Project ZEAL

Scene 27 - Swinging at a Tempest (Claado Shou)

Year: 2313 A.D.
Place: The Zenan Mainland

A deep rumbling from in the distance set Serian's body on alert. He had been looking, trudging about in search of life, some sort of human or semi-human intelligence...and judging from the sound of the screeching nearby, he had found it.

"They are here as well," Serian muttered. "The Spawn have come here as well."

He knew what this meant, of course...avoid the enemy at all costs. He had learned well enough from years of battling the creatures that the only effective way of shattering their advantage was to use heavy weapons, which he didn't have with him at the moment. Nobody had ever survived a direct encounter with one...human or otherwise.

He didn't feel like trying to challenge that conclusion.

So turning in a new direction, he continued walking...hoping, upon all other hopes, that he would somehow complete his mission before it was too late.

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"Serian! Serian, a message from the High Commander!"

Serian was ducked against a block of stone, trying to outlast a long-distance magical assault from the Spawn atop Death Peak. They had slowly eaten away at the defensive perimeter surrounding the mountain, but the main structures still held strong...which was the way that Serian wanted to keep it.

"Serian!"

The warrior and captain grabbed the message, watching with his peripheral vision as several hundred of his troops stood ready to kill or be killed. He opened the scroll, and read it silently, as if a tome from God himself.

To Serian, Captain of the Mobile Division of Defense, From the High Commander of Tyran Warfare,

it is with great pride and humility that I congratulate you on a job well-done thus far, keeping our defensive outpost intact much longer than anyone had ever thought possible. You are a shining example of what every Tyran soldier should be.

But there is a mission now at hand that only your skills may accurately accomplish.

One of our best soldiers has found it in his own best interest to abandon the front lines and join with the enemy, in hopes of prolonging his own miserable life. The Spawn are intelligent beings...should this warrior be able to give them the secrets of our base and our weaponry, then there will be no chance of us ever holding the base of the mountain, let alone defeating this wretched enemy.

Your orders are to intercept the traitor on his way up the mountain, and dispose of him with extreme prejudice. Failure to do this will result in trial and/or death. You have 72 hours.

Serian was not disturbed by this at all. He had been ordered to kill people before...in fact, over 50% of his missions prior to becoming Captain had been assassinations. He relished the opportunity to do it once again.

But then, looking at the bottom of the scroll, Serian saw one final scribble...

The traitor's name is Darius Rendath. He is your brother.

...and Serian dropped the order to the ground.

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Peering at the mountain ahead, he knew what he had to do...just as he had many times before. But this time, it was different. He had the chance to save his family from pain and suffering. He had the chance to do some good, instead of execute somebody he deemed undeserving.

So he walked forward, with a constant gaze behind him, keeping one on his eyes set firmly on the path he had come by...both physically and metaphorically.

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