themselves as Haro approached them. 
"One more thing." Haro thought he was done. "I want that girl." The emperor spoke again. 
Haro turned around: "What of her companions?" It took a few seconds for the emperor to 
answer: "Eliminate them." Two words, strange how cold it sounded out of his mouth. Maybe 
it was the room that made them sound cold. Haro bowed: "Yes my lord."
He sighed, relieved he could finally leave the room. 

Odd, he didn't expect his future to be like this. Haro went on one of his journeys through his 
mind. If that one day...if his father...But he couldn't do a damn thing about it. He sighed, he 
should stop thinking about that. He wasn't really Augustus right hand, but he was paying a 
debt his father made. His father...one sweet memory, enough to give his life just a spark of 
happiness. He walked down the stairs. White, marble. Everything here was made with the 
most expensive and beautiful materials. He walked through the two front doors, big, ivory 
white, and left the Sanctuary. 

A corridor, dark. The only light came from the other end. It was a strange place. What is this? 
Where is this? Suddenly the light came towards him like a train at full speed, he thought he 
was going to die. Wind rushed past him like a tornado. Isaac opened his eyes. His eyesight 
was completely blurred. His whole body felt like it was in a 1 x 1 baggage compartment. And 
he had this terrible headache. He tried to get up, but the pain in his body kept him down. The 
beeping in his ear became a whole set of different tones. They started to take shape, structure. 
And he thought he recognized a familiar voice. "Isaac!" Josi yelled. She hugged him. "Watch 
it...watch it." Isaac was still in alot of pain. Arisu walked in the room. Her face was filled with 
excitement. She smiled. A doctor rushed in, almost crashing into Arisu. He immediately 
began checking the patient. Eyes, ears, everything. "We thought we had lost you there for a 
minute." The doctor shared Josi's excitement. "Me too..." Isaac's voice was faint, but atleast he 
was talking. 

The recovery of the patient went fast. He walked in mere hours. It was stunning. Sure, there 
were some ups and downs. But in one week, Isaac had recovered from most of his wounds. 
He was finally allowed to wear his own clothes, rather than the typical hospital-clothes with 
the open back. Isaac was busy putting his trousers on and was about to grab a sweater Arisu 
got him. His re-enforced body-armour had been completely destroyed after the hovercar 
crash. But this would do...for now. Josi walked in. She looked curiously at Isaac, who was 
staring out of the window. She could see his back. His body was muscular, and scars were 
outnumbering his healthy tissue. There was still a bandage covering the wound in his right 
side. He suddenly turned around. Josi stepped back, afraid she had done something wrong. 
Isaac covered his body, hiding the scars. He didn't say anything, but the look in his eyes told 
Josi enough. She saw something no one wasn't allowed to see. She stepped backwards and left 
the room. 
Where did those come from? He is about my age, yet his body seems like it has been alive for 
50 years. Josi walked to the elevator, wondering. She pushed the button that said "Call." and 
waited for the elevator to comply. Isaac walked out of his room, fully dressed. He saw josi 
standing in front of the elevatordoors. The way she was standing, filled with guilt. A pose he 
had seen a thousand times, looking in a mirror. He sighed and walked over to her.
He looked at his right, casually. He stopped. Two men were standing a few meters away from 
Josi and him. "Oh there you are!" Arisu saw Isaac standing. He didn't say anything, he just 
looked at the two men. The elevator doors opened with the typical beep and the three walked 
in. 

No one said a thing as the elevator brought them to the groundfloor. Isaac decided to break 
the silence: "So? Where do we go from here? Isn't there some special place you need to go 
to?" The question was directed to Josi. "Well...Yes, but there is a slight problem..." 
The elevator stopped and the doors opened with the same beep. "What problem...?" 
"It's not exactly here..." Josi answered. "Well, then we get a new hovercar." Isaac solved the 
problem. "No I meant...not on this world." Isaac was silent for a while. "Hmmm..." This 
reaction implied that he didn't see that as a big problem. "Then we have to find a ship, and a 
pilot brave enough to break through the blockade." They entered the lobby and walked out of 
the hospital. Isaac stopped and turned his head. The two men were following them.
"We need to get out of here fast." He whispered. "I know." Arisu said. 
They entered a small alley that would lead them to the town's square. Birds took the skies as 
the trio set foot on the street. They continued forward, crossing the square. The two men were 
still following. Suddenly another pair of men blocked their way. More men came out of every 
direction. Soldiers. NTA soldiers. Isaac reached for his blade. 12...13 men were surrounding 
them. "A bit unfair....just a bit." Isaac thought as he looked the soldiers in the eyes, one by 
one. Arisu also raised her katana, ready to strike down any man stupid enough to attack. 
Tension was growing. Who was going to attack first? The flock of pigeons that flew away, 
returned to the place they had just left. They set down on the ground, not knowing a fight was 
about to ignite. The water flowing out of the fountain in the middle was actually relaxing. A 
crowd was forming around the square. Something like this wasn't happening every day. 
When was this going to start? Who would win? Isaac was pretty confident of himself. So was 
Arisu. This confidence was the one thing the soldiers feared. Their two enemies had this 
certainty in their eyes. And this was further building up the tension. Sweat was breaking out 
by one of the soldier. His finger was trembling around the trigger. He couldn't handle it 
anymore. He squeezed the trigger, a 5.56 mm ionized bullet picked up speed and left the 
barrel. It was going for Josi, but with one really fast slice, Arisu cut the bullet in half. Sending 
one half just over Josi's head, and the other one between her legs. Josi ducked.
Then the whole group started firing upon the trio. Isaac and Arisu were blocking bullets like 
maniacs. Isaac jumped forward and severed an arm. He blocked another rain of lead and 
pierced his blade through a soldier's heart. 
"Cease fire!" The whole group obeyed immediately to this command. A man walked slowly 
forward, casually. There was something about this walk, something powerful, a force hidden 
by this walk. He beckoned the soldiers to back off. 
This strange man stopped and started talking : "Takoma, Haro Takoma. Pleased to meet you." 
He gave a hand to Isaac. He didn't move a muscle, what could he expect from this man?
"I've heard some great things about you, took out a gunship using nothing but your blade. 
Impressive."
"Thank you." Isaac's mouth was the only thing moving.
"And then we have...Arisu." Haro looked Arisu in the eyes and slimed. Arisu was not amused 
and Haro could see that. "Very well then..." Haro took off his coat. Unveiling a blade, body 
armour, and a powerful looking pistol. He took out his blade, a katana. Not very uncommon 
here. He slowly raised it, pointing it at Isaac, who was ready for anything. This fight would go 
between Isaac and Haro so Arisu lowered her katana and checked to see if Josi was alright. 
She was fine, although a bit scared. They gave room for the two men to start their fight.

Isaac closed his eyes, raised his blade and took one deep breath...

Written by : IXI, aka Isaak Kraft van Ermel
Thanks to : Kopaka Metru aka Brenden Wilson, the one and only Red Baron.
                     Creator of the Kanohi, for joining our little collective.
                     Kapola Nuva, starter of the original .Space Stories.
                     Spongebob Squarepants, founder of the BZP .Space.