The Story of Remnant II: SPART205

The gun-wielder. A deadly military force. While Remnant 1 stood a warrior to the people of Argen, the Kingslayer, the master of the blades, Remnant 2 stood a soldier. Efficiency and battle, through countless trials as a cybernetic soldier to ASCENSION, Benjamin Fong codename SPART205, sought to avenge his fallen brothers and sisters to the Iron Council.

Very few lived to tell the tale after being the receiving end to the smoking barrels of Remnant 2's weapons of destruction. While Arman and Lucius fought together, and learned more about themselves in the country of Corinth, Ben walked his own journey. Alongside Remnant 15, Jonathan Ko, Ben would face tomorrow, by facing his past. His inner demons from who he was before the cybernetic surgery, before the implants, and before his new awakening as a soldier to ASCENSION, to learn about who he will be in the future. As the gun to the Remnants of Decen, in his final battle against Mogul, the Prime Aspect of Sin.

Chapter 1.0

OBJECTIVES: Secure weapons, Meet with SCT216
SIDE OBJECTIVE: Establish means of travel

"This is as far as I can take you, kid. We can't hold any more, I'm sorry." The driver of the truck told me. I woke up from my nap.

"Thanks old man." I told the driver.

"I'm thirty." The driver responded.

I ignored him and got off the truck, continuing the rest of my journey by foot. The sun was blazing, but my endoskeleton conditioning systems kicked in, providing my body with a gentle spritz of cool air. I wasn't allowed to bring in weapons from my time here, meaning whatever weapons I have in my arsenal, are the ones I obtain in this timeline.

You heard correctly, I'm not from this time.

I belong to the human resistance organization ASCENSION. Class SPARTAN, designation, 205. I am a soldier to the Human Resistance Effort, or HRE, against the alien civilization who had invaded my world, the Iron Council. Their technology, far beyond ours, had managed to travel back in time, and eliminated many of us. Despite that, we kept fighting. Because that's in our nature. Because we are human. Even if we are part machine, grafted from the ASCENSION soldier operation, we had our humanity.

My current objective was to rendezvous with fellow ASCENSION member, William Lockhart, SCT216. If all went according to plan, he would have rescued the college research team who would one day develop the technology that enabled us to battle the Iron Council to a stalemate: cybernetics. At least, until they developed the technology to travel back in time. Rather than build our own tech, we stole theirs. A squad was sent back in time, including me. The squad was comprised of three members: SCT216 (Will), SPART205 (Me), and SENTL802 (Francine).

Dirty huh? Well, in the end of the day, you can't fight a war without getting your hands dirty. No matter how high up the chain you are. That's just how it is. Will was tasked to find the college kids, while Francine was tasked to locate the reactor core. You might be wondering, why did you get a SENTINEL tank class to do the locating, and the SCOUT class to do the protecting? Well, as it turns out, Will is a lot of a better fighter than Francine, and Francine is the best tracker/stealth fighter I had ever seen. Combined with her buff, tanky build, she was the ultimate supertank.

As for me, I was tasked to find Will, and eventually assist him, and lead the two to the reactor core, where we would send the team into another parallel timeline, for which they can continue to develop their technology that would eventually create us, before the Iron Council's stupid alien sentries get them.

I entered a bar on the side, walking through. There were a bunch of big burly guys, standing at 6 4, 6 5. I probably looked like a stick to them, being only 5 8. But I couldn't care less. I could kill them all if I really wanted to. Considering my cybernetic implants, my bench, deadlift, and squat maxes were orders of magnitudes greater than theirs. My reflexes and technique, implanted into my combat protocol, honed and refined. All I needed was a gun, and I'd be unstoppable.

And that's what I needed, along with a drink.

"ID please." The bartender frowned at me. She probably was my face and thought I was too young and underaged. I took out my ID, fake, obviously, and handed it to her. The woman took my order, as I sat in the bar alone.

At least, for a moment. Because a couple of racists immediately went up to me.

"Say kid, got any cash on you?"

"No, just credit. Why?" I responded, nonchalantly, continuing my drink.

"You probably have a lot, considering you're probably a doctor. Or a lawyer. Daddy's money from your corrupt government? Eh? What y'all think?!" The racist turned to his goons, who all laughed.

I forgot that racism was still a thing back then. Here, you were valued for just simply being a human. But I guess the irony was that things were a lot simpler in the future, than they are now. It takes war, bloodshed, trauma, for mankind to realize how precious their comrades are.

Humans truly are a pathetic species.

I turned around. "I don't have a lot of money. So F off."

The burly dude raised his eyebrows. "Jackie Chan here wants a fight? What are you gonna do? One inch punch me?"

The racist slammed his fist on the table, knocking the glass over. My drink spilled all over. Everybody in the bar was looking at us, but not saying anything. Some began to pull out their phones, to post on Insta. This fool wanted a fight, completely oblivious to the fact that he was essentially asking for a death contract.

The guy continued. "Try something, Jackie Chan. I'll f*** you up. Bust your fragile little pretty boy face up."

I got to my feet, and faced the biker. "You don't want this fight. But I don't mind, I can take your stuff." I pointed at the biker's AK and Desert Eagle.

The guy's eyes narrowed, and shoved me, to no effect. I was as tough as a steel wall. The shove bounced off harmlessly.

I had enough fun, I needed to get some supplies. I just so happened to have run into this bumbling idiot, who had just so happened to be the things I needed. Clothes and guns.

I grabbed the guy's face and slammed his skull against the side of the table, cracking and splintering it. His goons backed off. Blood leaked to the floor.

"It was fun" I said, stripping the guy's leather jacket, and putting it on. It was a little big for me. Dammit. I threw the jacket on the ground. Whatever, the guns were still useful. I took both his AK and his Desert Eagle, then fired the Desert Eagle into the air, causing everybody to scatter.

The goons all drew their guns and aimed at me.

I smiled, and held the AK in my right, the Desert Eagle in my left, imbuing the guns with Nano-Power. STARBOARD loading up in my HUD vision, several reticles having already focused on all eight of the attackers.

Chapter 1.1

OBJECTIVES: Eliminate the threat, Meet with SCT216
SIDE OBJECTIVE: Establish means of travel

The goons began firing, but I had already slipped away, strafing along the side, the AK peppering the bikers with energy, my Desert Eagle picking off the further targets with flawless accuracy. I always had incredible marksmanship, maybe I was just too talented.

Within the seconds, all the enemies were dispatched.

I walked to one of the goons, and dug out their wallet as well as their keys, ripping away a wad of cash, and threw it at the bartender.

"Keep the tip."

I left the bar.

"ASTRO, locate corresponding vehicle to these keys."

"Motorcycle located."

I went up to the bike, and slotted it in, revving the engine. My HUD sent a marker to the rendezvous, estimating a very long ETA. It didn't matter, as long as this bike didn't run on gas. I held out my forearm, which contained several angled indents. I pressed down, and the compartment expanded, revealing a container, like a magazine. These were typically used for weapon augmentation, but could be used on other forms of technology.

I placed the clip next to the motorcycle, as it began to rumble, expanding into a massive network of components, merging with the bike. Within seconds, my bike was fully upgraded, similar to the ones we used in ASCENSION. The engine revved with the nuclear reactor core that kept me alive, several glass windows encasing the outside, STARBOARD interacting with these windows and transferring the HUD interface onto the window.

The back shifted, click clacked, as the exhaust transformed into a slit, humming with cyan energy from my core, ready for explosive travel.

I revved the handles to the ASCENSION upgraded bike, the sounds of the engines powering up with the new power source, and blasted forward, the exhaust leaving behind a trail of cyan light as I zoomed to the marker indicated on STARBOARD.

The college team that 216 was extracting were a group of engineering undergraduates, science undergraduates, and pre-medical students. There were seven of them in total. They were always a well performing team, completing projects efficiently. Easily. Like a well oiled machine. Because there was so much synergy with the people there.

How do I know this?

Because out of those undergraduates, was one boy. One boy who would eventually grow up to see the conception of cybernetics, to have the very technology he had worked with his team grafted onto his skeleton.

That boy was me.

From the past.

Chapter 1.2

OBJECTIVES: Meet with SCT216
SIDE OBJECTIVE: Explain my life to you brainlets.

I continued driving on the roadway, when suddenly, STARBOARD detected nearby civilians. I couldn't let them see this technology.

"ASTRO, disguise."

ASTRO converted my motorcycle into the conventional shape and size akin to technology of this era. I tapped on a module on my neck, an implant, and the module around my collarbone expanded into a helmet. The STARBOARD interface migrated to my helmet, providing me with a map, graphs of my internals, graphs of the motorcycle's internals, and several diagnostic parameters along the side.

You probably have a lot of questions. I don't blame you. I kind of just threw a bunch of information at you hoping you would digest it all. I wasn't expected you to. Because my life has been... complicated. To say the least.

I was a human. I started off as one, anyway. When I worked with my team, we were tasked to develop a biomechanics project to aid in allowing disabled or weakened people to do more labor intensive tasks. The project also aimed to a prosthetics market. However, as most projects evolved, so did ours, and eventually at some point, we developed a powerful basis, groundbreaking I guess, for efficient cybernetics integration. More advanced researchers took over from there, and what started with a mere concept and prototype, expanded into a full blown tier of new patents and designs.

You might be thinking I'm old as hell. Because I was one of the undergrads who worked on this thing. But let me continue, because what I'm going to tell you now is... going to mess with your head a bit.

At some point, when we were expected to demo our concept, I was late to the presentation. Rushing to the building, I encountered something strange. Like the dumbass I was, I approached it, and it turned out that this object... this singularity, was a portal. I had no idea what it was at the time, and I still don't. I don't know why it was there. But I walked up to it to see, yes you can call me an idiot for doing so, but I was curious. But the moment my hand approached it, everything, and I mean everything around me. Elongated. I watched as my life flashed before my very eyes. Growing old, my hands shriveling up... but then unshrivelling. Just as fast as I watched myself age, did my body de-age, as I emerged through the portal in a world that was not my time.

I was basically thrust forward in time, to the future. Yeah. It sounds crazy, I know.

I was taken in by a bunch of survivors, and it turned out in the future, mankind was at war with an alien race known as the Iron Council. Aliens who utilized a mix of both extremely advanced technology, and I guess I shouldn't say this, but supernatural technology. It's hard to explain, I guess it probably takes seeing one face to face to understand. I spent years in HRE and later became a soldier to ASCENSION.

Coming back in time, to see my past self, is all kinds of trippy. But the good news is I've lived my life in the past before. Meaning I'm used to the technology here. Can't say the same for 216 and 802, who probably don't even know how to operate a phone.

Chapter 1.3

OBJECTIVES: Wait for SCT216
SIDE OBJECTIVE: None

So I arrived early. 216 and the brats were still nowhere to be seen. I parked the motorcycle by the house, and pulled out the magazine, reintegrating it back in my forearm. The motorcycle's tech disappeared, returning back to my forearm.

The house was run down, with no facilities. But I was sure once 216 was here, he probably brought a few supplies. I didn't need any, being sustained by my core, but the brats probably needed sustenance.

I went to a nearby window, cleaning it off, when suddenly a migraine hit my brain.

I grumbled and stumbled back, clutching my temple. During the procedure, the doctor had told me that I would suffer occasional migraines, although he wasn't entirely sure why. As almost all soldiers he had operated on never had this problem. He guessed I was probably just "wired differently".

I sat on the ground, and held out my hand, which transformed into a gauntlet, the components within my endoskeleton diffusing out of my skin and clacking in place, creating a hologram projector out of the palm. STARBOARD's interface appeared in a warm cyan glow.

I browsed the media, to reacquaint myself in the world that was my current present. News, politics, trending topics. I had forgotten so many of these things, what humans had prioritized before the Iron Council had invaded our atmosphere.

I scrolled down with my free hand. A new election debate, the comments on Twitter popping off. An actor had been accused for acts of racism and misogyny, from tweets he had posted twenty years ago. For people to search them up and have them resurfaced. From the post he had written, it looked like he had lost his job because of this "cancel culture".

If I was told that humanity would be brought to the brink of defeat against the Iron Council, despite our advancements in technology, I would have had a hard time believing it. But seeing the numerous double standards held in today's paradigm of social media, made me question my judgement. While humans are capable of such advancements, they're also capable of being the most degenerate swine imaginable.

It's little times like these where I was happy that I was no longer considered a human in the eyes of the machines.

I spent the day browsing the web when suddenly the ground began to rumble. I quickly turned off my projector, and ran to the counter, picking up my AK and my Desert Eagle. I had initially suspected it would be an earthquake, but this vibration was different. I walked to the window, and my eyes widened.

"No way..."

Because what I saw... was exactly what I had seen from when I was pulled forward in time. The beginning of the end.

A massive spaceship emerged from the clouds, larger than anything I had ever seen, millions of pods coming from it, like locusts. But these were no locusts. Each pod contained a platoon of alien soldiers.

The Iron Council was here. I watched as the pods overtook the skies, several of them circling my house.

Chapter 1.4

OBJECTIVES: Wait for SCT216
SIDE OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE

Regular ass bullets wouldn't do shit to these things. It was time to ascend.

I pulled out two magazines, and slotted them into my guns. My AK transformed, turning into the ASCENSION standard assault rifle, and my Desert Eagle, into the ASCENSION standard assault sidearm. STARBOARD began initializing, with ASTRO, the AI notifying me about the system change.

"Standard protocol readjusted, switch to ASSAULT MODE: Precept Code - SPARTAN"

As a SPARTAN, my weapons focused more on a mix of weaponry. My assault rifle served had a heavy shotgun firing mode, meaning it was capable of both short range and mid range combat. My sidearm also possessed similar configs: short range shotgun Desert Eagle, and long ranged mode.

I exited the house, and aimed my rifle at the pods that were descending down on the house. I had no idea why they found me. They must had figured out we used the time displacement device, and pinpointed my location. I could only hope 216 and 802 weren't overwhelmed. Actually, scratch that. I hope 216 wasn't overwhelmed. The dumbass had to not only worry about himself, but the undergrad team. At least 802 was tough as nails, it took a lot more than a few squads of pods to take her crazy ass down.

I began firing, bolts of cyan energy bullets cutting down a third of the pods that were coming my way. The pods began returning fire, green lances of energy coming down at me. I quickly evaded, strafing and acrobatically dodging, accounting for the shockwaves that those bullets were capable of delivering. All the while, keeping my aiming reticle focused on each pod.

Every bullet fired, hitting its mark. Full efficiency, no shot wasted.

The sky was streaked by cyan and green as we exchanged fire. Eventually, the pods invading my turf were eliminated, shells of destroyed alien matter. I aimed my rifle around, scanning for enemies using the STARBOARD interface. There were still a ton of pods being released from the mothercraft, and from the distance I could hear the sounds of screaming and chaos.

My objective was to stay in the cabin, until SCT216 arrived with the VIP's. But there was something about seeing those pods in the city... it wasn't a precept. In fact, I don't even think it was part of our programming. Because quite frankly, it was always get the job done, no questions asked.

But seeing those pods, something inside me began to override my protocol.

Like a thirst.

A thirst for a fight.

For a war.

Chapter 1.5

OBJECTIVES: Wait for SCT216
SIDE OBJECTIVE: Eliminate the invasion

I climbed onto my motorcycle, swapping out the magazine in my sidearm and inserting it into the bike, transforming it into the SPARTAN cycle. I didn't care about concealing the tech anymore, considering everybody was probably freaking out over the Iron Council. I strapped the sidearm onto my belt, and slung my SPARTAN rifle along my back. Revving up the engines, I zoomed to the direction of the city. Of course, ASTRO began flipping out.

"Warning: Deviation from Objective."

"Forget the objective, set side objective: eliminate the threat."

"Acknowledged."

I smiled. SCT216 was probably in delay anyway. I didn't mind taking a stroll to the city to fight these guys. I'd been dying to see some action since returning back to this timeline.

As my cycle continued its journey, I could make out the outlines of several pods flying in parallel to my trajectory, firing lances of green light at civilians. I took out my rifle in one arm, aiming the crosshairs at the enemies, and began firing. Two of the five pods were sent hurtling into the ground in a green explosion, the remaining three pods turning to me.

I zig-zagged across the city, driving the cycle with one arm, and spraying down Iron Council foot soldiers with the other. Slowly, I was amassing a ton of pods and soldiers on my tail, and stopped by cycle. Turning around. I got off, and took out the magazine, slotting it back into my sidearm.

I dual wielded both weapons and faced the large army of Iron Council invaders, imbuing both guns with Nano-power. My eyes instinctively marking down every single enemy, hundreds upon hundreds of crosshairs immediately lighting up in my STARBOARD interface.

"Let's go." I said, as the army charged.

I brought my foot back, and fired my weapons at the invaders, the bullets turning into blasts from the Nano-power I had imbued the weapons with. Invaders were engulfed with swarms of cyan light as I cut down the entire army in a matter of minutes. A few of the invaders had managed a few shots that blasted my body, cutting it open and revealing the machinery underneath, but it didn't really matter, since my human flesh would just regenerate anyway from the ASCENSION self-repair protocol.

I brought my two guns back, which were smoking with cyan smoke from the barrels. It felt satisfying to be back in action after so long.

"Sir?"

I whipped around, aiming my guns at a young boy. He looked around eight, and he was teary eyed.

"I can't find my daddy." He whimpered.

I looked around. Yeah. No shit. The place was a mess, and with all the Council acolytes slain, hundreds more took their place, swarming the skies, turning it dark. I honestly couldn't care less about this. Yeah, you lost your dad, that's terrible. I never even knew my dad.

Suddenly, I clutched my head in pain.

My father. I was...

Who was my father? Did I have a father?

Why did I ask that question, that's so stupid. I must have a father. And a mother.

THE STEM, THE SEED FOR WHICH NUMEROUS BRANCHES SHALL GROW. A voice boomed in my head.

I doubled over, dropping both my rifle and sidearm, the weapons clattering to the ground as the little kid backed away, whimpering and crying.

"What's... what's going on..." I seethed through my teeth as I fell to one knee. Images of a kid. He looked exactly like me. And when I mean exactly, I mean he looked like a split image. Every single aspect of him looked like me. The only difference?

The magenta eyes.

"Who... what?!" I growled, clawing the air, my vision filled with some kind of static. This had to be a glitch, but I never experienced a glitch like this before. This kid... I felt like I knew him.

"Pa- Paladin..." I muttered, my voice distorted. My voice box was busted too, what was happening? What was I saying?

Suddenly, the visions stopped. I looked up to see a huge axe coming my way.

And everything went dark as I heard the sound of flesh scraping off my endoskeleton, the cracking of metal, bending of servos. Crushing.

Chapter 1.6

????

I stumbled to my feet, my vision network reinitializing. I looked down and realized that I had taken a bad hit. My reflection from scraps of windows that had fallen from the destroyed buildings revealed that the entire left side of my face was scraped open, revealing my metal endoskeleton, and my artificial android eye.

Repairing all this would take a few days.

I leapt out of the way before the being swiped down again with his axe. It was an Iron Council Arca. A gladiator type. The axe was humming with a yellow energy, and its armor glowed, tinted murderously as the lines decorating it also began to glow.

I dodged another swipe of the Arca's axe, grabbing my sidearm, and shooting at the slits under its helmet. The first two bullets hit the Arca dead on, causing it to roar in pain, but the other three were deflected by its hand, creating a shower of cyan sparks.

The Arca swiped once more, as I made a break for it, running up a wall while also attempting to slip the bullets past the Arca's fingers, but they were just too stubby. I kept shooting in hopes the shock of the bullets would do some amount of damage. I wasn't expecting it to fall from a few shots, considering Arca's were kind of like SENTINELs, in that they were heavily armored. Even if I went all out and charged my guns with my Nano-Power, it would take quite a few hits to put it down, and I had already used up my special ability on the little army of acolytes.

I landed on the ground, scooping up my rifle and sprinted away, the Arca yelling after me. I turned a right angle, and strafed, firing bursts of power at the Arca with my rifle in shotgun mode. Circling the giant Arca, avoiding his downwards axe swings and bombarding it with starbursts of my shotgun.

I can't take this guy down with the level of firepower that I have. I needed a rocket launcher, or Nano-Power.

"Dammit." I muttered, dodging again, but this time, I wasn't so lucky, because the air pressure of the Arca's swing caught me off balance. I stumbled, and the axe connected, slamming me in the midsection as I smashed into a concrete building.

Chapter 1.7

OBJECTIVES: Wait for SCT216
SIDE OBJECTIVE: Eliminate the Arca

I pushed a giant rock to the side, as I emerged from the ruins. I had an idea.

The Arca was approaching me, the axe scraping along the floor. I took out my shotgun, and ran forward. The Arca prepared another downward swipe, but I jumped forward, landing on the hilt, and ran up, clinging onto the Arca's face.

The Arca began to swing around wildly, and I took out my shotgun, aiming it at the space in its helmet. I began shooting into the space, as the Arca screamed in pain. I kept shooting, over and over again, until the Arca stopped moving, leaning forward, and falling onto the ground.

"Objective, complete. Loser." I muttered.

I walked off, and realized that the same kid was hiding behind a building.

"Mister?"

You've got to be kidding me.

"Look, kid. Your father is dead. What else do you want me to say?"

The kid tried to touch my leg, which was damaged, the endoskeleton exposed from the ripped part of my cargo pants. I backed off, instinctively, about to aim my Desert Eagle at his face, but stopped.

"Are you... one of the bad men from the sky?"

"No." I replied, walking off to the motorcycle. These wounds and the damages to my components needed at least a week to self-repair.

"But you're a robot." The kid followed me, trying to hold my hand, but I pulled away.

"I'm not a robot. I'm human, with the robotic endoskeleton."

"So a cyborg? A terminator?"

I ignored him and got on my bike, strapping my guns to my back as I pulled off the magazine in my sidearm, reverting it back into its Desert Eagle, and slotted it into the bike, transforming it into the ASCENSION cycle.

"Cool!" The kid squealed.

He hopped behind me.

"The hell you think you're doing, kid?" I said, revving the engines. "I never said I was taking any passengers."

"You're the only human left here."

I looked behind me, and the kid's eyes were tearing up. I considered leaving him here, since my objective was just to rendezvous with 216. But then again, that would just be the biggest prick move of the century. I sighed.

"Fine. But let's make one thing clear. I'm not your dad. I'm not your brother. I'm not your caretaker. You do as I say, with no hesitation, no complaining, and no questioning. Capeesh?"

"Caped Peach!" The kid replied.

"Good. Now hold tight, and don't breathe down my neck."

The kid held onto my waist and immediately began to blow at my neck, giggling.

"You little shit." I muttered, revving the engines once more and driving back to the rendezvous.

"What is your name?" The kid asked me.

"SPART205." I replied.

"No, like your actual name?" I looked at the rear view mirror. I guess this kid wasn't dumb as bricks as I thought all kids his age were.

"Ben. Ben Fong." I said.

We continued driving, the sounds of wind rustling and howling as it slid off the cycle windshield.

"What's yours, brat?" I asked.

"My name is Jonathan Ko. But my friends called me John. I'm a Remnant of Decen."

"Wait wha-" I said, before another migraine hit my brain. I lost balance on the cycle, tipping over, spilling the both of us off the abandoned highway as my vision began to distort, glitching out, as everything went blank.

Chapter 1.8

???

Decen. That name. That must had been the trigger.

I was in an street. It was dark, rainy. Gloomy. A glow illuminated the back alley, and I crept, drawing my Desert Eagle. My rifle was gone, and my Nano-Power didn't work. But there was still ammo in my gun.

I peered, and nearly threw up.

That same kid, who looked like me. He was being... choked. By some crazy... thing. Like a minotaur, if it didn't have horns. His face was bull-like. But he was lined with wrinkles. Scars. He emanated an insane aura that made me want to curl up into a ball.

"Do you see it too? Mogul?" A little kid's voice appeared behind me.

I whipped around, slamming the kid into the wall, my pistol aimed at his face.

"You. You uttered a word that put me into this vision. And you're part of it. Tell me who you are. No. Tell me what you are."

"I'm... I'm a remnant! Like... like you."

"The HELL did you call me?!" I growled.

The kid whimpered, but spoke through it. "I sensed you. Decen did. My powers..."

John wiggled his fingers, which caused the reality in the vision to distort.

"I can link souls."

"Oh yeah? Well, link me out of this. You weirdo. I have a mission to do, and you're-"

"Not going anywhere." A voice said behind me. I whipped around, and aimed my gun at the forehead of the kid who was just being strangled. The scene had changed. We were in a platform, like some kind of coliseum.

"This is Acadia. The Grand Theatre, for which all Paladins undertook special events."

The moment he said the word Paladin, I clutched my head, my temples hurting like hell.

"You... you're the cause for my visions." I muttered, aiming my Desert Eagle at the kid's head, and shooting him square in the center. The kid went flying backwards.

John screamed at me. "Stop! That's our progenitor! He's our maker! He's Decen! We came from hi-"

"Enough!" I aimed the gun at John's head. "I don't know who you are. I don't know who this progenitor guy is. I don't even know what a Remnant is. Just get me out of this vision, before I shoot my way out."

The kid suddenly got back up, the hole I had made, dead set in the forehead, sealing up instantly. Self repair? No. This looked... different.

I continued shooting at the guy's head, but it was clearly not working, as he continued walking forward. I aimed the gun at his chest, then his heart, then his kidneys. It was like he didn't even have organs. The hell was this freak?

Decen grabbed my wrist, and I grabbed his neck, spinning around and slamming him into a wall, using my endoskeleton's cybernetic strength.

I continued firing with the gun aimed underneath his neck, but it wasn't working. I was just wasting bullets.

"You done?"

There was no point in fighting. This guy wasn't gonna die with the piece of shit weapons I had on me at the moment. I was in a vision, meaning whatever the hell happened in here, it was not in my favor.

"What do you want?" I growled.

John shushed me, and stood next to Decen.

"You're a Remnant of Decen, the second one. I found you, because I sensed war."

Decen walked forward. "I was slain. By a being known as Mogul. He had taken my life, and hunted my Guardian. I spread my soul apart into multiple fragments, each became a Remnant, and you..."

He held out his hand, and I suddenly fell to my knees.

"Are one of them. You will avenge me."

I struggled to get to my feet. "If you got your ass killed, then how are you talking to me right now?"

John wiggled his fingers, causing reality to distort again. "I am soul linked to Decen."

"The hell." I muttered.

I got to my feet. "Okay. Whatever. I'm a Remnant. Cool. How does any of this got to do with me. You said it yourself, you got killed by Mogul. What? I'm gonna fight him now? How am I supposed to beat that guy if even you couldn't beat him?"

Decen regarded me. "You're right. You're just a Remnant. You're not even close to my level of power. Meaning if you fought him one on one, you'd surely be killed. Which is why I want you to join the rest of the Remnants on my Guardian's Quest. Find her."

I stared at him. All the information was coming at me like a god damn truck.

"Yeah sure. Whatever. Let me finish this mission first, then we ta-"

Decen sneered, and jolted forward with speed even faster than my cybernetics could react to, pinning me against the wall.

"Okay. I guess I didn't make this clear. I AM your progenitor. You CAME from me. I AM stronger than you. And I AM demanding that you assist my Guardian in her quest to avenge me. There is no 'whatever', or 'not feeling it'. There is no 'I'm not in the mood'. You do as I say, or I will get John here to link with you and I will dismantle your cyborg ass. Understood?"

If I died here, by this punk ass clone of me, the whole war with the Iron Council would be finished. 216 and 802 would have to do the mission alone. And there was no way the mission would succeed without me. I had to live through this.

"Okay! Okay! I'll do it."

Decen let go, adjusting the sleeves to his enormous jacket. "The Guardian's name is Merrow Rivenlight. She is a Neptunian, in a far off universe from this one. Find her."

"How the hell am I supposed to, what? A Universe? How am I supposed to just travel to another damn universe."

"Figure it out. Until then."

The vision dissipated as everything tumbled back to reality.

Chapter 1.9

OBJECTIVE: Wait for SCT216

"That's a cool gun." John said.

I unloaded and reloaded my gun, the SPART dual function battle pistol. It was designed to have two functions, long distance and close distance combat.

"It's a SPART battle pistol. Not from your time. It's a special gun."

"What makes it so special?

I pointed the gun at him, and his eyes widened. I clicked a button, and it suddenly expanded, the barrel becoming bigger, wider, the handle becoming larger and wrapped around my hand.

"It's got multiple modes." I explained. "One for long distance, the other for short distance. In this setup, it's a shotgun. The one you saw before is its standard mode for long range combat."

"That's really cool!" John said.

I put the gun on the table. "Look. I know what Decen said. We'll find the other Remnants. But first, I have to wait up with Will and his squad. They're going to be here in a few days. For now, we just gotta hold out."

"Ben?"

"What."

John fiddled with his fingers. "I want to be able to defend myself too. Do you think you can show me how to shoot a gun?"

I raised an eyebrow. "You're too young to be holding a gun, kiddo."

"But... you are too, technically."

I coughed. This kid was annoying. But he was my brother. Never had one before. And he was giving me a pleading look.

"Fine. Come with me."

I took John out back, and showed him how to shoot the gun. Hand placement, posture, the standard training I received when I was in ASCENSION. It was also then I realized John was scared of loud noises.

"Bennnnn it's so loud."

"Well, suck it up. That's how guns work."

John pouted.

"Look, if you want to use a gun, you're going to have to get used to the noise. If you can't handle it, you'll have to use something else."

I put the gun to safety, and loaded in some blanks that I kept in a separate cupboard during my visits to random gun merchants. That way, John wouldn't blow his stupid ass up while I went back inside.

I pulled out an old photo from my pocket. It was a group photo of me and the team of students I worked with. What seemed like an eternity ago. I was still skinny and very angry. Temperamental. That was the word. I hated everybody and everything, because I lived a mentality that if I couldn't do something, it was because everybody else was lucky.

I looked at myself from the past. Long uncombed hair. Unsmiling, while everybody else was. I wanted so badly to be different from everybody else. I couldn't settle with being average.

I ran my hand over the smiling picture of the girl who was on the opposite side of the group. Corey. She was always so kind to me. I thought that it was because she was attracted to me, so I became attracted to her. I guess that's the problem of living your life without any love or family. Because the slightest acts of kindness gets misinterpreted as romantic love.

It took me an entire year to realize she was kind to me because that was who she was. She didn't love me. She was nice to everybody. I was nobody different in her eyes, but to me, she was a shining star.

I looked at my reflection. I was no longer the man I used to be. My hair, clipped short, military style and a more muscular physique from my training in ASCENSION. I was still kind of angry looking, but it was more hardened. Like it had been through war, rather than... well emotional heartbreak. I initially agreed to join ASCENSION, not because I supported the war. I quite frankly didn't care at the time. I just wanted to join, get big, look hot (yes, I know), and find a way back to my time period. So I could impress Corey. But the longer I stayed in ASCENSION, the more I became attached to my brothers and sisters in arms. And the more I fought alongside them, the more I realized where the people who truly cared for me was. I was initially devastated that I realized Corey never loved me. But after all that, I couldn't care less anymore... well until now, that is.

The many lives that were taken from the Iron Council. You can't choose your blood, but you can choose your family. I had to see this mission to the end. To avenge my fallen brothers and sisters. The ones who were killed in the front, and the ones who were wiped from existence.

"You listening Decen? I'm not doing this because I'm not in the mood. Right now. I have a mission to complete. For the people who fought by my side. Who gave their blood sweat and tears in the front. I'm doing it for them. So you'll have to wait your bum ass out, until I make sure my brothers and sisters can Rest In Peace."

I put the photo away and stared at the ceiling. Suddenly, I heard John yelp. Great. He somehow injured himself despite giving him blanks.

This was going to be a long few days.

"John, just leave my gun in the house. Get back inside. You're trained enough today."

No answer.

"John, this isn't funny. Come out here now."

No answer.

I got to my feet. This stupid kid. There was no way it was from the Iron Council. No one was outside. I cleared the whole place. I walked out of the house, and realized John wasn't answering... because he was unconscious. He was hauled up by a large man...

I couldn't believe my eyes, as they widened. The man was the same one in my vision. The one who strangled Decen. His sinister red eyes regarded mine, a maniacal smile.

AH YES. THE FIFTEENTH AND THE SECOND ARE BOTH HERE. LET US HAVE A LITTLE REUNION, SHALL WE? Mogul spoke.

Chapter 1.10

My STARBOARD interface began to glitch. Where were my objective markers? I tapped my temple, trying to get it to return, but nothing happened.

"What the... what are you?!" I muttered.

Mogul laughed. SUCH TOYS. YOUR FATHER WOULD NEVER RESORT TO SUCH PETTY DEVICES IN BATTLE. YOU WILL NOT BE USING THEM IN THIS ENCOUNTER. I WANT YOU TO GIVE IT YOUR ALL WITH JUST YOUR STRENGTH, BEFORE I KILL YOU BOTH.

Mogul suddenly closed in. It was like an instant woosh, and the mere shockwave of the movement sent me flying back. STARBOARD instantly began to warp, many of the functions were lost. The hell...

I looked at John, who was still slung over Mogul's shoulder. He was going to kill John? He was still a kid!

"Screw that." I muttered. I pulled out my Desert Eagle, transforming it into the SPARTAN battle pistol, and fired several rounds at Mogul's face, which bounced off harmlessly from his skin.

Mogul stepped forward as I continued shooting, aiming at his eyes. No effect.

I put both hands on the pistol, and summoned my Nano-power, blasting the monster with massive bolts of power, the recoil sending the pistol back with each shot. The rounds exploded in his face, but once the smoke cleared up, he continued standing, unharmed.

"No way." I muttered. I took out my assault rifle and fired, to no effect. Mogul closed in, and ripped my rifle out of my hands, then backhanded me several miles from the house. I landed on the ground, as my face scraped on the pavement. The skin had definitely been scraped. I put my hand on my face, and felt nothing but metal. This was bad.

A ROBOTIC ENDOSKELETON? MY DECEN'S REMNANTS HAVE VARIETY.

John regained consciousness. He looked at Mogul in horror.

"Mo- Mo- MOGUL!!" He screamed.

"Mommy! Daddy! Help me!" He cried as Mogul plucked the kid from his shoulder, lifting him by the collar.

LITTLE REMNANT. YOU ARE A MERE CHILD, BUT YOU ARE DECEN'S SPAWN NONETHELESS. YOU CONSPIRE TO ELIMINATE ME, AND THUS I SHALL DESTROY YOU.

I stared at Mogul as he began to put his hand around John's neck to squeeze. John began retching looking at me, pleadingly. John was going to die. My brother was going to die. I slapped my hands on my cheeks, trying to wake myself up from this.

"Run, Ben!" Rachel shouted at me. She was holding off numerous enemies. I was badly hurt at the time. But so was Rachel.

"I can't leave you here! Rache!"

Rachel knelt next to me. "Ben, you're all that's gonna be left of our squad. You need to live. Do it for Duncan, James, and me." She smiled.

I was so helpless at the time. Even with the training from ASCENSION, I wasn't enough.

"Ben. You need to go."

I sobbed as I grabbed onto her. "No! I can't leave you. I... I still owe you. All those times you saved me. Let me save you back!"

Rachel put her hand on my shoulder. "Ben. You don't owe me anything. If you want to do something... live. Live for us. So when the time is right, you can give back. Just as we protected you, you will protect another."

I watched as Rachel pushed me into the gutter. She was smiling at me, even as the Iron Council closed in, impaling her from multiple directions with their spears. I screamed for her not to leave me, as I fell into the darkness.

I looked back up, as John continued to choke.

Just as we protected you, you will protect another.

Rachel and her squad was family to me. And I lost them. But that didn't mean I had lost everything. Because right before my very eyes, was another family. My own little brother, was going to lose his life, if I didn't do something.

"Let... my brother... GO!" I shouted, as I ran forward, and kneed Mogul in the face. Mogul didn't budge, but he looked surprised, and dropped John on the ground.

GUTSY. FOR A RANGED FIGHTER, YOU ARE VERY CONFIDENT IN MELEE.

Mogul reached in, as I dove to the side, scooping John and hoisting him onto my back. He clutched the back of my neck and sobbed into my back as I took out my pistol and fired with everything I had at Mogul's face.

"Leave us alone, you damn creep!" I growled, but Mogul took all the damage. We needed to retreat. I had no idea how he found us, but I needed to make sure he couldn't track us again. I took out a grenade from my belt, and launched it at Mogul's face. Just as I predicted, he was overconfident, and took the projectile head on. An explosion knocked both John and I to the ground as the smoke cleared. Mogul smiled.

A MERE GRENADE? I EXPECTED MORE FROM YOU, SECOND.

He should, because the grenade was composed of Anti-Tracker Jackets. Little nanotechnology drones that consistently produced EMP waves to block tracking technology. I was assuming Mogul was able to find us through some means of tracking, and with the ATJ, it should keep him from finding us. I quickly got on the motorcycle. Sorry Will, but it just isn't safe here. We'll have to rendezvous somewhere else. I opened my very battered STARBOARD interface, and switched the rendezvous marker to pending as I sped away at top speed.

"John, you alright?"

"Yes..." John muttered from the folds of my battered T-shirt.

"It's going to be okay now. Don't worry."

"I trust you Ben."

My heart twinged. I didn't know why. But... this kid didn't even know me for that long. And I aimed a gun to his face, and he was straight telling me he trusted me. I felt guilty.

Suddenly, John tightened his grip on my waist.

"Ben!!!" He screamed.

"What?" I looked forward, and couldn't believe my eyes.

Mogul was standing there. He had somehow closed the distance. No one could move that fast.

"No way..." I muttered, as Mogul grabbed me by the throat, ripping the motorcycle away from us with the inertia.

John fell to the floor, and cowered, looking at me as Mogul choked me, his sinister eyes regarding mine.

YOU CANNOT RUN FROM ME. SECOND. I SHALL ELIMINATE THE REMNANTS OF DECEN BEFORE THEY JOIN AS ONE. MY PLANS SHALL NOT BE INTERRUPTED.

"Eliminate yourself... bitch." I retched, as I took out my pistol, and pressed it against his chest.

YOUR WEAPON CANNOT HARM ME. PERHAPS I OVERESTIMATED YOUR ABILITIES AFTER ALL.

I smirked, and pulled the trigger. Immense pressure built up in the battle pistol, and the weapon exploded, sending Mogul and me back in a massive explosion that sent a huge shockwave. The weapon was fueled by nuclear energy reserves. Just because it looked concealed didn't mean it wasn't housing explosive power.

I tried to get to my feet, but fell. The explosion had broken the servos in my left leg, and my right arm was malfunctioning, the finger parts twitching as cyan sparks and electrical discharge arced up my exposed endoskeleton.

The smoke began to clear, and to my disbelief, Mogul emerged. Unharmed.

INSECT... Mogul spat, as he approached me, fist in the air.

"Mad?" I joked. It was probably not a smart move, and I would later regret it, because Mogul's eyes narrowed.

YOU HAVE QUITE THE MOUTH THERE, REMNANT. PERHAPS I SHOULD FIX THAT.

Mogul bent down, and gripped my throat, as my body exploded in pain.

"What are you.. I... AAAUUGHHH!" I screamed, my voice distorting. John tried to run up to me, but I held out my hand.

"NoooOOOooofsdjjksdfnskjfdasl---" My voice cut out as Mogul ripped my entire voice box out of my throat. My eyes widened as I clutched my throat, wires and pieces of components exposed.

John watched in horror as Mogul prepared another blow, but doubled over, black lighting arcing from his body.

URGH. MY POWERS WANE. MARK MY WORDS, SECOND. FIFTEENTH. I SHALL RETURN TO CLAIM WHAT I SOW. CONSIDER THIS A REMINDER. BENJAMIN FONG. OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO ATTEMPT TO SPEAK AGAINST THEIR GOD.

Mogul began to dissipate, as black clouds enveloped him, teleporting him away from us. John ran up to me in concern, sobbing hysterically.

"Ben!!! Ben!!!!"

I tried to shout, but my voice wouldn't work. My voice... it was gone. I couldn't talk. I couldn't scream. I couldn't shout.

All I could do was wrap my arms around my little brother as exhaustion finally consumed me, and I lost consciousness.

Chapter 1.11

John dragged me all the way to an abandoned cave. I had regained consciousness, and found a small fire being made. Despite being what looked to be like, eight years old, this kid's survival skills were impressive.

"Hey." I tried to speak, but nothing came out. I momentarily freaked out and clutched my throat, but realized Mogul had ripped my voice box out. What was in place was a massive scar that random my throat all the way to my collarbone.

John looked at me, and suddenly, his voice appeared in my head.

It's ok, Ben. I can hear you. John wiggled his fingers, which emanated energy.

We are linked together. Just project your thoughts to me.

I took a breath. Where did you learn how to do that?

John frowned. Do what?

I pointed at the fire. Building that.

John laughed. Daddy always took me camping.

...But, Decen is dead.

Not that daddy. My other one. My adopted one. Daddy and Mommy loved me very much... until... John wiped his nose.

Yeah. Until the bastards in the Iron Council attached and raided his city. I felt bad. He was still a kid, and... even if they were his adopted parents, they were still his parents. To have that taken away, as a little kid. I could only imagine what kind of damage that did.

But it's okay. I know they're happy for me, as long as I'm safe with you. John smiled.

I...ermm.... I muttered, my ears turning pink.

I took a look at my body. I propped myself up. Thank god my self-repair was still working, but there was a lot of scarring. That wasn't so great. Ever since Mogul had interfered with my STARBOARD tech, it had never been the same. Almost half of my functions were missing. All that was left was a mini-map, some basic sensors, and basic aiming modules.

A massive scar lined my right eye from when I skidded across the pavement. It was still healing, several cuts of shiny grey metal endoskeleton still showed through the wounds.

I tapped my temple, and checked to see if my location for rendezvous had updated. Sure enough, it did.

John. I spoke.

John looked up at me. I went up to the motorcycle.

Let's go for a ride. I need some new gear. And you're going to be speaking on my behalf.

I drove to an abandoned mall, which had become a mini base of operations for a squad of Iron Angels. Several Arca's guarded the gate. The squad was small enough to take down, but I needed weapons. I guess I could forget the diplomatic approach. These guys were shoot first ask questions later.

ASTRO, scan for weapons.

ASTRO began scanning my surroundings for potential firearms. Luckily enough it picked up a gunshop not too far from here, but it was in a section that was guarded by several Angel acolytes. Good enough.

John, you wait here.

"Ok." He replied.

I snuck off to the gunshop entrance, and grabbed one of the acolytes, using my cybernetic strength, and snapped her neck. Her body crumpled to the ground as I dragged her away, and dispatched the left. I took a look inside.

ASTRO, opponent takedown analysis. Protocol: Stealth

"Analyzing." ASTRO responded.

My STARBOARD interface lit up with a bunch of options. I took the one that was the least time, and within a few seconds, I had taken down everybody in the shop with stealth melee kills.

I returned to my hiding spot with some weapons and gear. Two large handguns, and a shotgun which was strapped on my back. There weren't a lot of firearms left... that were still operational. I took some ammo too, but I figured I didn't really need them, unless absolute necessary. My core provided enough energy. My chest, elbows, shoulders and kneecaps were lined with light kevlar and protective armor. Even if I took damage, it would just repair. What mattered was that my endoskeleton wasn't busted up too much for my internals to be destroyed. But if I could minimize the need to use self-repair, I could fight longer.

"Did you get me one?" John asked, his eyes sparkling.

No. I replied. John looked down in disappointment.

I sighed, and patted his head. When you grow up, I'll let you keep one of these. I waved one of my handguns in front of his face.

John tried to reach for it, but I pulled away.

"Hey!" He protested.

I said when you are ready. You're clearly not. This isn't a toy. You need to be careful with these things. God I sounded like a parent. I hated that.

I analyzed the Arca's at the front. I had trouble with the ones back then, due to utilizing my SPARTAN shotgun firing option. But with a dedicated shotgun, this would be easy peasy. I took out my shotgun and slipped in my ASCENSION magazine, converting it into its more powerful counterpart. The SPARTAN Scatter Blaster. A dedicated shotgun with extremely powerful rounds that was built for it. Unlike my standard SPARTAN battle assault rifle, which was more aimed for picking apart enemies one by one.

I held out my hand, and a mini grenade manifested. A flash-bang.

John stared at me.

"Is that one of Decen's powers?"

I turned to him. What?

"Every Remnant has a power special to them. Mine is soul link. I thought yours was Nano-power."

I thought about it. It was true. During my procedure for cybernetic soldier augmentation, I was told I had multiple abilities. Which was unusual. Since all ASCENSION soldiers were only given one special ability. In my case, my special ability was designated and intended to be grenade formation, which allowed me to throw projectiles of different types: molotov, freezing wall, specters, you name it. This Nano-power, it felt different from the other abilities my allies had.

I held out my hand, which was covered in fingerless kevlar padded gloves. I wiggled my fingers as cyan energy began to emanate from it; little hexagons of power appearing and disappearing from a radius of my palm.

Hmm, I guess so. I muttered.

John leaned in. "So pretty!"

Yeah. Well, let me clear out these idiots in the mall. Then I can take you to get new clothes.

I left the hiding spot, and threw the flash bang at the Arca's blinding them. ASTRO had picked up hostiles who were inside the mall, but for some reason, only the Arca's were guarding the entrance. Judging from that, it meant the number of Iron Soldiers were very low. They were using this as a temporary base.

I slid forward, and took out my Scatter Blaster, shooting down both Arca's. The sheer force of the rounds knocked them back, penetrating their armor from the short distance, and killing them instantly. I kicked the door open and took cover behind the door, as numerous blasts of golden light tried to take me out.

I summoned a Crystallix grenade, and threw it in, creating an icicle wall.

I ran in and threw a Specter grenade, which formed a duplicate of me, as we both ran out separate ways, confusing the enemy who was probably looking at our shadows from the translucent ice wall.

Both me and my Specter emerged from opposite sides, firing and taking down each enemy with our twin SPARTAN battle pistols. I stayed away from Nano-Power, since my specter was unable to use it. We ran across the mall, shooting every Iron Guard that was in our way.

My eyes were full of fury. These bastards killed my crew. Killed innocent lives, and took down my allies. All because they wanted to rule our planet. It was the most cliche shit ever. But they did it anyway. I was not going to let a single ally in ASCENSION go unavenged.

ASTRO indicated that there were no more hostiles, and the threat was neutralized. My specter dissipated as it returned to its grenade form. The grenade dissipated into cyan hexagonal shapes as it dematerialized.

"That's so cool! It's like a clone!" A voice appeared behind me. I spun around, aiming my battle pistol at John's forehead, who yelped.

"Ben! It's me! Don't shoot!!!" He exclaimed. I lowered the gun and grabbed him by the ear, leading him to one of the busted up benches.

"Ouch! Ben! That hurts!"

I thought I told you to wait there. Do you know how dangerous that was? Following me to the front?

John looked down in shame. "Sorry. I just... thought you were really cool is all."

I sighed. I took the kid to a bunch of tailors. They were all abandoned. Meaning the clothes were free.

"Isn't this stealing?" John frowned.

I aimed my gun and shot the window.

These wares aren't theirs anymore. It's no ones. It's supplies for us to loot. So either you put on new clothes, or you keep running around in those rags.

John didn't hesitate and ran into the Gap and found as much clothes as he needed.

Hey! Only two pairs. We're not here to pillage the damn place. Show some respect.

Chapter 1.12

John and I bugged out in another abandoned shack. We had stocked up on food and supplies from the mall. I took some old pieces of construction material and fortified the place for when Will's group would arrive.

John stretched his arms. "I'm tired."

You should go to sleep. The bed is over there.

John looked at me. "But where will you sleep?"

I stared at the bits and scraps of components on the table that I was fiddling with.

I don't need to sleep. I run on my internal core for energy. Recovery is done through self repair when I'm not in combat.

John smiled. "Okay! Suit yourself! All for me!" John plopped on the bed and wrapped himself in the blanket like a burrito. I had made sure the mattress and the blanket was disinfected and sanitized.

I looked back at the piles of scrap.

ASTRO, bring up voice box schematic.

"Accessing file."

I followed the blueprints and tried to assemble the device, putting it against my throat.

"Fa-fajkffk. Fami-sfjsdfgkj. Lee-sfffasdf" I tried to speak, but the device sparked and landed on the table.

DAMMIT. I growled in my head. I slammed my fist on the table. I quickly turned around to make sure I didn't wake up John. He was still fast asleep.

I put my head in my hands. I couldn't speak again. It wasn't just the mission, or communicating with SCT216.

I looked at my reflection. Military buzz cut. A huge scar that ran down my right eye, which was cyan from the cybernetic procedure. My attire had changed, to a sleeveless trench coat that exposed my toned arms with kevlar padding on the shoulders, chest, kneecaps, and boots. I was everything I wanted to become, everything I wanted to show Corey if I ever found her again.

Here I was, and I couldn't even talk to her. Even if I couldn't tell her it was me, I could at least talk to her. Or better yet.

I pulled out my photo, glaring at the old photo of myself.

That stupid old me. Damn you old Ben. Giving this poor girl such a hard time. All she wanted to do was to be nice and be herself. To spread happiness. And you took that as romantic love. You made her uncomfortable. You are the reason she distanced herself.

Suddenly, a message popped up on my STARBOARD interface.

My eyes widened. It was from SCT216.

"SPART205, acknowledge."

I concentrated, and sent a message back.

"This is SPART205, acknowledged. Update on location."

"SCT216 inbound with the proxy. I'm being intercepted and overwhelmed by Iron Soldiers left and right. SENTL802 has rendezvous with me to assist in holding them back, but we are outgunned. Requesting immediate assistance."

Immediately a red marker appeared on my minimap.

"SPART205 on my way." I replied.

I got to my feet, putting the scrap pieces of my voice amplifier project into a tiny box and slipping it into my trench coat pocket. Corey and the others couldn't see my face. Not because the timeline would get messed up, since Will would just wipe their memories anyway. But...

I just couldn't face Corey. I wasn't ready to face her. Thinking about her made my heart feel weird.

I wrote a note on a piece of paper.

Hey John,

I'm, going to be out for a bit to help Will and the others. I will be back soon. Don't go wandering around or I'll kill you. Understood? All food and supplies and facilities have been activated for this shack. Just help yourself. If you sense danger, hide in the bottom compartment labelled in this detailed drawing schematic.

Be back soon,

Ben

Underneath the letter, I drew a schematic of the shack layout. Yes, I am very detailed oriented. I'm a firm believer that precision leads to good results.

Chapter 2.0

I drove to the marker at top speed my ASCENSION cycle could offer, the wind flying in my monotone face shield. I set it to cover my entire face, for when I arrived I could conceal it. I had told Will and Francine I needed to keep my identity as secret from the undergrads, since they would recognize me.

I heard the sounds of gunfire and fighting as I took out one of my battle pistols, aiming it at the pods that were in the sky raining down lances of golden light. Even from the distance, I was able to take them off as more and more of them fell.

"Good work, Sparty." Will's voice appeared in my coms.

Francine also chimed in. "Ayyy, little man. Come to help us out eh? Can you take down the fliers with that insane aim of yours?"

I sent a message to both of them. "On it."

I continued driving to the marker as I knocked off more and more of the sky pods. They suddenly realized I was a bigger threat, and focused their fire on me.

ASTRO, convert cycle protocol: Armor.

"Acknowledged."

My cycle began to clad up, protecting armoring plating the front of my vehicle as I leaned forward, taking the golden lances from the sky pods head on. I emerged from the smoke, my cycle armoring absorbed the damage as I held out my gun and fired more bolts of energy at the Iron Bastards. The squadron began to reduce in number as I curved left and right, avoiding their blasts.

I arrived at the marker, and stopped before everyone.

ASTRO, revert protocol.

"Acknowledged, returning to standard protocol: SPARTAN."

My cycle's armor plating reduced as it returned to their concealments. Corey and the others stared at me in shock and amazement. While that was nice and all I couldn't help but stare at Corey's beautiful face from within my mask. I knew she couldn't see my expression, but I was slightly embarrassed to feel this way. I spent years fighting the wars against the Iron Council, thinking I had moved on. But to see her in front of me, made my heart race all over again.

I took a deep breath and focused. These council members needed to die first. I kicked my foot stand out to balance the cycle as I took out my other SPARTAN battle pistol, dual wielding as I concentrated, summoning my Nano-power, and further boosting my firepower.

Crosshairs appeared all over my field of vision as I commanded ASTRO to lock on to everybody in the area. It was time to unleash the gatling.

I aimed both of my guns upwards as I looked at Will and Francine. The two nodded and gestured the brats to find shelter. Will took it to heart.

"Hey, numbskulls. Get your asses behind cover! 802, keep them from being fried!"

"Acknowledged." Francine said, as she took knelt down, two giant pillars manifesting from her shoulder armor, as it fired a beam of cyan, a hard light shield.

Will gestured at me. "Light em up. 205."

I glared at the enemy, as they started peppering me with gunfire. I stood as I continued charging my guns. The bullets ricocheting off of my endoskeleton as some of my skin began to rip off. It didn't really matter. It was all over.

I unleashed everything I had, and massive beams of cyan neon light filled the sky. The entire legion of Iron Council invaders were obliterated in a matter of a few seconds from my immense firepower.

All that remained were the charred corpses of our enemies, as the sky rained dead space pods. I turned to the group, my two guns smoking at the barrels. I waved them in the air and cooled them off before putting them back in their holsters on my utility belt.

I walked up to 216 and 802 and messaged them.

"My voice box got ripped out. I can't talk."

Francine raised an eyebrow. "Damn."

Will shook his head. "You dumbass. It's fine. I'll handle the talking. Just message me on STARBOARD and I'll relay the information. If anything, just write on a piece of paper or some shit."

He gestured the others to come out, and my heart almost skipped a beat. I recognized them immediately, as if I went back in time.

Marcus. Wayland. Ariel. Harb. Corey.

And the last kid. A frail skinny guy who wore clothes way too big for him. Benjamin Fong.

They introduced themselves to me. When it got to Ben he looked me up and down. "Damn. You look like a cooler version of Will."

I said nothing (well, I kind of didn't have a choice), but underneath my mask, I glared at him. I hated that version of me. I made jokes, to try to cover up my insecurities. But that was no way to approach them. The others probably knew, but this way of life led me to bottle everything down, and it ended up leaking from the cracks.

Every time he made a joke, I got more and more annoyed.

"Glad you could join us, Sparty." Will said, as we made our way to the shelter.

The others entered the building as I stepped in. I didn't realize Corey intended to hold the door for me, until my hand touched hers.

"Oh." She muttered and looked at me.

I stared at her like an idiot, unable to comprehend what to do next.

"Umm..." She said. "Want to come inside?" She gestured me to walk through and I did. That was awkward as hell. Way to ruin a first impression, Ben.

I sat on a couch, beside Harb. I was always close to Harb. In fact, he was actually the second guy who didn't shy away to my breakouts. But it was mostly because he was also the hated person in the team. Never making it to meetings on time. Always being late and never getting shit done. Nonetheless, he was a backbone for me. And sitting next to him reminded me of that.

Will went to go prepare some stuff for the plan, while Francine helped move the barriers in the building with her freakish strength.

Harb looked at me. "What's up man? You don't talk much do you."

I wish I could say something, but I couldn't. I just shook my head. I adjusted my kevlar armor that covered my chest and slightly above my neck, and Harb nearly fell over.

"Chrissake! What the hell happened to your throat?!"

The other undergrads gasped, and Corey put her hand to her mouth. My heart felt like it was being poked by a red hot iron rod.

Francine laughed a hearty laugh as she plopped next to Harb. "Old Sparty here got his voice box torn out. Kinda gruesome. But it's all good. Self repair, as you probably known from Will."

Harb kept staring at my massive throat scar.

"Harb... that's not cool dude." Marcus said.

"Sorry. Hey sorry Spart man. I didn't mean it like that."

I held up my hand, gesturing it was all good.

Will laid out his plans. Since there were so many of us, we needed to split off into groups. Francine, being protector based, was better to watch over more undergrads. Meaning she was in charge of protecting Marcus, Wayland and Ariel. Will was tasked to find the reactor core, while we protected the undergrads for now. After the reactor core was located, we could bring the others together to get everyone to the core and transport them to somewhere safer, away from the Iron Council, to continue their work. An alternate universe, where the Iron Council would not have invaded. So the timeline would continue.

Since Harb was the most knowledgeable of the reactor, he had to come with Will. The reason for splitting up was that the Iron Council would need to distribute their forces to find us, making our lives better. A full fledged gunfight wouldn't work if the proxies were huddled together with us. We would risk hurting them.

"Ok. So that's the plan tonight. Any questions?"

No one said anything. My heart raced. I had to watch over Corey. This was... surreal. It was almost as if Will knew about my freaking crush on her.

No. Ben. Focus. She needed to be protected. Once this was all over, she could continue her life. Find a good boyfriend in the other universe. And be happy. I couldn't burden her anymore.

"Heeeey, Spartan. I'm paired up with you I guess!" Ben put his arm over my shoulder. I got up instantly, making it awkward. Ben retracted.

Corey walked up to us. "I'm Coraline Jensen. This here is Benjamin Fong. What's your name?" She tilted her head, with a charismatic smile. That smile... she always gave that smile. It always warmed my heart. Thing about her was that she was so pure and kind. It always made me feel... at peace. No wonder she was so popular in our class.

Ben crossed his arms. "Oh yeah. You can't talk." He took out his phone. "Here. I take it you know how to text." He looked at me with disdain. He didn't seem to happy that I pushed him away from his little shoulder greeting. I knew that all too well. His pride and ego was damaged from that. Our pride and ego was damaged. He did a complete 180. From being a jokester to being serious.

I didn't miss that. Either you be serious, or you be a goof. I preferred being serious. Because the latter was too much energy to keep up.

I took the phone and looked at it.

ASTRO, link messages to cellular device.

"Establishing link..... Success."

I looked at Ben and Corey, and held out the phone, speaking through it via. text message.

I am a member of the Human Resistance Effort. I serve ASCENSION as a cybernetic front line soldier in the infantry unit. Designation: SPARTAN205.

Ben shrugged. "That's cool."

Corey smiled. "Nice to meet you. But do you have a name? Like Will and Francine here?"

I shook my head, sending a message to the phone screen.

Classified. Sorry. Just call me Sparty.

Corey frowned. No. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.

I fumbled with the phone, and put a frowning emoji to cheer her up. Corey laughed. Ben scowled. "Hmph."

Chapter 2.1

I drove both Ben and Corey back to my place. Corey had fallen asleep on my back, as the drive was long. I hoped John was still in the damn house. If he got out...

"Sparty?"

I looked at the mirror.

"I know you can't talk... but... when I was with Will, he mentioned that you guys were... from the future?"

I nodded.

"I guess that make sense. With the tech and cybernetics and all. I was just wondering. All of this seems so damn sudden. But... do you mind sharing your age?"

I glanced at my mirror. Ben's long hair fluttered in the wind. Mine did too, since the mask only covered my face, not my head.

I held out my fingers. A two, then a six.

"Twenty six? Damn."

I nodded.

"Do you... have a girlfriend?"

I took a hard right, nearly throwing Ben off of the cycle. He yelped. "Jeez! I was just asking a question!"

I shook my head no.

"That's cool. I don't care much about girls either. Too much hassle you know?"

We both knew that was bullshit. We loved Corey. We both did. Who didn't? She was the perfect girl. But despite that, she saw us as any other person in her life. And that hurt. It hurt me, and I knew for a fact that it hurt Ben too.

We finally reached the house. I parked the cycle as Ben got off and walked to the door.

I tried to shake Corey awake, but she was fast asleep. I scooped her up like a princess as her head bobbed on my chest.

I walked to the door and opened it with my hand. We stepped inside. John was asleep on the sleeping bag I had looted for him.

"Hey, who's this?" Ben asked.

I put Corey on the bed, as I tucked her in. She looked so angelic when she was asleep.

I turned to Ben, and held out my hand. He gave me his phone as I commanded a message to be displayed.

This is Jonathan Ko. He is my little brother.

"I see. Well, I guess I'll just make myself at home then. You know where to find me." Ben entered a room upstairs and locked the door. Knowing myself, I knew I would stay cooped up in there for hours, so we were all good there.

I looked at Corey, who was sleeping peacefully on the bed. I slowly took off my mask and regarded her with my cyan eyes, smiling.

I missed you, Corey. I thought. It was a cruel fate. To not only be able to see the love of my life, years later, time displaced. But to have to keep my identity a secret. And now, any chances of me telling her how I feel were absolutely zero. Because I couldn't talk.

I put the mask on the table as I sat down, pulling out my voice box prototype, and continued working.

Chapter 2.2

I put the audio device against my throat. I stood up, pretending I was in front of Corey. I turned the device on.

"Cor... Coreeeeeee. I-" My voice cracked.

I stomped on the ground, fighting back tears in my eyes.

"I.... love" My voice distorted, as the audio device began to smoke.

"Love.... youuuuzzzh" My voice went haywire, as the audio device popped and sizzled, a small spark flew as I dropped the device on the table.

I bashed my fist against the device, shattering it into a million pieces. I hit it so hard that the table cracked and buckled. My face sank into my hands.

Dammit. I thought. This wasn't fair. This was not fair.

"Spar... Sparty?" A girl's voice approached me from behind.

My eyes widened, as I quickly covered my face with my hand. I tried to reach for my mask, and put it on my face. I turned to her.

She had woken up. It was the middle of the night, and she looked concerned. Just like all those years ago.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

She glanced at the numerous bits and pieces of the audio device that was on the table. The speaker that was intended to project my voice became a metal pancake.

I looked away and scooped up the broken components and threw them into the garbage bin. I sighed.

Corey sat next to me.

"I'm sorry, this must be so hard on you."

You have no idea, Corey. No idea.

I stood up and looked out the window, as Corey followed me.

"Stars are pretty tonight." She mumbled.

I nodded. She smiled at me.

"You know, just because you can't talk, doesn't mean you should separate yourself like that. We're always welcome. Maybe not Ben, but I won't judge you any less!"

My heart hurt as I walked away and inspected my handgun, disassembling and reassembling. Performing routine maintenance. Corey regarded me.

"How long have you been... doing this kind of stuff?"

I looked at her and held out four fingers.

"Four years?"

I nodded.

Corey sat down on the bed. Her black hair had tumbled to her shoulders.

"You should sleep. It's not good to be awake up all night."

I shook my head, and knelt in front of her, taking off my shirt. Corey's face turned red as STARBOARD showed that her heart rate began to increase.

I took her hand and put it against my chest. She gasped.

"It's... cold here."

I nodded, as I willed my core to glow brighter. The core was implanted alongside my heart.

"Wow..." She muttered, leaning closer. "It's like a heart implant. That's so cool! So I guess you mean to tell me this core is what keeps you awake all night."

I nodded.

Her eyes trailed off to my arms. "Hey... you're hurt."

I pulled away, and quickly fumbled to put my shirt back on.

"Wait... can I see?"

I stopped and let her feel my bullet wounds. It didn't hurt much, since pain was just receptors. If it did, it had to be some major freaking damage, like my voice box for example.

For some reason, her touch filled me with warmth.

"Does it hurt?"

I held out my hand and tilted it. So-so.

She ran her hand over the metal that was exposed from under my skin and muscle.

"Does it heal?"

I nodded, and pointed to one of my wounds that was almost finished healing. The skin was closing up.

We sat on the bed that night, watching the stars. The shadows casted me into darkness as Corey tucked her knees under her chin.

"Hey Sparty?"

I looked at her.

"Do you think... I'll see my friends again?"

There was no point lying to her. I shook my head.

She sighed. "I guess not."

I raised my hand to stroke her hair, but I pulled away in the last moment. No. I can't... I can't get too attached to her. I'm not supposed to be. This isn't how it's supposed to go. I can't cause her more pain than I did in the past. I just have to protect her, until she lives a happier life. That's what I should do. To make sure she is happy. And nothing else.

I put my hand away as the two of us watched the stars together.