Kaedin Marsh

Quenin's parents rush out of the lab, and Quenin shuts down her computers. "You ready for this?" she asks, strapping on weapons one by one.

I shrug, doing the same. "Is it possible to ever be ready for this sort of thing?"

She doesn't answer, just draws one gun. I draw one as well. "Cheers," she says. "Good luck." we bump guns. One of our strange pre-battle rituals. Then Quenin steps closer and wraps her arms around me. I hug her back. "Don't die," she says, "or I'll kill you."

I nod. "The same goes for you."

The two of us run out of the lab and through the Engineering Department. The streets are crowded with people rushing about, gathering weapons, preparing for battle. Quenin and I run all the way to the front line. The already battle-wasted field stretches away from us. Earth airships begin to touch down, unloading hundreds of soldiers per ship, and then lifting off, going back into space. The sound of ion engines increases as our ships rise above the hangar and hover over ground force, waiting for the order to attack the Earth humans' airships. I recognize Ahji's airship at the front. More and more Zhahurans join the force on the ground, some as young as thirteen, but still willing to risk their lives for their city. Some warriors sit on bikes like Quenin's, some, mostly the younger ones, wear scraps of armor that they must have scavenged from the battlefield.

Tahun and all of the city's leaders stand at the front lines with Quenin and I, all here for the final battle. The Earth human's ships continue to drop off more and more soldiers, a sea of darkness, death, and ultimately, our impending doom. On the horizon, the sun glows red, it's light like bloody scars in the sky.

Next to me, Quenin unties her black jacket and puts it on, zipping it all the way up.

As the sky darkens, lights blink on throughout the Zhahuran force. I fit the band of mine around my head just above my ears, and if adjusts to fit my head. I switch them on and a blue holographic light flickers over my eyes like a visor, the light simulating and tricking my eyes. My vision sharpens so I can see everything in detail, the darkness no longer a problem.

A streak of fire arcs through the sky and one of Earth's rockets strike the Shield. Quenin's breath catches beside me, but the Shield holds and the rocket rebounds into the sky. As one, our airships rise higher in the sky, heading off to their own battle, and Tahun signals our forces.

As one, we charge the enemy.