Mission That Changes Everything

A man's voice returned from the other side.

    "John, it's the general. We need to talk to you. So please hurry and get to the conference room." 

    John sighed, looked over to Sam over on the bed and shook his head. 

    "I'll be down, give me a minute to get showered and dressed."

    The sound of footsteps hitting upon the ceramic floor from outside the door. Signaling that the general acknowledged and was on his way. 

John went in to grab clothing again. First pulling out a shirt and boxers from the drawer then some pants and socks. He stopped dead in his tracks and started to laugh. 

"What's so funny babe?" 

Sam asked him, confusion was apparent across her face. She leaned herself up, still attempting to figure out what was so funny. John while still laughing lifted up his socks.

"I grabbed two different types of socks."

Sam looked down at the socks, seeing that one was a long black sock and the other was a petite pink ankle sock. Once she realized what the commotion was about, she started to laugh in sync with him. A moment after John stopped laughing. Within a flash, the pink sock evaporated. 

Sam startled at what just happened, looked up to John. Anger was stricken across his face. She laid there speechless, her face turned a pale shade.

"This is becoming a huge burden. I just can't wait for this whole thing to end."

He looked up to Sam, his anger dissipated and a sadness replaced behind it.

"I just want my life back to the way it was before, back when things we worried about were maybe bills. You are the only thing in this world that I really care about anymore. These damn people are using us, but for what. Even if we win this, we'll just go back to the way we were before and we'll destroy ourselves."

Sam just laid there, unable to conjure up the words to say. For she had a similar agreement on the whole situation. 

John grabbed for another sock, to replace the one that he had just destroyed, and moved to the other side of the room. He walked up to a wooden door, grabbed for the doorknob, gave it a twist and the door swung open. He stopped, stared into the darkness of the room, as if he was staring into an abyss. He just stood there, deep into thought, staring into that dark abysmal. 

Sam looked over to him, noticing that he still had not moved and that he seemed to be staring off into space. 

"Hey John, honey. What are you looking at? Are you ok?"

John quickly snapped out of his daze and looked over to Sam. 

"Sorry babe, I was just in thought. I was thinking about our first date."

Sam intrigued, smiled, perked herself straight up and walked over to John in a sexual manner. Swaying her hips side to side. Her red night dress swaying with the motions.

"Oh is that what you were thinking about? Are you sure you weren't thinking about something else? I don't think you remember our first date."

John looked over to her, watching her as she approached closer to him. A smile blew up across his face. He teleported over to her, grabbed onto her side and leaned in to whisper.

"Oh yes I do. I may forget most things, but how could I forget that moment?"

John grabbed for her left hand, held it up and placed his opposing hand onto her waist. He moved to the side, guiding her with each motion, and then moved to the left. Moving across the floor, utilizing the whole terrain. He stepped back pulling her along, while still holding onto her left hand, and gave her a quick twirl. As her body aligned back to his, he pulled her in close and landed a giant kiss upon her lips.

"Yes I do remember our first date. You looked gorgeous with that red dress on."

Sam's face was glowing as she stared at him. Her lust for him was apparent that it never disappeared, they might've had bad times, but their love was definitely there.

"We had the funnest time at that restaurant, until you decided to trip over air and have all that food come crashing down on us."

Sam started to laugh. Her eyes sparkled as she stared into John's. She had a love for him unlike any other, and she may not realize it, but John's love for her was unmatched.

John let go of her and walked back to the open doorway. Lights came on and Sam watched the silhouette disappear as the door closed behind him. 

Ten minutes passed by, and John emerged from the bathroom. Steam rolled out through the open doorway. Sam looked up and saw John with a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair and body still partially wet. She laid there on the bed, staring and watching as he dropped the towel to the ground and bent over to put his boxers and pants on. She gazed at his butt and bit her lower lip, admiring her boyfriend's body. John grabbed for his shirt, to take notice of his girl ogling him. He decided to show off a little. He put the shirt up and as he was pulling it down over himself, he flexed his muscles. He had an understanding that the occasional show off is terrific for a relationship and that Sam approved of it.

John swiftly finished, ran over to Sam and planted a big kiss upon her lips. He turned around and progressed out of the door. Leaving Sam behind in the room to rest.

He moved through the hallway, down a flight of stairs and ended at a closed metal door. He stood in thought and decided that instead of knocking and having them let him in, he would just teleport in. John's body started to disintegrate and then with a blur, he transported himself to the center of the room. Where the holo-table was located. The generals and his remaining friends were standing around it, each startled from his dramatic entrance.

"Damn, John. That freaks me out every time still hahaha."

Sean laughingly said to him. John looked at him with a smile on his face and then looked at the generals and became serious in an instant. The oldest general looked at him and discussed as the other two were smiling and chuckling. John was already aware that the oldest general did not approve of him, or his abilities, but really did not care for his opinion anyway. He thought of him to be an arrogant ass anyway.

The eldest general began to bark out, interrupting everyone else's enjoyment.

"Now as I was saying, the creatures keep giving us hell in this area. We need this for us to have any kind of stronghold." 

One of the other generals interrupted.

"Ok for one, only you think that we need that area for a stronghold. We've all told you before that area is nothing but issues and will always be that. Every time we gain it we lose it just as fast and we all also agreed that it isn't as important as the other area."

The oldest general glared at him, anger stricken across his face. But the other general did not care. He stood there and stared him down, the last general barged in to defuse the confrontation.

"Well regardless, we need to find out how to get that anyway to get some ground. That's where you guys will come into play."

He looked over to John and his friends and pointed down at the table. Where it was projecting a mountainous region surrounded by flats.

"We need you guys to go in and take this area and secure it. I will warn you though, they have been breaching through every time we get a hold of it. Also there has been sightings of those god creatures coming through the area. So this will not be an easy endeavor, but this is why we're sending you guys in. you're the best we have."

The general looked at John directly. John understood what he was looking at him for. He realized that when he said something about the god creature, that he was talking directly to him for it. Only he has been able to take one on and only he has been able to ward one off.

    The general continued on.

    "John, these god creatures seem to be appearing throughout, as if searching. We think there searching for you. Ever since that day you fought against that one, roughly a year ago."

A fear arose on Sean and Rex's faces. They remembered what all happened with the last encounter, and they also remember the vast power that it had. John noticed their expressions and in an attempt to ease their concerns said.

"Hey you guys, it'll all be ok. We've been through a lot and seen some crazy shit. We'll always have each other's backs, but I don't want you guys to endure this if you don't feel comfortable. We are dealing with god-like creatures and mythical things. Things that we only thought were stories from our youth. So tell me now if you are in or out."

It did not take long before Rex opened his mouth. 

"John, even though I've only met you a little over a year ago. Just know I'm in this with you until the end. You gained my respect." 

From the background, he heard other people's voices flooding in. 

"Me too."

One after another, more and more voices shouting out those words. Every one of them reassured him that they are in this with him for the long haul. He gained everyone's respect and loyalty. He proved himself, and earned his title in all their opinions. Minus the eldest general. He still did not care for John and who he is, or in his opinion, what he is. 

"Well thank you, everyone."

John said out loud so everyone in the room could hear. He realized that he had followers to back him up, and that people believed in him. 

"Ok we need you guys suited and ready to head out in the next few hours. We need this done as soon as possible. You guys will be given the usual, take a car or gunship. It's your choice, go however you feel works best. We just need this area within the next day. We plan on rolling the troops through after we gain ground."

One of the generals said to John and his friends. John responded back by nodding his head to him, to show that he acknowledged what he was being asked to take. Giving the generals some closure on the situation. As John and his friends turned around to exit the room, the general spoke out.

"Hey John, good luck and we all believe in you guys. You've proven your worth. In the end, if we all make it through this fucking mess, you guys will be generously rewarded."

John stopped dead in his tracts. Taking in what all the general had to say and only had one thing to say back.

"All I want is for me and my girl to be left alone to live our lives happily."

He continued to walk out through the open doorway, back up the flight of stairs, down the hallway and out through another door that led to the corridor. John looked over to Sean and asked.

"Hey Sean, do you think we should just take an aircraft this time? It is only a few miles away and it does have a lot more firepower."

Sean looked at him and just shrugged his shoulders, for he had no clue whether they should take an aircraft or a car like they usually do. John looked over to Rex to see what his opinion would be, but before he could ask, Rex responded hastily.

"Yes John, before you ask, let's take a craft. It's a hell of a lot faster than the cars and it does have a lot more firepower. I'd feel safer in one of those. I wish they had that invisible craft that the science base had. That thing was badass, and we would be undetectable."

John chuckled from his remarks. Agreeing in a sense, thinking the same way. He looked around, searching for where the crafts would be, but was unable to locate them. So he walked up to one of the patrolling guards, the guard quickly saluted him and then waited for what he had to say to him.

"Hey, oh thanks. But um, I need to know where the air crafts are. We are gonna take one of those this time and I can't seem to find the damn things."

The guard looked at John with a puzzled face and then suddenly, as if a light bulb just turned on, directed him to follow behind as he turned and started to walk through the corridor to a bunker on the other side of the vehicles. He directed him inside the building where they came in front of several platforms that were covered with different aircraft. Some of the crafts were only big enough for a single person, whereas others were big enough for a small squad. 

John patted the soldier on his shoulder, to assure him that he could leave. The soldier saluted John, turned and walked back through the doorway, exiting out of the building. John stared up at the platforms, examining each of the several different styles of crafts. Finally he stopped in front of a craft that seemed to be completely different from the rest, it was only big enough for about 4 people and was black, whereas the others were either a green, brown camouflage color or silver.  

John walked up to the ship, when a familiar voice escalated from behind him. John hurriedly turned around to greet the familiar voice. To see it was his good ol' friend Brandon. 

"She's a beaut, isn't she? We actually designed her specifically for you guys. I knew you'd eventually wanna take one of the aircrafts, so we all decided to design a custom ship just for you guys."

John turned back around as Brandon walked past him up to the ship. Brandon was staring at the ship still, admiring his work as John peered over to Brandon to talk back to him.

"You guys made this for us? What's so special about this one, other than its size and color?"

Brandon turned his head to look at John and chuckled.

"This ship is completely different. It's the most advanced ship ever created. It has the same stealth technology that the ship you flew before. It runs off the pilots' thoughts, it has a specialized armor that is far stronger and lighter than any other ship, and, last of all, it has guns that are kick ass."

John jerked his head back to the ship, with extreme enthusiasm on his face. Studying the ship and only imagining what all the thing was capable of. John responded back to him while still staring at the ship.

"I'm taking it now, get it ready within the hour."

John walked away without paying any mind to Brandon as he exited back through the doorway and out of the building. He walked past all of the cars off to his left, down to where his friends were. Seeing as they were already suited up and had their weapons at the ready. 

"Well we got a ship that we were taking. Turns out they actually created a special ship just for us. It's a beauty. I don't know everything about it yet, but it'll be perfect for this. Best of all, it's got stealth tech on it. So we'll be safely disguised from the creatures."

As John was saying all of this to his friends, he could see the joy and relief on their faces. Knowing that they have a ship that is made to protect them and give them the upper edge needed. 

"Well I'll see you guys there in a few minutes. It's right across the field to the building on the other side. Just ask Brandon to take you to the ship."

As John finished saying this, he continued to walk to the armory building straight in front of him. He moved through the doorway, past the lockers up to his locker, which read "Sergeant John Stewart." Underneath the words were several small stickers and post-it notes. Saying things such as, "Thank you John for being our hero", and "Our prayers are with you". Each of these signs brought a smile across John's face. Knowing that his efforts weren't going to waste and that people did not see him as a freak like the older general does.

John snapped out of his ego trip, opened his locker and looked at his suit. Instantly noticing a difference about it, seeing that it was gold. From behind him he hears Sean's voice.

"Yeah good ol' buddy. We asked Brandon and the other scientists if they could customize your suit."

Rex interrupted him, to fill him in with more information about the suit in front of him. 

"The leader and general agreed. You are now the commanding chief. We had them recolor your suit for you, and add some cool features. We all had the features added. Brandon will have to explain to you what they all are though."

John looked at them, and then turned back and grabbed his chest plate. He put his under layer suit on and then finally put the rest of the armor on. Locking each of the specialized golden metal pieces together. Hearing each one make a clicking noise as they snapped together.

John walked out of the room after he grabbed his helmet. He walked over to his friends, where Brandon was waiting next to them. 

"So I'm supposed to ask you about these new features on these suits."

Brandon looked to Sean and Rex and chuckled, and then looked back at John while still smiling.

"Well yes, they asked me to make some adjustments and add some extras, basically we added a color change ability to help camouflage yourself, and we added a special metal that's much stronger and lighter than the old steel ones. If you haven't already noticed the weight difference. Now that's the latent terms, but I was ordered to tell you guys to get in the ship and leave like now. There's a screen inside the ship for the trip so the generals can explain the situation."

John nodded his head at Brandon, and walked past him towards the building that was storing the airships. Everyone following behind him as he walked past the cars on his right, straight up to the open doorway. Inside the building they all saw the pedestals covered with all of the airships positioned upon them. John directs his friends to the shuttle that they will be taking. Sean and Rex stare at the ship, befuddled by what was upon them. 

John turned around to see they were bewildered. He laughed and then ordered them to all pile inside the ship, walking behind them. They sat down on each side while John walked straight ahead to the cockpit, to realize it already had a pilot.

"Hello sir, I am Private Bryan Swartz. I will be your pilot."

John glared at the blonde haired soldier, thinking to himself of why have someone else drive the ship. So he questioned him, attempting to find out why he was driving. He thought it odd to give them a ship and not allow them to control it. He sat down next to the cockpit opening, as they all felt a jerk from them lifting up into the air. John started to question.

"So tell me, soldier, why is it they have someone else piloting the ship? I am more than capable of piloting the craft."

As the ship ascended up into the air and up a shaft. Seeing a light approaching quickly, the higher they were. The soldier finally answered back to John's questions.

"Well sir, I am one of the best pilots in the military. I have proven credentials on both simulator and combat situations. I have beat all records and have managed to pull civilians out of areas that were condemned impossible. I even managed to pull civilians out of the New York City area during the attack from those god like creatures. So they tasked me to your squad. Hopefully I have given you a good enough reason to see me as a reliable person for your squad."

The brightness of the sunlight flooded in, and then dissipated just as quickly. They felt a stop jerk and then a lunge as he accelerated forward. They were en-route and flew through the air toward their destination. 

As the time started to laps, everyone's minds were racing. None of them knew what they were headed into. 

John, while sitting next to Bryan, decided to pat him on the soldier and then leaned himself back into his seat. Relaxing, centering himself and mentally preparing for what they were about to get themselves into. Suddenly a hologram appeared in thin air in front of everyone. It was showing a three-dimensional image of the generals and some terrain.

"John. We have a huge problem going on right now. The area that we're sending you to is being surrounded, as if the creatures know of your arrival. We're sending in a bombing brigade to take out whatever they can and thin out the mess. We need that mountain at all costs. Your pilot was already instructed to swoop in heavy grounds and drop you off, he will provide cover as you gain this area."

As John went to answer, Sean barged in.

"What the fuck do you mean by this? How many are we dealing with? Are there any of those god creatures there yet?"

The image began to distort and then dissipated all together. John reactively pressed the radio button to reestablish the link, but to no avail.

"We're on our own here you guys."

John said to everyone with a slight anger in his voice. Sean threw his helmet down onto the ground and leaned his head back into the seat. While Rex just kept leaning forward with his helmet in hand. Their eyes were wide open from the fear. Both seemed to be on edge with the whole situation. ***

An hour or so went by, and the pilot shouted back to everyone, warning them that they were close to their destination. Everyone grabbed a hold of their gear, the feeling of their hearts pounded as they were getting the jitters. 

The ship started to shake, from turbulence as they approached closer to the mountain. John threw his helmet on, stood up and walked to the cockpit to see outside of the window. He saw smoke trails rising into the air from the mountain up ahead, and craters impacted into the terrain from the bombings. Down on the ground he could see creatures moving in swarms toward the center.

"Get ready you guys. We have trouble."

John shouted back to everyone. Rex stood up and wobbled his way to the cockpit, to get a view of what all they were getting themselves into. He looked down and saw creatures moving throughout the wooded terrain. As they moved closer to the top of the mountain, they began to see squadrons of soldiers on the top side fighting the incoming creatures that were moving up the hill. Tracers sent flying through the air, and bombs blasting off, chunks of rocks and dirt were traversed into the air.

"Land us right there, at the crown. We're gonna help these soldiers hold this area."

John ordered Bryan. Rex jerked his head over to him, with a shocked expression on his face. Bryan did as he was told, the ship jerked them all forward as they went for a steep descent down toward the ground. They felt their stomachs rising up as the g forces lowered from the downward stroke. Within seconds they approached the ground. John ran to the back of the ship, opened the hatch and leaped out. He landed on the ground in a roll. He rolled until he gained his center and reactively started to fire upon the incoming enemy creatures while on a knee. 

Bullets flew through the air down the mountainside hitting a few of the Rollers, but only ricocheted off their metal armor. More bullets went flying through the air from behind John at the incoming creatures. John turned his head to see it was his friends, knowing that they had his back.

Bullets were sent flying to the trees parallel after ricocheting off of the creature's armor. John quickly adjusts his aim, and finally dropped one creature after another. Holes blew through the skulls of the incoming rollers, dropping them to the ground with loud thumps.  

Behind them, John and Rex quickly took notice of something tall and dark creeping up. Before Rex could say anything, John teleported over to one of the creatures, pulled out his machete and before it could react, delivered a fatal blow through its chest. The Kreoles gas disappeared from around it as it dropped to the ground dead. 

John pulled the blade out from the creature's chest and threw it at another Kreole, landing the blade at its side. Its blood splattered out from the other side of the wound. It straggled over to john, only to fall short in front of him. As it collapsed to the ground and the gas evacuated from its body, John leaned over it, pulled his blade from its side and said.

"Tell your bosses, there next."

Its eyes went lifeless, and its breath left from its body. John stood there, without a flinch, and watched as it died. A smirk grew on his face, as he waited. The creature finally died. John looked up and saw Sean and Rex were still fighting some more incoming creatures.

John vanished and reappeared next to them, pulled out his pistol and began to fire at incoming creatures. One after another they began to fall, lining the ground with dead rollers. 

Finally things started to slow down and the creatures were running away. Everyone cheered as they watched the creatures retreat.

"Hey John, I think you scared them." 

Sean shouted over to John. John laughed in reply, but suddenly the sky started to grow dark and the air grew cold. Sean looked over to John and saw that he had a concerned expression on his face. Without haste, a flash of lightning struck the ground, only feet from Rex. 

John, startled, looked over to see his friend on the ground. He looked above from his body to see a humanoid thing standing over top of him.