2 Chapter I A New World - Part 2

"They're all dead? But how can that be?" The question that danced in the back of his mind, like a pair of daggers, he prayed that it wasn't true and they were just jesting him.

Daniel returned his question with the only answer that the only sole Locust soldier didn't want to hear, "They were mostly wiped out with the energy nuke wave that the Scars launched on Chicago and around the world."

The worries had overtaken the Locust soldier like a swift blow to the heart, his memories of his past, and friendships of the people he met before had reclaimed back into his brain and heart all at once, it hurt him like a needle injection. "If that's true then that means, Ava..." That name, Ava. She was the only one she cared for and loved him. At the time he didn't understand or recognize why she cared for him like she did, as did no one else. The horrific memory that stained him had returned. Death.

"Who's Ava?" The Militia soldier Brad asked him wondering who he was referencing.

The Locust soldier came back to his realization and saw the three Militia soldiers turn from a black cloud and into the normal soldiers they were. "She's my.... Well, Never mind who she was, we need to get going."

Both the Locust soldier and the three Militia soldiers left the abandoned area and headed in a direction to leave the city's destructive streets.

Curious of this new environment, The Locust soldier scanned the entire area, observing every detail he saw. He noticed the cracked sidewalk had roots growing from it, well just about every crack had roots in them. The multiple skyscrapers had fallen and decayed over the several years looming in the distance. He stepped on the muddy grounds off of the sidewalk as they had to travel across the street to reach the other side. He stepped on an old chunk of blacktop pavement that was most likely the road at one time. The road was covered with mud, trash, old trashy cars either broken into, or flipped on its side. With a slight whiff of anger appearing, the Locust soldier mumbles under his breath with hot air fogging inside his helmet's visor, "I can't believe they did this."

Charlie caught on to the Locust soldier's mumbling and asked, "Did you say something?"

The anger had passed on and he noticed Charlie had asked for his concernment. "Huh? Oh it was nothing. I had my mind on something."

"I see, please don't get too distracted sir, we are in a dangerous sector, we need to keep our mind's open and available to anything. What is your name by the way?"

"Locus, W, Flint."

"Name's Charlie Donald Sir."

"Why are you here Charlie?"

"Searching for a special individual we were told, we have good reasons to believe you are the one."

The new companion named Locus and the Militia soldiers were continuing to engage in conversation, until they entered into a wild new area from an alleyway and into an open area with a large capitol-like building in view. Ahead was an old concrete fountain with grey mucky water in the bowl while nothing flowed from the top. A statue of a man with glasses and wore what seemed like business clothing was standing on top of the fountain, still intact. The four lane blacktop pavement road was cracked and chipped away with both directions having tons of trash thrown all over the road. Down the two streets were cars stacked, with barbed wire fencing blocking off each side. A ton of modern buildings surrounded the area, with various shops and stores.

"What a mess, wonder why the roads are blocked?" Brad asked considering the reasons why they took such a move on an invasion.

"Hawk 51 Five do you read us?" Daniel asked, checking in on his radio.

Static.

"Which direction is your ship?" Locus asked.

"It's that-" Brad stopped, quickly aimed his assault rifle outwards towards the direction where he heard a noise.

Locus raised his knife and the other two soldiers raised their weaponry outwards, "What do you see?" Locus asked Brad to prepare himself.

"I'm sensing something nearby on my scanner. I don't see-" Brad was shocked, seeing the red energy beam which looked like a sword piercing through his chest.

Locus, Charlie, and Daniel were shocked by the quick moment and jumped back to flee further away from the unknown force. The floating red energy sword escaped from Brad's bloody chest. Out came gushing spurts of pure red blood, the blood began to rush up his throat, he coughed up blood, he didn't feel the pain anymore, he could only feel one thing that lingered in his mind. It's Hot, Hot, why do I feel hot? The only thoughts he could think of and wonder. Upon realization, he collapsed on his knees, gazing up with final thoughts of his brother from early childhood and the horrible childhood he had, he gasped, gagged on more blood, and finally his body dropped dead onto the hard blacktop ground.

The floating energy sword was not floating anymore as it was now being held by a creature. Locus saw the red armored creature holding the red energy blade, laughing at the dead human soldier Brad, with so much pain and history that was ended in a swift blow to the chest. With familiarity, he said "Scar's…"

The monstrous Scar creature ran at them, preparing to swing his sword fearcily. Locus Charlie, and Daniel gathered closely awaiting the first move.

The Scar creature growled as he charged and slashed the energy blade at them rapidly. Locus dodged the swing but unfortunately, the two Militia soldiers were slashed to their skulls and it killed them quickly. With Locus being off guard at the deaths, a blade cut managed to slice Locus off guard, he felt the sword's energy tear off his shoulder pads and burn through his armor.

Locus was shocked by the losses and his unexpected wound. Frightened inside, he fell to the ground trembling. The Scar creature tried slashing Locus while he was trembling on the ground.

Locus maneuvered by rolling away from the slashes, he climbed back on his feet, drew back from the creature, and analyzed the situation trying to find an opening to kill this unhuman monster. The enemy was crafty as he was, preparing to kill Locus while he was weak and trembling. No other bodies besides Brad, Charlie, and Daniel's. Thoughts and feelings were unleashing inside his mind, he almost couldn't contain himself or keep his thoughts clear of the situation, but now wasn't the time for distraction. No weapons, well except Brad's, Charlie's, or Daniel's weaponry. Bingo, his opportunity was revealed. He strategizes a plan, keeping close watch with the Scar monster. The creature had enough time waiting, he either makes his move or dies. The monster creature tightens his grip on the energy-like sword, it hastily charges at Locus preparing to end him for good.

Locus ran at him as well with a meeting between life or death. The two both meet each other, Locus saw the energy blade aim right at his head, he quickly dodged it and got closer to the creature's neck. He pulled a gotcha moment by jabbing a knife into its throat. The creature groaned in pain, Locus quickly took this opportunity, he went and grabbed Brad's assault rifle on the ground. He aimed it at him and sprayed him dead with bullets

The weapon's magazine was empty of bullets, he saw the opening of the creature's spot that he wounded. He could see the blood, skull, and gore of the creature's head exposed. If he could smell the guts and blood, it would bother him. The purple stream of blood kept pouring out of it's skull and dripping down from the face and on the ground. The Scar's had evolved he thought, he was tempted to spit on the creature to disrespect their race, what they did to his home disgusted him. He stared at the dead monster coldly, he went near it, crouched down, and slowly pulled his knife out of the neck. He wiped the blood away using his palms, cautious not to cut himself. He returned the knife back to his brown knife pouch. Afterwards, he went to hopefully help the three Militia soldiers.

Locus inspected Brad first, he kneeled down and checked to find a pulse by tapping his neck, holding it. Nothing. "Peace to the Fallen," he muttered, grabbing Brad's dog tag out from his neck and into Locus's hands. With Brad's two hands away from his body, he combined them together to show honor. He checked the other two soldiers. The same outcome. Death. The two soldiers Charlie and Daniel, hands he combined them together and saluted to them to show respect and gratitude.

He left them to rest as he couldn't give them a proper burial at a time like this, he continued the search for the spaceship in the massive old city of former Chicago.