Chapter 1, the unthinkable

(Callie) M

Pain shot through Callie. From the glass strewn floor of her room jammed between her bed and the wall, she groaned, raising her head slightly. Inhaling acrid smoke, she coughed, her body spasming. Through the haze, she couldn't tell if it was her ears ringing, or the alarms were blaring.

What happened? She had been sitting in her room practising her negative art one moment and laying on the floor the next. The building shook, raining hardened plaster all over her. Callie turned her head to avoid the falling dust getting in her eyes.

She pushed herself between her upturned bed and the wall. Pushing into the wall with her feet, she leaned her back against her bed and pushed. The bed creaked in protest but flipped upright. Panting heavily, Callie lay there for a moment, staring up at the black smoke filling the top of the room. Through the smoke, the ceiling light flickered and with a spark went out.

After a few seconds of complete darkness, the blue light flickered and turned back on. Oh good Callie, thought, the back-up generator come on. Oh shit, the backup power was on!

An aching cough bubbled through her lips. Her back ached something fierce from where she hit the wall. She needed medical attention. Callie leaned over her bed and searched for her medical kit. She brushed dust and her splintered bedframe aside. Yes! She pulled a steel box from the rubble and fumbled for the latches.

Her body tensed as ringing in her ears dissipated. The staccato rhythm of an anti air gun droned over the blaring alarms of the compound. The sound abruptly cut off, drowned out by an explosion. A boom like rumbling thunder rocked the compound. What in the world? Why was the compound under attack at this ungodly hour? Focus Callie! She grasped a long needle from the med kit and, with shaking fingers, tore off the cap.

Rolling up one of her pant legs, Callie lined up the frightening needle with her thigh. Her hand shook harder and the tube clatter to the bed from her hand. Not now! She needed to focus. Blood rushed from her hands as she grasped the needle again. So what if the needle terrified her? She needed to inject herself with positive energy or she would be a sitting duck for the Zrixian navy.

Looking away from the needle, Callie sank the metal into her thigh. Warmth washed up her leg and through her body. Callie shuddered at the sensation as the plunger injected pure positive energy into her bloodstream.

Her head slowly cleared as her reservoir of energy was directed through the application of the needle. Pulling the needle from her thigh and forcing herself to ignore her shaking hands, Callie rose to her feet.

She breathed deeply and coughed. Callie crouched low and, grasping her holster and knife from the broken bed, she headed for the door. She checked her side arm, pulling back the slide to assure herself it was loaded. She gripped the weapon in both hands.

The suppressed 223 caliber weapon was not meant for a firefight. It was meant for stealthy assassinations of targets. She reached her door and twisted the knob, the light pistol as far from reassuring as a weapon could get.

For this fight, she wished she had a heavier weapon, like a 45, or a 10mm. Punching through infantry armour with a 223 would require precise shooting that Callie didn't know she could pull off. The whirring rumbling of thrusters drifted through the roof, sending chills up her spine.

Down the hallway to her right, the roof shattered inwards with a pulse of energy and made Callie snarl. Zrixian artist! Not the artists with paint a brush, but someone who weaves the power of positivity. A rope dropped through the roof and figures slid down, each wearing dark black armour with a golden crest of a raven on their chests. The Zrixian soldiers' dark armour blended in with the dark hallway, concealing the soldiers' faces.

Callie raised her pistol and mentally prepared for battle. Her hands shook slightly with excitement as she sighted down her pistol, placing the reticle on the clear faceplate of one soldier. After a moment of no one noticing her, she let out a sigh of relief. The artist must be too much of a coward to come down himself.

Through the dust and smoke, she squeezed the trigger. In the confines of the hallway, it amplified the pop of the pistol even with a suppressor. The face shield of her target cracked, and she squeezed again.

Contact rear! Shouted one of the soldier in deep rolling Zrixian. With professional precision, the soldiers whirled, raising their rifles to fire. Callie's heart raced as she released power from her reservoir.

The air in front of her shimmered and a spiderweb array of silvery stars pulsed, fanning out. The muzzles of the soldiers' rifles flashed and the thunderous cacophony filled the hall. She closed her eyes, expecting to feel the pain of bullets entering her body.

The gunfire ceased after several seconds. Ears ringing, Callie slumped, feeling her reservoir draining. Her jaw dropped as she noticed the bullet holes lining the walls. Brass bounced around the soldiers, rolling to a stop. Through the dust and smoke of gunfire, the soldiers stare at her in confusion. Through their faceplates, she could see their stunned expressions.

"Enemy artist." Shouted one, jostling the others from their stupor.

Callie squeezed the trigger of her small caliber weapon. Her first shot popped, cracking the faceplate of the soldier on the left while her second smashed right through the man's visor. In rapid fire, she shot another of the soldiers.

Her first shot glancing off the crown of his helmet and the second cracking his face plate. The third soldier scrambled back, dragging the soldier with the cracked visor. Both soldiers shielded their faces as Callie continued her barrage. The thick armour on their forearms deflected her small caliber bullets only leaving small cracks and scratches on the composite armour.

Callie glared at them in the dark hallway as they retreated around the corner. She reached for a fresh magazine from her belt. She ejected her mostly empty clip and replaced it with a full one. Placing the empty mag furthest away from her in her belt, like the instructors taught her.

She backed down the hall, squeezing off a shot whenever the two soldiers peeked around the bend. Once out of sight of the enemies, she released her barrier. Holding her negative art active and blocking too many bullets had nearly drained half of her reservoir.

She rushed down the hall away from the soldiers. Their brief interaction had cost her far too much time. If a strike force was in the compound, that meant she needed to leave as soon as possible. She rounded the next bend and slowed. At the end of the hallway in the flickering lights of the spasmodic light bulbs, several soldiers were using a metal battering ram to knock down a door.

Damn Zrixians, she cursed. One soldier glanced up from his work, noticing her arrival. Callie killed him first. Her first bullet cracked the glass of his faceplate. The second bullet took him square in the visor, glass and lead shattering back into his deep blue eyes.

Callie's racing heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest. Killing the Zrixians was both nerve-racking and exciting. Her hands shook with adrenaline as her reticle found another faceplate. Just then, the metal door next to the three remain soldiers blew outward. The door flew outward like they shot it from a cannon, slamming two of the soldiers against the wall with an ominous crunch.

Dazed and confused, the last soldier raised her weapon towards Callie, her rifle rising too slow. Callie squeezed the trigger of her suppressed pistol and a shell ejected from the side, clattering to the floor. The woman's face was contorted in horror as she slumped to the floor, blood leaking into a pool from her shattered faceplate.

Callie leaned next to the wall and, using her art, she wrapped herself in a negative field. She kept her pistol on the open door and waited for someone to take a step out. Her hands shook as she waited for the man she knew was coming.

Gun first, a figure cautiously peered out, his gun panning right, then left, before settling on Callie's chest.

" Instructor villus, are you well?" Callie asked, her gun still pointed at the man's stony face.

" Cadet Callie, what is going on here?" Villus asked, as though asking about the weather.

She kept up her negative field, not trusting the instructor in the least. If over a decade of training had taught her anything, it was that the instructors were not her friends.

" The Zrixians are attacking. This is the second squad I have bumped into." Callie said, hoping she didn't betray her nervousness.

Villus glanced around the hall and, keeping her in his vision at all times, he strode to each of the soldiers. The air cracked as Villus fired a bullet into their face shields. The bodies jerked as the forty-five caliber pistol of the instructor bucked in his hands. Callie swallowed as the older mans cold, dispassionate gaze fell on her once more.

" Let's go. We don't have time to waste." Villus said, gesturing behind him down the hall. Smoke was filling the ceiling and the blasted fire alarms wouldn't turn off.

" What now, instructor? Are we going to save the others?" Callie asked, keeping out of his reach.

" No, we are leaving this sinking ship. The others are on their own." Villus said as he rushed down the hall.

With no better option, Callie cautiously followed her instructor. Hopefully, Payton and Warren would get out. Her mind swam with thoughts as her soft-soled boots pattered on the smooth, tiled floor.

They entered a room that resembled a broom closet, and Callie watched as Villus pulled down on a lever. He pushed the wall aside, revealing a dark tunnel. Villus hit a light, and the tunnel brightened, revealing clean alabaster and smooth tiled floors.

" Stop gawking and go, we need to hurry before more of those damned soldiers get here!" Villus stated, ushering her ahead of him. The gristle man's face was stony and detached, like this whole thing was nothing but a normal day for him. Callie kept her expression dispassionate as she passed him. After nearly ten years under his tutelage, she knew better than to question Villuse's orders.

They ran along the hall until they reached some stairs. Villus reached up and this time there was a screen with a six-digit passcode. Villus didn't bother to hide the password as he typed the numbers in.

He leaned his six-foot frame against the door, his muscles straining."Come help me, the door is stuck."Villus said. Cautiously, Callie walked over, glancing nervously over her shoulder down the hall.

She leaned against the door and heaved. Her body toned from years of harsh training strained as both she and Villus pressed on the door. Slowly, the metal screeched as they forced the door open. Gasping for breath and her arms aching from the effort, Callie stagger into the room the escape tunnel was attached to.

It took a second for Callie's eyes to adjust to the dim light filling the house they were now in. The poorly furnished building seemed like it was owned by an old geezer with no sense of taste. Outside, light flashed, and the room was lit up. The house shook as another deafening explosion rocked the building.

Rushing to the window, both Villus and Callie watched as the wing of the compound they were just in was pounded by a condensed beam of energy. Callie's eyes widened. In the night sky lit by the light of the burning compound hovered a warship. On the prow, she could see the complex array of a particle cannon. As though putting on a show, the cannon glowed, the array lighting up before condensing at the prow of the ship, and another beam of yellow light lanced down.

Spotts filled her eyes, Callie ducked and shielded herself as the shock wave blew the glass she had been looking through all across the room. Fragments of glass showered her hoodie and got in her tied back hair. The warship's cannon thrummed with energy again and Callie could only gape as it dealt death to her home. The compound where she had lived for most of her life was being torn down right in front of her.

" Lets go cadet." Villus snapped sternly." But, instructor, we need to help the others." Callie stated, her hands shaking as she realized the others might not get out.

Callie felt a stinging pain on her face and stagger against the wall.. Her jaw throbbed as she shook her head. The unexpected punch catching her completely off guard.

" Do I need to repeat myself again, cadet?" Villus asked coldly, staring out the window, not even acknowledging Callie's pain.

" No instructor." said Callie, watching her hands for glass as she pushed off the wall.

Callie followed the instructor, subtly massaging her aching jaw as she stare hatefully at his back. They rushed out the back door of the building and into the darkness. Her heart pounded in her chest as she glanced towards the compound and the city beyond.

The compound she had grown up in was in flames, the Zrixian warship still hovering above, high in the sky. The warship still made her heart race. She had only seen them in video and simulator training before. The vaunted Zrixian dreadnaught, with its cannons that could utilise the art. Villus broke into a run and it forced her to fucus to keep up.

Their run led them up the mountain, away from the compound and their home. Callie gritted her teeth and shook her head, focusing on her footing. She was leaving her friends behind. Callie swallowed hard. As a member of the Sicari, they expected her to have no friends. But that didn't stop her from liking the quiet measured Peyton, or the rash daring Warren.

Under the cover of darkness, Callie had difficulty maneuvering through the forests up the mountain. The only thing keeping her going was the rumble of the enemy warships over head. After nearly an hour, Villus raised one fist and Callie halted.

Ahead of them were several shapes in the darkness. Callie grinned as she moved for the falcon class jet on the left. Covered in camouflage netting and hidden under the trees, they decked the two ships out in the dark black and gold lining of the Zrixian navy. They were stolen, of course, uncharted and undocumented black market army ships.

Callie climbed on the wing of one, pulling the netting clear. Excitement welled in her chest. Now they could get somewhere. On the underside of each wing of the two jets were light 22mm cannons.

" Are we going to attack the warship instructor?" Callie asked, feeling a thrill at the idea. She had never been in a live fire dogfight. Even so, she was excited her at the prospect. Gunning down a dreadnaught would be a story Warren would love to hear.

"You fool, that is a dreadnaught. Were you deaf in class? A light ship like this doesn't have the firepower to take out that ship."Villus snapped, his tone cracking into anger.

Callie's shoulders slumped. She hated leaving her friends behind, but Villus was demanding. She pressed a button, noting a small light taking her dna. The light beeped green, and the ship's rear hatch swung down. Inside, the lights were set to dim, as they only used this ship for stealth infiltration.

" Log onto channel five! And remember, stick to tight beam communication." Villus shouted as the rear door of her ship sealed behind her. She strode across the metal planking and settle into the pilot's seat of the cockpit.

Next to her, latched onto the wall, was a helmet that she slipped over her head. It fit uncomfortably until she removed the helmet and untied the thong holding her hair in a ponytail. She placed her hand on the glass panel and after a second; the panel beeped. There was no flash of green, no light to give away her ship.

She went over the preflight checklist before hitting the main power. She smiled, feeling the hum of the engines. Glancing out of her window, she checked the flaps and thrusters, watching as they moved with her maneuvering the holographic controls. With that done, she hit the radio switch and activated her helmet. She blinked rapidly. The wash of green nearly blinded her as the helmet turned on.

" Callie, do you copy?" Villus asked, his voice sounding annoyed through her helmets radio.

" Yes, I'm here, instructor. What is our heading?" Callie asked, her hands sweaty on the holographic controls.

"Once we take off, we will head due east for several minutes before heading north by northeast."Villus order.

" Affirmative, ill follow after you."Callie said, not wanting her instructor to be at her back.

"Negative cadet, you lead." Villus order sternly. Callie scowled as she added more power to the thrusters and angled the holographic controls back towards her. With a jerk and the thrum of the engines, her falcon class ship rose smoothly from the side of the mountain. Leaves washed over her windshield as her ship slowly rose.

Callie's heart lept in her chest as she rose above the trees. The capital city of Ascalon burned far below. Sprawling across the valley below was the city of Ascalon. She could see flashing and the blinking reports of guns from Zrixian war ships as they delivered death and soldiers.

Tracer rounds lit up the night sky in shades of red and yellow. It was so futile, but she couldn't begrudge her countrymen their fight. Awash in inferred light, the battle seemed eery. Many of the building shown in the night brightly lit by her helmets lense. Against the might of the Zrixians, how did her countrymen have a chance?

Callie pushed on her holographic controls, feeling the falcon tilt towards the city slightly. Her hands shook as, at the base of the mountain, she could see the plume of smoke drifting from the compound. She could go help with the guns of her ship, maybe she could kill that massive dreadnaught?

" Cadet, what are you doing?" Villus asked, annoyed.

"Nothing instructor, it was just a strong gust of wind that pushed me forward."Callie said, her hands trembling at the site below. Who was she kidding, a falcon class fighter against a dreadnaught? That was like shooting her 223 at a tank, completely useless.

Her moment of recklessness passed, and she turned her ship east. Her gauge glowed slightly as her shipboard compass showed the way she was pointing. Applying fuel, the thrusters boomed, and the force pushed her back into her chair. Her vision still awash in inferred, Callie flew as close to the trees as she dared.

The wind constantly buffeted the ship, but she kept out of the deadly reach of the trees. If not for her instruments and her inferred helmet, she could never fly so low. After several minutes, she turned north east. Her mind whirled as she thought about the hour. They had really just left? They had left everyone to their fates at the hands of the Zrixian empire?

Callie watched her holographic map and altimeter, making sure she didn't drift too high or too low, watching the massive city disappear behind them. The machine sensors were running silent, its proximity array turned off. She couldn't even see Villus following behind. This was risky for a host of reasons, but the Zrixians had sensors that detected active scanning equipment.

For several hours she flew her nerves practically on end as she avoided another ridge that came out of nowhere. Her fuel gauge was dipping around fifty percent when the radio came back on.

" We are here. Hold back and watch as I approach the landing site." Villus.

Callie pulled back on the controls, maneuvering to a gentle hover and let off the power to the primary drives. Nearby, in inferred, she saw a light on the ground flash. The Strobe light flashed in a steady cadence and several seconds later she caught movement. A small falcon class ship like her own flew in low towards the strobe light and landed. Callie engaged the throttle and maneuvered forwards, her ship rocking in the wind.

She followed a second strobe light and settled her small fighter jet beside Villus. Her ship settling down and rustling up a wash of dust and leaves as her landing skids touched the dirt of the small clearing. Exhausted and rung out, Callie powered down the ship. The thrum of the engines powering down, calming her racing mind.

She opened the rear hatch of the falcon and exited, taking in a breath of fresh night air. She pressed a button on the side of the rear hatch and the hydraulic door closed once again.

What now? From the other ship Villus got out and using camouflaged netting, he covered his ship. Callie sighed, and with a force of will, she did the same. The netting activated, creating a field of energy that deflected sensor scans and the trusty eyeball.

After she was done, Villus waved her towards a small house nestled under the trees nearby. The safe house was dark, but had several large steel tanks near the back.

Once they entered, Callie nervously paced while Villus pulled some food from the cupboards and placed it on the wooden table.

" What now, instructor?" Callie asked, her nerves getting the better of her.

" For now, we sleep. There is a spare bedroom upstairs. Tomorrow we plan and prepare. Congratulations, your training is over. Tomorrow you will go into the field. Tomorrow we will make the enemy hurt." said Villus, a malicious smile crossing his face.