Episode 2: The Raptors.

Episode 2: The Raptors.

[YEAR 2913 – PLANET GAGADULU – SUMBERO HABITABLE SYSTEM]

The planet Gagadulu reflected its bright star light as it was approached by a convoy of space vessels. The space vessels landed on the diamond rich planet and were welcomed by a council of scaly lizard like humanoid figures with long spiky tails, the raptors. The door of the just landed vessel opened and an army of raptors emerged from within led by a scar faced commander. He was the most ferocious of them all and he walked with pride as he dragged a big bag along with him.

The content of the big bag was moving and shaking continuously, whatever was inside was alive. The commander stood before the welcoming council and dumped the bag right in front of them. The welcoming council composed of four powerful raptors and they looked down on the bag.

"I hope you brought us good news about Orbito" The first council member asked curiously.

"The plan was a huge success. They believe they have taken the planet from us. Our decoy platoon was able to distract the devils. While the devils were busy fighting, we secretly planted the eggs….they should hatch in five hours." The ruthless commander spoke confidently.

"Splendid…..Karash" The voice came from behind, it was the supreme leader. He came outside to welcome the scar faced commander, his name was Karash.

The moment the supreme leader came out of the diamond castle, everyone bowed down and faced the ground including Karash. The supreme leader was a gigantic lizard like monster with sharp spikes all over him, he was strong and was worthy of the position, no doubt. He was escorted by the royal guards and he was well respected.

The supreme leader walked over to the bag and knelt next to it. He ran his spiky fingers all over the bag and knew immediately its content.

"Rise Karash" The Supreme leader commanded with a powerful tone.

"Yes sire" Karash stood up immediately without questions.

"You have brought a devil into our home planet." The Supreme Leader stood up from where he knelt and caressed Karash's face with his spiky claws.

"You have done well Karash. Now I can get to see one of them up close...today I will know why they are so special. Untie the devil and bring him to the arena" The Supreme Leader concluded in a cold tone and retreated back into the diamond castle.

[YEAR 2913 – PLANET ORBITO – HERPERO HABITABLE SYSTEM] NIGHT

Back at the Galadrius which was on Orbito, Colonel Rick sat on a bench and faced a big pressurized glass window. There was a room beside him and in the room, S24 was sitting next to S15 who was lying naked on the bed. She was asleep and her wound had been bandaged. S24 knew not why he was sitting next to a soldier he just met on the battle field. He had no reason to care about a fallen soldier at all. It was the golden rule that helped the salvation soldiers to survive. The wounded were more of a liability, he knew that but it all didn't matter anymore. He saved her and the deed had been done.

He sat and observed the tattoos on S15's body; the tattoos ran from her neck down through her spines. They were familiar. He looked closely at the dragon like tattoo on her neck and touched it carefully. He felt it and he just couldn't fathom why it looked so familiar. He touched the tattoos one by one and felt them, he knew he was wrong touching a female soldier like that but he just couldn't stop himself just like how he couldn't stop himself from saving her.

"I got them from my mother." S15 whispered as she woke up from her sleep.

S24 was startled, he thought she was asleep and was ashamed. A captain like him obsessed over some silly tattoos of his inferior. He retracted his hands and apologized.

"I am sorry…." S24 pleaded.

"No…no…..it's completely fine. We are salvation soldiers right…we are free right sir?" S15 asked and smiled. S24 kept staring at her; she looked more beautiful and stunning while not in battle gear.

"Right" S24 murmured.

"I got the tattoos from my mother. We used to live on a small deserted planet outside the habitable zones protected by the salvation soldiers. Our tribes were constantly being raided by the raptors….we….(sighs)…the tattoos were given to those who had survived a raptor raid, it was a sign of good luck and respect. I survived countless raids, my family….they all died one by one…. And raid after raid…..my friends were being butchered." S15 shifted her position on the bed and sat upright. She faced S24.

"What happened to your mother?" S24 asked curiously.

There was an immediate silence between the two before S15 broke the silence.

"She was killed by the raptor known as Karash….the devil slayer." S15 responded with a cold tone and a dead stare.

[YEAR 2913 – PLANET GAGADULU – SUMBERO HABITABLE SYSTEM]

THE ARENA….

The arena was a big stadium like construct made entirely of diamond. The arena was surrounded by thousands of seats stacked upon each other. Hundreds of raptors sat and cheered, a big event was about to unfold right before their eyes. They were screaming, screeching, jumping, and leaping to their heart's delight. Several raptor ships hovered around the auditorium and illuminated the field.

However, all the screeching and screaming stopped when the supreme leader came out on stage. Everyone suddenly stopped screaming and bowed down in silence.

"Rise my people….rise" The Supreme Leader Commanded in his usual cold tone

Every single raptor arose and faced their leader with pride.

"Today….history will be written…..on two sides. One will be written here on our planet and the other will be written on Orbito" The Supreme leader continued.

"We conquered an entire platoon of devils not long ago and in a matter of hours….their whole tribe will be wiped out of existence. Thanks to the eggs…." He continued this time, his tone rose in anger and determination.

"They think they are stronger than us….they are correct…..they are very correct. But they are not smarter than us. Well let's leave that. Now to the main events of today….we have brought from our conquest a devil. Today, we will see how strong they really are….They call themselves soldiers of salvation. Let's see how much salvation they can savor. Unleash Karash and the Devil!!!!" The Supreme Leader commanded.

A big basket dropped a Salvation Soldier unto the arena….it was S12, a big axe was dropped onto the stage, just one axe whose blades were made of diamond. Karash came out of the darkness in shiny armor made of diamond and roared in all his glory. The raptors cheered and screamed.

The raptor stood a few metres away from the salvation soldier S12. He was young and probably inexperienced but he was bold. He wished he had died along with his comrades back on Orbito but fate brought him to the home planet of their arch enemies. He tapped a button on his battle gear which sent an unknown signal to an unknown destination.

"Come on devil…..let us make this quick. Grab the axe….it is a bonus to you" Karash spoke with confidence and unleashed his claws.

S12 grabbed the axe and studied it.

"Devil….is that what you call us?" S12 asked and laughed.

"You laugh….at the sight of death…..For I am Karash the devil slayer and today, I will rip off your bones and tear you to pieces" Karash concluded and charged at S12 with great unparalleled speed. He leaped into the sky and descended upon S12 with power and strength.

[YEAR 2913 – PLANET ORBITO – HERPERO HABITABLE SYSTEM] NIGHT

Back at the Galadrius…..

"Karash is the commander of the Raptor army….he was handpicked by the supreme leader right from a young age and was trained to destroy and conquer all." S15 took the blanket off and struggled to stand up. She almost fell but S24 caught her right before she fell and helped her up.

"So he killed your mother?" S24 asked curiously

"He killed everyone…but he made my mother's death a slow and painful one. If find him anywhere in the universe, I will kill him." S15 concluded in a cold tone. She bent, took her underwear and wore it. She then reached for her trouser which was hanged on a pole next to her bed.

"Why did you save me captain?" S15 asked as she wore her bra and t-shirt.

"What?" S24 asked confusedly

"You knew the rules but you went ahead to break them….to save me….a young wounded soldier who was a liability in battle" S15 asked more specifically.

"I…I…I don't know" S24 muttered.

"Well….then….thank you."

Right in between the conversation, Colonel Rick barges inside and startles the two soldiers.

"All dead soldiers have been carried into ship and packaged for retirement. You can come for their retirement ceremony." Colonel Rick said and looked at both of them in the room. He waited and studied them closely for some seconds before he uttered his final words.

"And you too S15…you can come along with the captain." The Colonel concluded and was about to leave when he was stopped by S15.

"Thank you Colonel….for allowing me to get treated." S15 appreciated with a salute.

"Arrgh…don't thank me soldier….thank your captain, he gave you blood" The Colonel concluded and left.

S15 and S24 walked down to the retirement bridge. It was a place where the dead soldiers were packaged, piled up and burnt to ashes. They stood amidst the other salvation soldiers and observed the ceremony. Colonel Rick was on the podium speaking on behalf of the dead soldiers before they were sent off.

"Today, history was written in the calendars of the human race. Though we are divided and scattered all over known and unknown habitable zones located in every crooked corners of the explored universe, today is yet another powerful reminder that we still stand strong. Today, our comrades….the fifteenth platoon captained by S24 sacrificed their entire existence to sanctify this planet…..Orbito. Due to their sheer courage and resilience, they were able to slaughter every single one of those scaly mother fuckers and take back what was once ours. Of course there was a price to pay….but they didn't care and they just went forth to battle and died for humanity's cause. Today we will retire them and send them off to the afterlife….where they will finally be at peace." The Colonel concluded and was given a fire blaster.

He turned it on and blasted the corpses with fire so bright, every single salvation soldier in the ship had to shield their eyes for some seconds. The corpses were incinerated in a nanosecond and were turned to ash. The ashes were absorbed by large vacuum absorbers and everyone took of their hats in salute.

S24 and S15 saluted with pride and watched as the ashes of their comrades were being absorbed away.

"S15….your real name….what is your real name?" S24 asked.

"Leeya Morgan…..and you captain?"S15 asked

"Call me Verrick. Verrick Gates" S24 replied

"Thank you for today Verrick."

"Leeya…..you're welcome"

[Location: Some unknown place near the Galadrius landing spot]

A few miles away from the Galadrius, three gigantic eggs were cracking. The eggs cracked open and slimy like reptiles emerged with sharp claws and shiny red eyes. They growled in hate and unleashed their wings. Little did the Salvation Soldiers know what was coming for them, thousands of those eggs were planted on the planet and one by one, they began to hatch into gigantic green devils with large bat like wings. They were known as THE SALAKARY and from their track record, they were created and engineered by the raptors to destroy all without remorse….without regret….without…. mercy.

End of episode 2.

TO BE CONTINUED