Workshop?

Why did I have to listen to him? Lucius had already begun to regret his decision to comply with the lieutenant.

He remembered It was like yesterday; he was working in the workshop checking weapons. He worked like a machine; maintenance on these crossbows had become second nature to him at this point. It was peaceful in the workshop; he never heard the fire of weapons or the wails of the injured. He truly loved working there away from the stress.

But of course it had to come to an end. With a low hum, one of the walls of the workshop became transparent as the lieutenant walked through the transparent wall. Ad stepped behind the busy worker, trying not to interrupt too early.

Not noticing that the lieutenant had even walked into the room, he continued on checking the weapons.

He grabbed a laser crossbow from a rack, then placed it on his workbench to begin taking it apart. He quickly worked his way, taking apart the crossbow and grabbing tongs from a bucket on his left. He swiftly brought it up and clasped down on the inner crystal.

The inner crystals of laser weapons were highly dangerous; they could easily burn flesh and could even explode. Maintaining laser weapons was lethal for those who went untrained.

He quickly searched the crystal for any abnormalities, and finding none, he reassembled the crossbow and put it on a separate rack.

Finally noticing an end to the autonomous work, the lieutenant finally spoke.

Lucius I'm sorry to interrupt you, but we need to talk.

Holy! Lucius yelled In surprise, he quickly turned around.

Oh, Lieutenant, it's you! In need of any armor repair, or will you finally let me have a look at that crown?

The lieutenant unconsciously reached towards his head and immediately brought it back down again.

No. We need your help with the next mission.

Oh, so you need me to make something? Just give me some materials and an idea, and I'm ready. Lucius quickly grabbed the handle of a hammer that was in his bucket.

Its not that Lucius, no... I came here to see if you would be up to join us on the mission, and of course you won't be on the front lines at all; we just need a man of your expertise out there.

The happy Lucius dropped his hammer to the ground and began to frown.

Lieutenant, remember we made a deal when I proposed joining all of you? said Lucius

Of course I remember our agreement, Lucius, but this is different; you won't be participating in the battle at all; you'll just be on the sidelines.

I'm not sure about this, said Lucius.

Please Lucius, we need you there. We don't know enough about our enemy; if something were to cause the weapons' to malfunction, everyone would be in trouble. I promise you will be on the front lines; we just need you to be by the side just in case.

Uh, I guess it'll be ok if I'm not fighting anything.

~~~

Lucius stood among the battlements, shaking as the red ball flew in his direction.

As the big red ball of lightning flew in an arc towards the battlements, the eyes of the soldiers grew wide at the incoming attack. Feeling adrenaline course through their veins, groups of soldiers along with Alice and Lucius ran towards the spiral stairs that led down the battlements, trying their best to escape an attack that would spread all across the metal battlements, killing them all.

Though, in the end, many stood still on the battlements, continuing to stare at the ball of lightning growing closer and closer. Their fear was far too great, as the red ball of lightning landed in the battlements, exploding in a dome-like shape outwards. The explosion shocked the shocked soldiers, as their bodies were immediately charred black.