23 Unknown presence

Awoken, my body is drenched with sweat. Again, i am awaken with this heavy feeling tugging at my chest. It is very hard to breathe, the air is stuffy and there is this uncomfortable feeling like a bone is stuck inside and no matter how coughed and swallowed, it remains there.

Ever since that 'armor' appeared in the nearby forest, i have been getting this weird feeling looming over me. Like a bad stink that won't go away no matter how hard you washed. It wasn't just me, everyone from my squad feels the same.

Apparently the other two squad was also bothered by the alien presence of that 'armor'. It is white in color and looks like a a haunted full plate armor. It stood motionless inside a hollowed trunk of a big tree. The only distinguishing feature of that armor was the painted '04' number on it's back in red.

All three squads of vanguard have reported it's sudden appearance and our bad premonitions to the Headquarters three days ago but all the reply we ever recieved was that it's a prototype in testing phase.

Apparently the R and D team is trying to present a Neuro Operated Robotic Messiah assault - type land or in short N.O.R.M.a.l to our Savior. The previous three prototype have been rejected due to it's lack of sensory but the R and D team refuted saying that the Savior shouldn't feel any pain in battle.

Personally, I'd agree with Mister Lux in that the five sense we have is a must in combat. Though i too wished that he doesn't have to suffer all the hardship just for testing purpose. I wonder why he tested all the prototypes, surely someone like General Jack Daniel is more suited to combat but i never did understand all of his action. Perhaps nobody can understand what goes inside the head of a genius.

*brrtz brrtz brrtz*

Emergency alert? What happened? I looked at the others and they too were puzzled.

"Code Purple. Director Gray Lux will be controlling the prototype N.O.R.M.a.l 04 today. Assist him from far and don't reveal your presence to any other outsiders unless necessary or if you are ordered by the director. Use chanel four to communicate with him. Be ready to move at any time."

I have a bad feeling about this. Could it have something to do with our Savior? No i won't let any damage be done to that prototype.

"Captain Bell, your order?" a voice came and awakened me from my thoughts.

"Camouflage with the surroundings and keep a distance of a hundred meter from that prototype. Keep it safe at all times. I'm having a bad feeling, let's hope nothing will happen. Move out!"

I watched as all eleven members in my squad swiftly moved. I stayed with my mind a mess. I feel detached from everyone at this moment. With a heavy feeling looming around me, i lunged forward towards the prototype.

The first ray of light finally arrived at this forest but instead of the usual warmth, i felt cold all over me. The familiar forest where we used to traverse and live seemed foreign this instance. Cold sweats drenched my back again. I froze.

Reaching out for my rarely used communication tool, there is this strange rigidness in my movement. Clenching it tight, a small voice uttered from my mouth. "Stop."

*Bzzzt*

"Captain?"

"Retreat.. come back here." I ordered with a weak voice.

A moment later there was movement in front of me. My squad have arrived. A slight relief escaped from my mouth but that heavy feeling seemed to grow stronger with each passing second. Their faces full of anxious and worry, some with puzzled expression... the last time I saw this was when we were asked by our Savior, Mr Lux.

#########

"Congratulations elites. You are all at the top of your skills and abilities. Do you wish to serve and defend this city?"

"Yes!" Unanimously we agreed.

"It is dangerous, you may lose your life."

"Yes." some hesitated.

"I'm planning to have the twelve of you goes out. Out of the city and into the treacherous woods."

"..." Not a sound was heard as we all were recalling back his words. Are we being thrown away to die in the jungles? How would that help the city?

"You all seen the shield? The one that's keeping us all safe right now. One day it will be broken, one day the monsters outside will be here in the city to devour us all. Nearly a decade they have been lusting at us, ramming those shield all this time without success. When the wall breaks, what do you think will happen to us? The wall isn't unbreakable, it isn't a permanent solution. The wall is just a delay, to buy us time before the inevitable outcome."

"Sooner or later we will have to face those monsters... And I'd rather have some knowledge in fighting them now than being caught unprepared.. facing an the unknown is always.. will always be our fear. If I am not a managing this city, I would offer myself to be a scout.. a vanguard for humanity."

It's true. Walls can be broken.. and when the time comes, are we just going to be devoured? No, not after all we've gone through. We have to overcome them. Right, our Savior needs to be alive. I'll help him... even if i have to die. Brother, stay alive for me.

"No. You have to stay alive Mister Lux. You are our hope. With you alive, you can think of many ways for us to survive. I'll do it, I'll kill all those beast outside!"

#########

That was how it started, the twelve of us being here on this forest of our own will. Sacrificing our lives for the sake of humanity... Yet... Why can't i move.

Tears are rolling down my cheeks. My feet unsteady. My hands trembling. My breathing short and quick. Why? Why am i like this. I was supposed to be the ace.. I am the ace... Yet here i am, freezing in fear... Unable to do anything before this foreboding feeling. Never before in the 2 years im here that i feel so helpless.

But I am their captain. They too noticed this suffocating 'air'. They are waiting for my orders... I need to be the 'ace'. For them.. For me... For Light.