ch 2: Making friends is important.

The grim hallways seemed to continue forever as Alessandro walked them, behind him the rest of his group had started chatting and discussing, seemingly not tense about the situation.

"Since we all came out from room 7-11 we should wear our room number like a squad emblem!"

Exclaimed a cheerful girl, while her light brown ponytail and petite body size might lead one to underestimate her, anyone from room 7-11 who had seen her muscles would not.

Loud cheers and other agreeing sounds came from the rest of the group as they fiddled on the settings of their jumpers. Soon after, a 7-11 surrounded by a white shield appeared on their clothes on the right shoulder.

The result impressed Alessandro with its simplicity, so he decided to get it too. However, when it appeared on his shoulder, one of the men behind him called him out.

"Hey! Who told you could wear it too?" he demanded with a snarl. The group came to a halt, watching the situation unfold.

"I... uh." he stammered thinking of a reply, they had said it was for all the people from room 7-11 right? then why were they giving him trouble for it?

"Hahaha, just kidding, relax man." the group started laughing, fully knowing it was a prank. "you just seemed a little uptight, so I thought a little joke would help you." he slapped his shoulder and then offered the same hand. "I'm Rico Hernandez."

From his looks and name, he seemed Spaniard, golden brown skin and dark hair. Coupled with his mysterious smile and bright eyes, they made him quite an eye candy for ladies. Alessandro slowly wondered how anyone that had spent a few lives in a tank of water could be tanned.

Alessandro studied the hand for a moment checking if it was another prank and then hesitantly shook it. "Alessandro D'Angelo, please don't prank me again," he asked pityingly.

The whole group laughed and introduced one by one. "Sofia Hernandez, the joker's sister, if he keeps being a jackass tell me," she said with a wink that made her brother cringe.

Like the brother, she had sparkling eyes and long dark hair. Her golden skin glistered under the hallway's dim neon lights.

"Guess I'm next, Ashley Cooper, while I might look like this," she waved one hand to show her petite body. "I'm actually at least, a few hundred years now old." she ended with a wink.

"Oh right, he is Vasy. Our shy Siberian bear." introduced Ashley for the last fellow in the back, a giant of a man, well over 2 meters filled with muscles and with short snow-white hair adorning his head like a helmet. His serene expression didn't flinch as he shook Alessandro's hand.

"pleasure," said Alessandro with a little hint of deference towards the man that looked like he could snap Alessandro like a twig. the march resumed after the little meet and greet session.

"Mind if I ask a question or two?" Asked Alessandro.

"Shoot," replied Rico playing with his baton.

"Why do you look so relaxed?" he hesitated for a moment before adding, "I mean, we are under attack, are you not afraid we could die in a few minutes?" he asked with equal parts of curiosity and worry.

the group laughed. "Man, you think we are gonna die now? we spent god knows how many decades sleeping, and nothing happened, how lame would it be to die the same day we wake up?" another laugh accompanied by Ashley kicking Rico's butt.

"Don't listen to him; he has all kind of bullshit in that empty head of his. Truth is we all used to be part of peace forces back in the days, and we personally fought under colonel Yong during the Paris food shortage revolt. If anyone capable of bringing down that man existed, then even god would be afraid to show his face." she replied with a mysterious smile and unflinching confidence.

The group continued its way discussing past missions and speculations on what was going on the surface. Then after the many flights of stairs and numerous other groups joining in, they reached the frontline.

The whole fifth floor opened on a giant cafeteria that could accommodate a few thousand people. Metal tables and chairs neatly aligned from one side of the room to the other. On the opposite entrance, the symmetry broke down as most of the tables had been used to create a makeshift barricade surrounding the door.

Few steps in, the group was noticed by the other people in the room. From behind the barricade a humongous body popped up like a sea monster. Taller than two meters and with a frame that could have people mistake him for Hulk's Asian brother.

The Giant looked at Alessandro, his two little eyes matched in colour the two braided ponytails coming out of the temples, the only hair on his head, saved for a bit of beard around his mouth.

"Finally here, " he grunted with a heavy voice. "almost thought the implants in your heads didn't work right." with a somersault he jumped over the barricade and landed on his two feet. Alessandro could imagine people clapping and giving flying grades for that athletic feat.

"I'm colonel Yong, but you should've already heard that. No time for explanations right now, tuck your questions for bed now, you ain't getting any answers until the last of this green hats thinks he can take a shit in our house." Concise and right on point, so were colonel Yong's words.

Then, he grabbed a table's leg and with a kick broke it off. People were looking flabbergasted at the power in that tree-trunk thick leg of his. He then flattened the broken point with a stomp before handing the rudimentary spear to Alessandro.

"I remember you could wave a stick," he told him with a serious face. "remember to use the pointy part," he added with a little chuckle, causing Alessandro's cheeks to blush a little. The man that snapped his neck not even an hour ago had now become his commanding officer.

Loud thumps broke the atmosphere; a voice came from the other side of the barricade. "Sir, they are attempting another assault!" Yong snorted loudly before spitting a heavy dose of phlegm on the ground. "Take whatever you can use as a weapon and meet us on the other side," he crouched preparing to jump back, however, he hesitated for a moment, turned around and said. "almost forgot, we don't need any more prisoners, kill everything that looks like a roach."