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Code Oblivion Rebellion: Chapter 2- A Fight for Safety

I just sat there... watching the flames as they slowly began to consume my fathers body. Everything felt like a blur, 24 hours ago I was home getting into fights with Dawson, but now I'm here watching my Dad's dead body be cremated along with the many others who had died. My heart clenched at that, so many people had been killed by the Unsealed assault, even more were injured. I just sighed and looked down towards the envelope in my paws. Aidan and the Labrador Sergeant had given it to me when they searched his body, I was dying to open it and yet I was also scared to see what was in there.

I was broken from my thought when I felt a large paw land on my shoulder. Turning around I saw Aidan standing there, the big wolf looked exhausted. The toll of the day must've taken a lot out of him, and yet I saw a flicker of determination in those golden eyes. "We're getting ready to head out, you coming or do you want to stay here? We'd all understand if you'd bale out." I just shook my head and stood up. Though I was pretty tall for my age it seemed that Aidan towered over me. But I craned my neck up as much as I could and said.

"I'm going, I can't just sit here and let people fight for me! And I want to make them pay for killing my Dad!" I mumbled tears starting to sting my eyes but I held together all the same. "I want to hunt down the Unsealed and make him suffer!" Aidan just sighed and quickly enveloped me into a hug. Feeling his warmth surround me felt so nice and I felt my face start to burn from the contact. He was really handsome... 'No, damn it Kael! This isn't the time to indulge in, your latent homosexuality! Focus!' Aidan seemed oblivious to my turmoil and spoke in a soft tone.

"I get it, you're hurting and you want vengeance. But it's too dangerous out there for you... you're a kid Kaelan, one without any real combat experience. You'd be a sitting duck out there, and I'd never forgive myself if you got killed, you might have that freakish regeneration ability but I doubt you can come back from the dead." He said in a cheeky tone before becoming serious once more. "But you have your entire life to live, surely you've got family to take care of you right?" I just shook my head heartbroken, I didn't have family... my Dad never talked about his own and whenever I brought up the subject he quickly changed the subject.

"No, far as I know I don't have any family... my Dad... you see he isn't my biological parent, according to him he found me in the woods and nursed me back to health. He never spoke about any relatives and I cannot remember anything from before I awoke in our house seven years ago. He's all I had." I said softly trying to keep myself strong. "I have no home to go back to, and I'll be damned if they try to put me in foster-care!" I snarled before sighing. "But I'm going with you, I've got nothing to lose right now."

Aidan just sighed and bent down to met level. He looked tired but at the same time determined not to let things get to him. "I know you're scared but I doubt your dad would want you throwing your life away. But I'll do my best to keep you safe okay?" He asked and I just nodded, then he saw the envelope. "You still haven't opened it?" He asked.

"No... I'll probably open it after things are clear. But let's go, I say the others are waiting." He just silently nodded and walked away and before I turned away I looked at the pyre once more and said. "Guess this is goodbye Dad, I love you and I'll miss you so please rest in peace because I will avenge you as much as I can." Before fully walking away. Once I entered the shelter I saw the that the others had already gathered. I saw Elena and Flint talking to Aidan off to the side. From what I knew nearly all their friends had been killed in the assault along with my Dad. When Flint saw me enter be gave me a wink and wave before returning to his conversation.

I also saw the pretty lioness Loni sitting mostly by herself looking at what looked like a wedding band and the elderly Doberman Dolan was sitting with his son. "But Daddy! Please let me go with you!" The little Dobie cried out. He looker around 8 years old and he seemed on the verge of tears. "Don't leave me like Mommy did!" The older Doberman sighed and patted his Son's head.

"I've promised the Lieutenant that I'd give him my aid, I cannot break my word on that. Now stay with the nice Sergeant and his wife will you? And listen to them. I love you son so be safe." He said before handing him off to the Labrador Sergeant. "Keep him safe please..." he said and walked away and past me before joining the other three. Following suit I joined them as well as did Loni. Once we are all together Dolan gave me a small frown before complaining to Aidan. "I can't believe you're wiling to let him fight Lieutenant Hart! He's a child!" Aidan just weathered the assault and said.

"Not my preferred option honestly, but the kid is determined to help out." The Doberman just growled frustrated at the younger man's reply but said nothing. Obviously not wishing to argue further with the taller wolf. Things stayed silent for several minutes before I decided to speak... hoping to learn what the others had been talking about while I was watching the pyre burn.

"So what's the plan?" I asked Aidan as everybody finally gathered. Aidan said nothing but take out a holo-map and turning it on. The map showed a full 3D display of the entire city, the area where we were was shaded blue while the rest of the city was highlighted a reddish-orange.

"It's simple, the Unsealed have taken control over large parts of the city." He said motioning towards the reddish-orange areas. "We've held them off from the square for now, but I doubt we'll keep it up forever. We'll eventually run out of food and medical supplies and any communication outside the city has been jammed by the Unsealed." He said, his voice sounding grim. He looked tired almost, the chaos must have weighing him down. "I think if we can get to Headquarters we can possibly turn communications back on and hopefully the wards."

"So what'll happen when we turn communications back on Lieutenant?" Flint asked. He seemed a lot shakier than what he seemed when I first met him, the death and destruction must've been effecting him especially hard... not that I blamed him. This was horrific and if I survived the ordeal I was certain I was going to have nightmares for the rest of my life.

"Simple, if we can turn on communications I can call in reinforcements from Sinra, as much as I'd hate to ask them for help we simply don't have the manpower to handle the Unsealed threat." The tall wolf said as he was pacing around, obviously nervous but unwilling to show it. His red tail was swaying everywhere and his brown hair was mused up from the various conflicts. He quickly regained his composure somehow and turned towards us. "But we'll meed weapons, my men managed to smuggled out some weapons after HQ was attacked. I'm not sure how much combat prowess you guys have but you'll guys need to adapt quick."

Everyone including myself just nodded affirmation and Flint almost seemed to regain his swagger. "No prob! I play on the VCRS team back at school! If you got a meteor hammer I'll be good!" Aidan however just shot him a piercing glare causing the tiger to deflate almost immediately.

"This is serious McAlistar! This isn't some VR simulation! This is real! If you die here you won't wake up in the real world! If you cannot tell the difference between them I'm not sure I want you out their." He stated causing the tiger's ears to droop in defeat and his eyes to look down towards the ground. Almost immediately Elena slept to his defense. Giving the wolf a surprisingly nasty glare for her tiny size.

"That's enough Lieutenant! I'm sure Flint's well aware of the difference but MODD uses VCRS in it's military training do they not?" Aidan just gave a dismissive nod and was obviously about to interject something before the vixen interrupted him. "College level VCRS games have been proven equal to the VCRS trained used by MODD to train recruits, are you aware of that?" Another nod but once again Elena stopped him from speaking. "So Flint being on the VCRS team would have basically completed military level VCRS training correct?" This time she did let him speak.

"Maybe so, but there's still a world of difference between a combat simulation and actual combat, for one unlike in VCRS the opponent is not a program, and the fighters are actually trying to kill you, but that's beside the point! It's time to head out! Grab some weapons and let's head out!" He said pointing towards a makeshift armory. I quickly ran up to grab something. I was surprised however when I say all the options... there were guns.., lot's of guns several bladed weapons and what looked like twin tessens with serrated edges. I had no idea what to choose...

_ 'Choose the swords.'_ A voice rang through my head catching me off guard. Sensing my shock the voice chuckled. 'I'm sorry Jacob, it's been a long time since we last spoke. And you've grown up so much. Okay... who was this voice and why the hell did he call me Jacob? Mentally I shot back at him.

_ 'Who the fuck are you?! Get out of my head! And my name is_* Kaelan_* not 'Jacob_'!'The voice just once again sighed irritating me to no end. 'What are you sighing about?' I mentally snarled at the voice, but he stayed silent for several moments longer as if debating on what he should say. Finally though the voice spoke up his voice sounding almost... sad.

_ 'You don't remember do you?_' Was all the voice said.

'Remember what? What are you talking about?' I asked, my head was beginning hurt somewhat and I was starting to feel dizzy. Aidan seemed to notice this and came to my side. "You okay kid?" He asked gently. "You don't look to good, you want to stay here?" I just shook my head the dizziness clearing up somewhat.

"I'm fine, trust me, just got a bit lightheaded but it's passed. Now let's go shall we!" I shouted unknowingly grabbing the swords just like the voice had told me to. 'But what was that? Who was he and what was he doing in my head? And why does my head hurt when I try and think of him?' I thought to myself as I past the others and stood outside in the plaza. What was once a beautifully decorated square was now a wasteland. MODD Soldiers were stationed at all exists guarding the square from Unsealed assault. None seem to be attacking at the moment but the silence still felt eery. My eyes eventually fell on the ruined god statue and frowned.

'Such a shame is it? That statue has stood there since before the Great Seal War and yet here it lies in ruins a shadow of it's former glory.' The voice spoke once again his voice breaking gently through my mind.

_ 'Who are you?'_ I asked him again, desperate to get an answer from the voice. He just stayed silent however frustrating me beyond words. 'Answer me damnit! Who ARE you?! What are you and why are you in my head! And why did you call me Jacob!' I mentally shouted at him, hoping that he'd answer me as his continued presence was seriously beginning to hurt my head.

_ 'I cannot say, but I have a feeling things will happen soon, but be careful Jacob, bad tidings are coming and you might not be able to stop them in time.'_ The voice said before I felt his presence vanish.

_ 'Who was that? And what was he talking about when he said 'bad tidings'? Ugh... my head is killing me...'_ i thought to myself as I sat down and placed my forehead into my paws as I rubbed my temples. 'What is going on with me? Isn't hearing voices the first sign that you're going crazy? And why did he call me Jacob? Was that my real name maybe? Or at least the name I was born with?' So many questions and absolutely no answers, oh joy! However I was broken from my reverie as Aidan once again decided to check up on me.

"Hey, are you sure you're okay? Because you don't too well. Maybe you should stay here... can't have you spacing out like that in the field, you'd be killed off quickly if you did."

"I'm fine, trust me... I just was thinking about a few things... like if we do survive this mess what's next? I mean the cities all but destroyed and it'll probably takes forever to build so what'll happen to you? And what'll happen to me? I'm a minor so I can't live on my own... and I don't want to go into foster care..." Aidan just smiled and placed his paw on my shoulder as gently as he could.

"I'll probably be transferred to another city... probably Sinra while Eldra's being rebuilt. As with the rest of my unit. But that's not a problem so I'm not worried. But as for you? Maybe you can stay with me and Dad? I'm sure I can talk him in to keeping you around and it's doubtful that the Courts will argue with an Elemental Lord. trust me Kaelan, as long as I'm alive you'll never be alone, you can count on that one."

"Ai-Aidan... tha-thanks... you saved my life already and I owe you so much... how can I think to repay you?" I said voice shaky... I never felt like this before... outside Em and Dad I never really got close to anyone and yet here I am opening up to a complete stranger... ableit one who saved my life. And then I realized the reason I was so willing to open up to him. *'Well, looks like Em's right. I guess I am gay after all... is it normal for your first crush to be your saviour as well.'* I thought to myself just as Aidan started talking.

"You don't have to pay me back for nothing kid, it's my job to look after those who can't defend themselves! And I take that duty very seriously." He said before helping me back up before heading to the outskirts of the square. "Come-on, the others are waiting!" He said and I followed quickly. We met up with the others outside the safe-zone. They all seemed nervous to different degrees and Dolan seemed to be looking around everywhere with his rifles in hand.

"You alright Mr. Burke?" I asked the testy looking Doberman. He was a tall man, maybe not as tall as Aidan or Flint but he certainly wasn't tiny. He also had the build of someone very fit that had long since gone to seed, though not fat either. The elder canine just glanced at me and frowned, obviously still not happy about my involvement in the mission but he answered all the same.

"I'm fine boy, just a bit antsy is all, thought I left this fighting nonsense behind years ago, can't believe I've been drug into another war!" He mumbled irritability. This caught Loni's interest since she immediately started to ask questions.

"You fought in a War Dolan? Which one?" That was a good question, after the GSW there had been several much smaller by comparison wars... the last big one was the failed Trinan Rebellion if I remembered my history enough... the war was the Provence of Trinan seceding from Duesima about twenty years ago, The Duesmian/MODD Forces quickly overran the rebelling Provence and after three years the Tiraniun rebels had been silenced and the Provence was split up into several smaller ones. The Doberman just let out a snort at her inquiry.

"I was serving in the military before all of you kids were even born I'd wager, retired years ago to start a family." He said grimly. "Lost my Wife last year and now I'm leaving my boy in the paws of a random Sergeant..." he growled.

"I'm sorry for your loss Dolan..." Loni said meekly while Flint and Elena nodded in kind. Dolan just shrugged it off as nothing and Aidan let out an annoyed growl, obviously frustrated from the talking.

"Yes, yes that's sad, but if we don't start getting going everybody will die, we'd be lucky if MODD doesn't purge the city after this, Adnel knows how many people have been tainted. I'm not sure we even have enough serum to treat everybody..." he said before sighed and started heading out. We all just followed him, it was obvious that he was the leader. He merely gave a nod towards the guards which they returned as he passed, even adding a salute. This happened as each of us passed though I could tell neither of them looked happy as I passed by them. One even reached out to stop me before the other stopped him and gave a quick shake of the head.

"Let him go Arny, Lieutenant Hart will look after him." The the other said. The guard who tried to grab me looked ready to protest the assertion before calming himself and giving me a nod which I returned before leaving the safe-zone. I was actually surprised at the damage dealt to the city, large portions of it seemed to be a raging inferno as the cities firefighters were either dead or fled to the safe-zone. And what wasn't on fire was complete rubble with countless Strifer Unsealed crawling around them.

"This is awful..." I heard Elena murmer to Flint. I could only agree, what once was a beautiful snow covered city was now a burning wasteland. Even worse, the sheer stench of burning fur and flesh of those who perished in the fires almost made me gag. But my entire focus was on Aidan, who knew what was going on in his mind seeing his home slowly being burned to the ground. I couldn't even imagine what I would do if Crosstown met this fate... I quickly shook myself to prevent that imagery to get stuck in my mind before I walked up towards him. He didn't even bother turning when he spoke.

"I'm fine, but we better get on, I don't know how much longer Dad can hold off the Unsealed." He said before bringing out his Gun-blade into blaster mode. "But first, let's wipe some of these vermin out!" He said before pulling the trigger and instantly vaporized several Strifer's in one shot. That angered the remaining ones and they quickly started to attack. Several sent blasts towards Aidan while other blasted towards us. I quickly dodged out of the way and quickly ran towards the bastards. On instinct I kept to the right barely missing getting blown to bits before brandishing my blades and slicing the Unsealed in half.

"I shuttered briefly as I felt the Unsealed's blood splash over me but I recovered enough to swiftly dodge an attack from one of his buddies and took that one out as well. Once I was sure I was safe I looked around the battlefield. All, the others were also locked in their own battles. Flint, just as he said deftly wielded a massive Meteor-Hammer gleefully smashing the skulls of any Unsealed that came within swinging distance. Elena herself was elegantly dodging her opponents while brandishing a graceful looking nagitana. And Loni sliced and threw her shimmering fans cutting the Unsealed where they stood. Nj

And Aidan in the middle of everything was the most impressive, his speed and flexibility was surprising for his size and he was killing Unsealed left and right, all I could do is watch in awe of the man who was in all effects my savour and possibly my first crush... I wonder if he was gay? I quickly stopped that train of thought, deciding it was probably better to think about these things when Unsealed weren't shooting at us. The fight lasted about 20 minutes and with our combined efforts the Unsealed were pushed back.

"Yeash, that was insane!" I panted while leaning against a lamppost exhausted. How the hell did Aidan do this on a daily basis? Eventually though I felt my energy started to return. I was seriously starting to be thankful for that regeneration thing. I also heard someone walk towards me as if check if I was still breathing.

"You okay kid?" I heard Flint ask me as he leaned down to my eye level. He was a handsome tiger Flint, he was big and brawny, even bigger than Aidan possibly. His striped fur looked grimy from all the chaos undoubtedly but underneath it looked quite healthy and well kept. His red hair was cut into a crew-cut and his green eyes looked towards me in worry. "You did pretty good out there, where'd you learn to fight like that?"

"I honestly don't know, I was pretty much on autopilot while fight, running on instinct really, I'm as you are honestly, the only fights I've been in is the typical schoolyard brawls. Nothing as extreme as this." Flint just nodded seemingly impressed with what I said.

"You've got fantastic instincts then mate, you're a natural? You play VCRS by any chance? You'd be the star I'd bet." He stated while I flushed a bit at his praise.. truth be told we didn't even have a VCRS team at school... the board couldn't afford the maintenance required to host a VCRS station as well as fund the other teams fairly. Which was a shame, I had always wanted to play on a team.

"Actually no, we don't even have a VCRS center back home, let alone a team though I used to always sneak and watch the National Tournament when my Dad wasn't looking..." I said jokingly before I remembered what happened. "But I guess he won't be looking anymore will he?" I asked sadly. "Since he's dead and all..."

"Hey kid, sorry for your loss, could only imagine losing me Mum or Dad, be awful! But we'll get you through this!" He said brightly while patting my head in an almost condescending manner. But I didn't complain though, it was nice having people other than Dad and Emily watch my back. *'Speaking of Em, I'd better get a hold of her after this to confirm I'm alive... she'd be furious if I didn't.' Thinking of Em only made;my chest hurt knowing I might never see her again... not if Aidan came through with that promise.

"Thanks Flint, but seriously I'm NOT a kid! I stated huffily getting tired of being called I kid. I HATED when people did that! It made me think that person just didn't take me seriously. Flint just gave a bemused smile and a chuckle for nodding in agreement. After nodding he turned around to ask Aidan what our next move was, something I was very interested in also.

"It's simple," the wolf lieutenant stated in a confident manner as he retook out the map of the city. "I've called reinforcements to retake the area completely, what I think we should do is gradually clear one sector of the city at a time and weakening the Unsealed gradually instead of rushing in." He said as one portion of the map changed color. "That way we won't face the Unsealed sieging the base when they're at full power." He said before putting the map up. "And hopefully it'll actually weaken them enough that Dad and the other survivors might BS able to fight them off.

"So cut them off at booths ends and surround them? Haven't seen that method in years." Dolan stated as he looked towards the much younger lieutenant. "You know that's still risky right Lieutenant? There's no guarantee that we'll successfully fight all those Unsealed or there's anyone still alive at your base." The elder said icily. "These Unsealed must have a master! Possibly a Puritan leading them!" I let out a gulp at that thought as did everyone else outside the dueling canines... Puritans... often regarded as the most powerful of Unsealed with power rivaling even an Elemental Lord... if one was indeed leading the charge we'd be screwed.

"I'm well aware of the possibilities Dolan, I thought you'd all be? When I put this group together I right out said that'd there would be no guarantee we'd all make it out alive. I thought by agreeing to come along you'd be willig to accept the possibility of death. If you're so much of a coward that you aren't willing to die you can wait here and head back to base camp." Aidan said dismissively. I could only watch as Dolan's ears began to twitch as his paw slowly began to reach for his gun. However the Doberman quickly stopped himself as he saw Aidan already had his gun-blade ready and aimed. "I wouldn't try anything old man, you'd be dead long before you'd pull that trigger.

Sensing defeat the Dobie just growled at the wolf while moving his paw away from the guns. "Unlike you Lieutenant I have a good reason to stay alive! I have a *son* if you remember, the boy already lost his mother he can't lose me also!" He hissed. "This entire mission is just a suicide mission that you've dragged us all into! The boy might be taken by you but I'm certainly not!" The situation looked dire as the two looked about ready to come to blows before I stepped between them in an effort to stop the fight before it began.

"ENOUGH! Duke it out all you want later but now IS NOT the time for infighting! Dolan," I said turning towards the Doberman. "I understand you want to get out alive and back to your son, believe me I do, but he told you from the start that survival wasn't a guarantee. You knew the risks and took them so stop whining." After that I turned towards Aidan. "And you, I know you're in pain and you want to save your dad but you shouldn't dismiss the worries of others, you should know that. Also, threatening a team member isn't cool!" Silence rang briefly both of the bigger canines seeming shocked into silence before Elena decided to step in.

"The pup's right, you two duking it out now will solve nothing, we've still got to get to base and try to reestablish communication. Lieutenant Hart's idea is tactically sound, attacking at two fronts will seriously weaken the Unsealed. I promise you Dolan, we'll get you back to your son but unless you have any different ideas the Lieutenant has the best plan." Aidan looked like he was barely suppressing the urge to stick his tongue out at the Doberman while Dolan just growled but kept his head to the ground.

"Fine!"he spat out venomously. "I'll go along with this madness, I just want my son safe, that's all that matters to me!" He snarled coldly. But let's go, no use sitting here!" We continued our way into the city shortly after that. Facing swarm after swarm of Unsealed as we did so. and as we did so the death and destruction got worse and worse. Piles upon piles of burning corpses littered the streets, both civilian and military. Looking at their mutilated corpses made me want to vomit but I somehow managed to keep it together though I was certainly going to pay for that eventually but I was okay with that.

"How much farther to the headquarters?" I asked Aidan hoping to get my mind away from the carnage. He didn't answer right away obviously trying to take in what was happening around him. Once again I could only wonder what was going through his mind right now... his home had been completely destroyed and who knows how many friends, family and coworkers he lost today. It must be hell for him. I know it'd be hell for me...

"... we aren't far, but keep together everybody, I sense something extremely powerful and I think it's the leader of these Unsealed..." he warned. I looked to him fearfully... what was I getting myself into? But I didn't say anything not wanting him to think me a coward. But thankfully it was Loni who broke the silence and asked him about the Unsealed.

"A Puritan?" She asked sounding very nervous. The lioness had kept her composure remarkably well considering the circumstances though was probably just as panicked as I was inside but she hid it well. I could certainly tell she wasn't used to the carnage and neither was Elena or Flint who were both tense. Dolan looked as cold as ever and Aidan's expression was unreadable to me. He only gave her a shake of his head causing her to then inquire. "Then what is it?" Once again Aidan had no answers.

"I don't know, it's not a Puritan but it's probably not far off. But damnit... we should've found survivors by now... we're not that far from HQ but they aren't here." He said before tapping his earpiece. "And communications are still down as well!" He snarled in frustration. I had a feeling I knew what that meant, either the people at the HQ were trapped or...

. Nobody said anything and eventually we just continued our way on towards our destination. As Aidan had predicted the Unsealed had sent so many forces ahead that the remaining ones were easy to finish off... my muscles were burning and I was beginning to feel exhausted from all the exertion I had put myself through but I held on, I could pass out later. Finally though we managed to reach the HQ but the joy was short lived as we saw the sheer devastation.

The entire courtyard was littered with the dead. The building itself was in ruins and in the middle of the courtyard was the largest Unsealed I've ever seen. (Not that I've seen many Unsealed before today but bear with them okay?) It looked like a gigantic metallic feral dragon. It seemed almost completely mechanical as I couldn't see any remotely organic parts. It's body was completely covered in a silvery metal. It's wings looked like countless serrated knives glued together as did it's claws. On it's tail was a massive gun-like attachment. It was incredibly majestic but also incredibly terrifying.

Flint let out a loud curse, obliviously he hadn't seen that huge either. To his right Loni just let our a short quiet prayer while Dolan looked depressingly back towards the camp probably thinking of his son who was now waiting for him to return. Aidan however had a look of mute shock, as if he recognized the Unsealed. "Hydra..." he eventually whispered. Hearing him I quickly turned towards him.

"You know this thing Aidan?" I asked when he nodded I was even more shocked. "How!" I demanded my voice shaky. I didn't like the look on his face one bit.

"Hydra attacked Salmarta over twenty years ago!" He snarled while gripping his gun-blade. "It had a reign of terror spanning nearly six months destroying several cities and killing countless people until my Dad and an elite group of commando's finally managed to lock it up." He said. "But how'd he get out? Only two people have access to Hydra's containment cell... my Dad and Francisco Manx, and I'm damn sure my father was the one to let Hydra out."

"Wait, the Francisco Manx? As in MODD's CEO?" Everybody knew who Francisco Manx. The Leopards swarmy mug was everywhere. Not surpring considering he was the wealthiest and most powerful person on Mortaelis... from what I heard he rarely made actual public appearances preferring to converse through hologram and that he and his family seldom left their opulent Minetrocian mansion. The man was a total recluse why would he have access to an extremely powerful Unseald's containment area?

"The very same, I've never met the man since he almost never leaves Minetrocia but from what my Dad said he was surprisingly not a selfish monster." He said before looking around presumably looking for his father. I look around myself but didn't see anything besides a bunch of rubble and corpses and I was just about to give up hop when. "There he is!" Aidan shouted before running towards a large pile of ruins. Naturally I followed him and saw a giant of a wolf beneath the pile barely conscious. With a surprising amount of strength Aidan lifted the rubble off of his father and dragged him towards the others me providing some assistance. Surprisingly Hydra didn't attack straight out but just watched us with a creepily high amount of intelligence in it's eyes.

"Aidan... what are... you doing... here...?" The man wheezed out painfully while Aidan leaned him against a wall. The son didn't respond immediately more focused on tending his father's wounds but after checking for external and internal injuries he finally spoke.

"You didn't really think I'd leave you to die would you? And... Erika's dead... but don't talk okay you're hurt." The Commander just ignored his son and looked around us ans once his eyes landed on me they widened in shock and what seemed like recognizition.

"You boy, come here!" He ordered. Confused I obeyed and walked closer. He stared at me for a bit in shock before his face turned into a smiling grimace. "Well I don't believe it... Jacob Reaper... I thought you died ages ago! Where have you been? Alistair must've hid you well. He vanished the same day you did." I could only stare at him... he called me Jacob... just like that voice did... and who was Alistair? He couldn't mean...? I was soon overtaken by a blinding headache that brought me to my knees. Countless images passed through my brain but it was so incoherent I couldn't make sense of them.

"What are... you... talking about...? My name is... Kaelan Littlesea, not... Jacob Reaper..." I managed out through the pain in my head. The older wolf just shook his head and sighed.

"You remember nothing it seems, Alistair must've wiped your memory. He was working on a drug that could help with PTSD by removing the damaging memories. Sadly he destroyed all the research regarding the drug and all the samples. He must've used one on you and raised you on his own? Am I right." I only gave him nod still not fully understanding where this was going... drugs that removed traumatic memories? And this... Alistair was in fact the man who called himself Bryan and had raised me all these years? "I should've figured... he was always protesting your treatment back at the faculty... I've always had a feeling he was the one to run off with you but I kept it to myself really..."

"Dad, what are you talking about? Who's Alistair? And what faculty? Why was Kaelan in there in the first place?" Aidan demanded. I just sat there mind still mad with the pain. It honestly felt like my head was about to explode from the sheer pressure. It got to the point to where I couldn't even stand on my own and had to lean against Flint. However I heard the man give his son a sad smile and sigh obviously debating on what to divulge until his son frustration boiled over. "Answer me damn it! What is the faculty and why was Kaelan there?"

"I cannot say, I swore myself to secrecy as did the other Elemental Lords, but promise me, promise me that you will keep the boy out of Francisco's paws... he's... changed he's not the man I knew from so long ago and I fear what would happen if he captured the boy." The man said in a breathless manner, I could tell he was weakening as could Aidan who merely grasped hHeya Folks! Here us the next is Father's paw tightly.

"I swear on my life Dad, I'll do my best to keep him safe..." he said his voice alight with passion. The man just chuckled before closing his eyes for the last time and drew his last breath before becoming still. Aidan just sat there still holding the man's limb paw not saying anything seemingly in a state of shock. Seeing my hero in such a state angered me to no endso I turned towards the monster snarling.:

"Are you happy!? I shouted towards the beast. "Are you rejoicing in the destruction you've caused? Or the families that you've torn apart?" I continued to yell. "I'll never forgive you for what you did!" I said before I felt my body change. I gasped as I felt a burning sensation on my right forearm where a black and gold brand had appeared out of nowhere. I was then even more shocked when I saw the brand began to spread while spreading the heat and a strange sense of pure-power. The brands continued until my entire body was covered in those strange runes.

_ 'This is your power Jacob, use it wisely... Time and Darkness are powerful but volatile things...'_ the voice rang in my head as I stared at my body amazed at the glowing runes and the power that ran through me. But then I regained focus on Hydra and picked up the swords I had dropped earlier when I nearly collapsed from the pain in my head which was now only mere background noise. "My name is Kaelan Littlesea, adopted son of Bryan Littlesea of Crosstown and I'm going to make you pay for all the pain and suffering you've wrought!" I calmly stated before charging at the beast ignoring the cries of the others as I did so. One of us was going to die and I was going to make Damn sure it wasn't me! (6493)