Chapter 4 : The First Attack
3 months passed
In their room, Shawn awakes, it was a cold winter day for planet Xima. The leaves of trees had all become barren, the floor a blanket of pink snow.
They have now spent over half a year in Xima and in Genny's camp.
Shawn goes to the forager's hut. This week Shawn and the foraging team are going to harvest the last of the purple Jen (hard grain).
Garris: You're a little late, we packed up already.
Jason: Aye shawn, if you don't mind, can you go to the cafeteria and get us a couple more drinks, today's gonna be a long day.
Shawn: Yeah sure, you guys can go, don't wait for me, I'll catch up.
Shawn heads back to the cafeteria and grabs 10 bottles of water and puts it in his bag.
Shawn: That's probably enough.
The way to the Jen was not very far, just a 30 minutes walk to the east side of the camp, through a large hill and past a small and slow river.
As Shawn returns to the hut the team is already long gone.
With a heavy bag, Shawn is slowly making his way towards the spot.
Shawn follows the footstep of the crew and eventually reaches the high hill, from here he should be able to see the crew, but it seems like they have already reached the ground because none of them were in sight.
Shawn continues marching to the river, and then the footsteps all begin to become weird, they were scattered, as if they were running away from something.
Instantly Shawn knew something was off.
Shawn stoops down low and remains as quiet as possible, scared that it might be a goaboloo or another creature he isn't aware of.
He waits patiently for a few minutes, hiding himself by covering himself with the snow and blending in with the environment.
Suddenly out of nowhere he sees Jason running at top speed, back to the camp, he looks injured, holding onto his arm.
As Jason passes Shawn, Shawn grabs onto Jason's legs, and Jason falls into the little ditch Shawn made from the snow.
Shawn motions Jason to be quiet
Shawn: What happened?
Jason: They killed them! All of them!
Shawn: Woah woah, calm down and keep your voice down, who killed who?
Jason: The Fritz, it has to be them!
Shawn: They killed Garris?
Jason: Yes!
Shawn: Omu? Aron?
Jason: (crying) Yes, yes all of them, I saw it! I tried to help but they held me down, they almost locked me up, but I broke free!
Shawn: Were they following you?
Jason: Yes, a few.
Shawn: God dammit!Well, we can't lead them back to the village else it would be destroyed.
Jason: We can't fight them, I'm injured!
Shawn: Damit damit!
Jason: (takes a deep breath) Alright, Shawn, tell my family I love them, and that I'm grateful for everything they did.
Shawn: What are you talking about?
Jason: I'll distract the ones chasing. Go and warn the others, tell Nam and the hunter squad!
Shawn: I can't leave you here, you'll die!
Jason: If you stay here we're both dead, you still have energy, go, run as fast as you can!
Shawn drops everything and runs back to the camp. He makes it there in 15 minutes.
A Nellmi approaches shawn.
INUA: Are you ok?
Shawn: (heavy breathing) Where's Nam! Where's Genny?
INUA: They are in the gymnasium right now.
Shawn sprints towards the gymnasium and bursts the door open. All the hunters stare at Shawn as he tries to catch his breath.
Jamie: What is it Shawn, why do you look like that?
Shawn: They're coming!
Nam: Who?
Shawn: The fritz!!
The entire room looks at each other in disbelief.
Nam: What do you mean Shawn? Why would the fritz be coming?
Shawn: They're coming Nam! They attacked the forage squad! Jason's fighting them right now, hurry, he needs your help!
Nam: Oh shit, where is this!?
Shawn: At our east, the Jen grounds!
Nam: Tell my father and Totue, HUNTERS! Get your weapons, we're going!
Up on a tree, Cazar stares at the hunters running out of the camp.
Cazar: What are they doing?
Henson: I don't know, why should we care.
Cazar: Well, todays not hunt day, in fact hunt day is not in 3 weeks.
Henson: They probably are just training somewhere.
Cazar: You want to go see?
Henson: Cazar, does it look like I want to go see? Besides that, Jamie still hasn't agreed to going into Rorow to sneak guns for me!
Cazar: Well, it is illegal to have guns here.
Henson: She broke our promise, and besides, guns are only illegal if you get caught.
Cazar:(yawns) Whatever, what are we doing today?
Henson: You know what, let's go check, I actually have nothing to do today.
Shawn reaches the community center of the camp, inside were Totue and Genny speaking.
Shawn barges in.
Shawn: Sir! There's an attack, the Fritz! They're here!
Totue: What are you talking about?
Shawn: They're coming! Nam and the others are going to fight them right now!
Totue: Oh no, this can't be!?
Genny: This better be a sick joke! Totue evacuate everyone into the forest!
Totue: What are you going to do?
Genny: I'm gonna send a messenger Pawn to Tonqui.
Totue: Why?! This is nonsense!
Genny: If the Fritz are really here, we are all dead! Dammit it all, how did they find us!?
Totue: You know how! It was probably the commotion Tonqui caused. I already told you a million times dealing with Tonqui is going to cause chaos, If we make it out alive, I don't want you here again, this is the last-
Genny: I'm sorry Totue but there are much more things to worry about right now. I'll handle all the repercussions after!
Shawn: Sir, what should I do?
Genny: Help Totue evacuate.
Shawn: But sir, we need to help Nam and-
Genny: They can handle this.
Genny and Totue exit the building and the villagers begin to panic. Kids and adults go into the forest in a panicking commotion, Shawn decides to help out Nam and the others.
Cazar: Henson, look over there! ( pointing at the commotion)
Henson: What is going on?
They see Shawn running towards them.
Cazar: Hey Shawny boy, mind telling us what all the ruckus is about?
Shawn: Evacuate guys! The Fritz are coming.
Shawn continues running to Jamie and Nam.
Cazar: What's he smoking?
Henson: This can't be good. Cazar! Take me to the shed!
Cazar helps Henson go to the shed, and instantly Henson grabs onto a long rifle.
Cazar: Now what are you doing?
Henson: Don't be an idiot Cazar, this is a serious matter. Go to the Te'aue Terrain and get Akeaw, I'll be waiting here.
Cazar: Fine, whatever.
Henson continues to gear up as Cazar runs to the Te'aue terrain approximately 1 mile from the camp.
Shawn finally reaches Nam and the others, he sees them fighting 5 Fritz soldiers, all of whom have metal armor and guns.
Jamie, Eizil and the humans except for Nam were all shooting arrows from the back while the Nellmis and Nam were fighting up close.
The Fritz soldiers shot at the Nellmis and Nam but they would constantly dodge the extremely fast bullets.
Shawn: How are they doing that?
Jamie: Shawn! What are you doing here!
Shawn: I came here to help…
Jamie: Are you crazy? Get out of here, you'll just hold us back!
Shawn: Where's jason!
Jamie: We haven't seen him, we only saw those soldiers approaching.
Suddenly one of the soldiers screams loudly.
Eizil: Got him! There's only 4 now, let's go, rush it!
Everyone rushes in and bullets begin flying, between the reload, they would jump on the soldiers and beat them up.
Nam is fighting one of the bigger soldiers , he shoots at Nam but Nam slices all the bullets with his sword in hand, Nam's eyes turned into a yellow glow from consuming the yeros.
Nam jumps in the air to dodge the soldier's final bullet and stabs him in the head.
Shawn rushes down to the hunters as the last troop is killed.
Shawn: Genny and Totue have evacuated the camp, let's get out of here before more comes!
Derek: Hell no! We stay here and fight them all, a hunters duty is to serve and protect! We are the true warriors of Janou!
Nam: Derek's right!
Shawn: Are you guys crazy! That was only 5 soldiers, there is bound to be more!
Nam: Get out of here Shawn! Your words are meaningless right now!
Shawn: Will you guys just listen to me! Genny is calling for Tonqui, they are going to show up! You can help them then, don't go dying! The Fritz outnumber and outgun you all!
Just then from over the hill a blast of a DUSTER ( large cannon weapon) hits the hunters and a few are instantly killed.
Everyone is dazed, and their ears are ringing.
Nam: Derek!
Nam holds onto Derek's arms as half his body is missing.
Eizil: Look! (she points to where the source is)
Almost 3o more soldiers are here and 5 more dusters can be seen.
Jamie: Retreat!
Nam: Retreat!
Nam carries on to Ang, a human hunter who is knocked out, they all run as fast as they can avoiding the gun fire from the troops which were closing the 500 feet gap.
Shawn: This isn't good! We need to lose them! Do any one of you have anything to distract them with! I have a plan!
Eizil: I do!
Eizil throws an exploding rock towards the ground behind them, it causes the snow to become smoke and hides their trail.
Shawn: Everyone follow me!
Shawn led them off the path back to the camp, it was towards the west side of the Janou forest, where the everpurple trees were( big gigantic trees).
They go up the branches and Nam begins to bandage Ang.
There were only 6 hunters left now. Nam, Jamie, Eizil, Ang, Londa and Quin.
Shawn: We should be hidden at least.
Nam: We need to get to my father.
Shawn: Let's wait it out first, your father and the rest are probably on the northern east side.
Jamie: Ant! I almost forgot, Ant and his friends are off playing away from the village!
Shawn : Oh no.
Jamie: Did you see him Shawn?!
Shawn: No.
Jamie begins to rush down the tree and hurries back to the camp and Shawn follows.
Shawn: Wait ! Jamie, you're being reckless! Ant is probably fine!
Jamie: No he's not!
Nam: Everyone quiet!
They sit in silence for a few seconds, then a blow of the duster hits the tree's trunk, knocking the tree down. Everyone jumps down and Ang, who was unconscious, falls to his death.
Nam: Ang! God damn you!
Nam gobbles down another yero.
His eyes turn a yellow hue once again, he rushes towards the 10 soldiers who split off from the others.
Eizil: What is that idiot doing!
Quin: We have to help!
Eizil: Fine! Let's do this!
Shawn: Jamie, don't go!
Jamie: Sorry Shawn, my brother needs me.
Jamie, Quin, Londa, Eizil and Nam rush towards the 10 soldiers, another blast of the duster is sent, but this time Nam ducks under it, his head scrapes the bottom causing him to bleed.
Nam: You killed Ang!
He rushes to the duster and destroys it while the troops reload it, the troops begin shooting at him, Jamie and the others begin to fight a 2 against 1 battle.
Troop 1: Get these ones alive!
Eventually all of them are trampled to the ground except for Nam, who is now fighting against 4 soldiers.
Nam throws a punch at one of the soldiers but he catches it and then cuts Nam's arm off. Nam screams in pain and kicks away from the soldier, he holds onto his shoulder, he is breathing heavily, the soldiers all rush to him at the same time.
BOOM!
A loud sound echoes across the forest, then two of the soldiers fall on the ground, bleeding from their head.
Boom! The soldier holding Eizil down, falls to the ground, his head missing.
Another boom frees Jamie, then another, until all the troops are dead.
Then from the rummaging of the everpurple, Henson pops out.
Shawn: henson!
Henson: Everyone, pack it up! Let's get out of here!
Jamie: What about my brother?
HEnson: You can worry about that later, let's get out of here before more comes!
Jamie rushes back to the camp.
Henson: That idiot!
Shawn follows Jamie.
Nam: forget them for now, we have to regroup with the rest.
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Shawn: Jamie, wait up!
Jamie continues running to the village
Eventually they reach the village and they see the troops massacring the people who had not evacuated in time
Soldier #: Tell me where GENNY IS!
Soldier #2: I can do this all day!
Shawn comes out the forest as well
Jamie:(quietly) shawn help me look for ant.
They go around the school, the cafeteria, the houses, staying low to avoid the sight of the troops.
Jamie then goes to investigate Guaven's place
Jamie: Ant?
Ant: (whispers) over here.
Jamie sees ant and his friends cowering in a corner, they sit scared and wide eyed.
Guaven: What's going on jamie? Where is everyone?
Jamie: There's not much time to explain, get up everyone we're getting out of here!
Jamie takes the kids outside and motions out for Shawn to help her.
Shawn: What, what's going on?
Jamie: Help me get them out of here.
Shawn: where were they?
Jamie: They were hiding.
Shawn grabs onto two of the kids and they begin to move out of the village.
Just then a duster blasts lands on the houses next to Jamie and Shawn destroying it.
The kids scream and everyone panics.
Shawn: Stay calm, we're going to get out of here!
The sound of war and terror is now beginning to creep up on them.
Jamie: Shawn, keep them safe, I'm going to stall out!
SHawn: What?! No! I'm not going without you.
Jamie: This is not up for conversation!
Shawn: Yes it is, we need you! I can't protect these kids, only you can! And you can't protect them if you're a million miles away!
As they speak a soldier is seen on the roof of one of the houses, he jumps down and interrupts the conversation.
soldier: Sorry to interrupt you kids, but where's your leader?
Jamie: Go now!
Shawn takes the kids into the forest and jamie fights the soldier
The soldier lunges at jamie with an electric whip
Jamie holds onto the whip and gets electrocuted, and she lets go.
The soldier kicks jamie into a tree
Jamie barely gets up and dodges a taser shot from the soldier, jamie runs into the forest and the soldier follows
Hiding in the thick bushes jamie has the element of surprise
Jamie waits for the moment and finds it when the soldier turns his back against her
Jamie lunges at the soldier and has him in a choke
The soldier muscles his way out and Jamie elbows him in the jaw.
The soldier shoots a taser shot at Jamie again and Jamie is hit.
Jamie is on the ground and continuously tased.
The soldier walks closer to jamie and cuffs her hands
Soldier: Don't resist you bastard!
The soldier begins to take Jamie back to the village to be transported to Rorow City.
Just then, trees are heard being broken, and the soldier turns to face the sound
BAM! A light from nowhere strikes the soldier and kills him instantly.
Moments later another soldier with a different attire pops from the forest.
Jamie: Who are you?
Ian: I'm with the revolutionists, my name is Ian.
More begin to pop out from behind Ian.
Ian: Get back to your people, we got this.
Jamie runs back to Shawn and the others, while the revolutionists continue on to the village to engage the Fritz's forces.
Eizil and Shawn: You're back jamie!
Jamie: (huffs) Where's ant shawn!
Shawn: He's over there.
Jamie approaches Ant and grabs onto his hand.
Ant: What are you doing jamie!
Jamie: We're getting out of here.
Ant: Wait! I can't leave my friends!
Jamie: You're not safe here!
Ant: I'm happy here! I want my friends, I want to stay with them.
Jamie: You don't want to stay with me?
Ant: I do but… you've been leaving me all alone for the past few months, and my friends were the ones who were there for me.
Jamie: I had to get stronger to protect you (she looks at Ant, he is determined to stay) fine, we'll stay…
Jamie goes back and talks to Nam and the others.
Shawn: So what's the plan from now?
Nam: I don't know, my father is still talking with Totue and Tonqui.
Jamie: Any clue what will happen after this?
Eizil: We'll probably have to leave this place and go deeper into JANOU.
Jamie: What if they attack again? Are we just going to keep running away and cowering to them?
Nam: Jamie, the Nellmis and the refugees here don't want to lose our people.
Jamie: Look around you guys! Are you blind? We lost so many today! You say you don't want to lose any, but guess what, you did.
Nam: What are you suggesting we do then Jamie?!
Jamie: I'm suggesting that we fight back.
Eizil: You're sounding like a revolutionist right now Jamie!
Just then jumping from a tree above them, a Nellmi lands in front of their face. It was Nikaaw.
Nikaaw: Sorry to interrupt. I was eavesdropping on your conversation and I think this human girl here is right.
Shawn: I'm sorry, who are you?
Nikaaw: My name is Nikaaw, son of Kai Te.
Nam: I thought Kai Te talked you out of this nonsense Nikaaw.
Nikaaw: You're imagining things Nam, I've always held this position, even when this place was first built, I told Totue, you and your father what would happen if we didn't defeat the Fritz. And just like I said, we are getting purged.
Shawn: Hold on a minute, you're the guy that we saw at Guaven's place?
Nikaaw: Spot on genius.
Shawn: Joining the revolutionist is against everything you stand for.
Nikaaw: You don't even know what we used to stand for Boy.
Eizil: Sont Nikaaw..
Nikaaw: Before any of you humans arrived, we were considered the warriors of Janou, we fought against the XIAS, massacred almost all of them.
Jamie: What is he talking about Eizil.
Eizil: (sighs) It's true.
Nam: What?!
Eizil: Totue told us Nellmis to never tell you because she knew that you humans are too dangerous to be on the wrong side of.
Nam: So you're not a peaceful race?
EiziL: We are, that was 150 years ago when Binae's father was the chief of the village. We gained our control of Janou through a long 79 year war. But ever since his death we've become more peaceful, Totue taught us to love what is given and accept what is.
Nikaaw: We were the supreme rulers of the forest, and now you humans are here to destroy everything we've fought for.
Shawn: US?? I have no animosity towards any Nellmians or people.
Nikaaw: Even the fritz?
Shawn: Well, of course them.
Nikaaw: Then you would agree when I say that we must join the revolutionists to defeat them, Nam, wasn't your father a former general of the revolutionist?
Nam: Well yes, but-
Tonqui and his forces exit the place and Genny is heard screaming.
Genny: YOU CAN'T DO THIS TONQUI
Tonqui: Stop me then.
Nam and the others run to Genny.
Nam: What happened?
Totue: He intends on burning the forest to trap the forces of the fritz.
NIkaaw: what?! Why would they burn the forest! It is a place of importance to us.
Kai Te: I told you Nikaaw, those revolutionaries don't care about us, they have tunnel vision, they will do anything they can to defeat the fritz even if it means to burn our home.
Nikaaw is left speechless.
Genny: Damn it! This is my fault
Nam: What are we going to do?
NIkaaw: We can't let this happen!
Eizil: I thought you were intent on joining them?
Nikaaw: I'm intent on killing the Fritz! Not destroying Janou!
Totue: Everyone quiet! We must vote on our next step as a collective.
The adult Nellmis and humans form a crowd around Totue.
Nellmian #: I say we leave these humans!
Human #: Say what! We practically built this place for you to free load in!
Nellmian #: Free load?! Ha don't make me laugh, without us you wouldn't know how to eat a berry, you're like spoiled babies, you need to be weaned.
Human #: How about we just join them and defeat the Fritz.
Nellmian #: How about we just go invade Rorow and kill them there!
The crowd begins to become louder in arguments as to who is at fault.
Genny: Calm down everyone! There is only one person to blame, it is me, I let them refuge here, I let them know this place of paradise. I take full responsibility, and I am stepping down as a village leader.
Nam: Father, no!
Genny: Nam, it is what I must do, I caused too much harm.
Nellmian #; So you're just gonna leave us to handle this mess? We should hang you! And give you to the fritz!
Totue: That is a measure not needed. I've listened to you all, I'll propose 3 options and I'll respect any that is chosen.
The crowd looked at Totue in silence waiting to vote at the next step.
Totue: Option one, we go far far away and build another village there, restart and forget what has happened.
Nellmi #: How can we forget?! My daughter died!
Totue: OR! We can find refuge far away and plan an invasion group to take out the Fritz. Whatever it is, I'll leave it to the Anuava clan and Nam's hunters squad.
Human #: I thought you folks were about protecting the peace! Hah, good joke!
Nam: Everyone shut up and listen to what Totue is saying, where has your respect gone?!
TOtue: Lastly! We Nellmians and Humans part ways, we will still hold our peace but we will not be in cooperation any longer.
The crowd begins chatting in deciding the next step.
Eventually the noise calmed down and everyone casted their votes.
Totue: It has come down to this.
Everyone waits impatiently, lingering on every word Totue is saying.
TOtue: Option 2, we will fight back, and regain the complete control of Janou.
Some people cheered, others yelled angrily.
Shawn: Jamie, what do you think?
Jamie: I think it's the right move.
Eizil: If Totue has resorted to violence then this must mean that she's angry. I don't think this is the right move. I don't want to endanger the Nellmians left.
Nakaaw: No matter, we fight now. We are no longer food to those monsters.
Nam: (visibly against it) Let's move.
Totue: (to everyone) First we must move, far, far away, hidden deep in Janou where no one can find us.
Everyone packs up their things, some people had large luggage, others had nothing, some carried their children on their backs, others walked the lonely road thinking of the ones they lost.