Like A Gift From the Heavens, It was Easy to Tell
Cape Cod changes you.
You may not think it will when you head down there. You may think "Hey, just going down the Cape. No big deal."
But the truth is, you're getting away from your hometown where you've been miserable for almost a month. Where you've barely been out of the house. Not because you didn't want to leave but because you didn't have anywhere to go. And the only thing keeping you sane is your girlfriend and the few friends that still care to come see you. While at the same time, questioning your future and your place in the world because of all this.
As you can see, it's a been a rough end to this summer. It started out great but it just got rough. I know when it started but I'd rather not state when it did. Plus the people involved should know anyways. I never said this to anyone minus Rachel because I was afraid saying it would drive me farther away from the people I care most for. My friends from home. But now that I'm away from Melrose, away from my room where I spent days in, I've realized something. If you drive me away because I tell the truth, then the problem isn't with me, is it? I have problems with some of you. Some of you have driven me so far towards hatred it's ridiculous. Whiles others just seem to ignore me. Well, here's what I say to you all. I don't hate you for it. I still love you the same way I did last summer. So much that I worked hard, day and night, to try and recover SLURVE. So much that when I got down here, I realized something fairly quickly. This story, although not everyone in our group likes it or reads it, is my gift to you. I started writing the first one because I wondered what it'd be like if we had never met each other. If a few of us knew one another but others didn't. And what it would be like to meet for the first time. Now that it's a year later, and I feel like I don't know some of you anymore, I realize how important this story is to finish. Maybe not just for you guys but for me too. And I apologize to everyone, especially Natalie, Liza, Paula and Sam. The ones who kept asking me when I was going to post a new chapter. The ones who kept on me. And I let their requests fall on deaf ears. I'm sorry for waiting so long to start writing again. But being down here, has reawoken me.
My writer's block is gone.
My faith in myself and my friends is back.
Oh and I guess the biggest news....I'm not leaving on Friday. I want one last weekend with you all. Please give me that opportunity.
So...without further ado; Chapter Twelve of Anti-Reality 2.
Chapter Twelve: Epiphany
Part One
-=Day Three=-
11:36 AM
Sam had run hard before. He remembered clearly running for his life, running in for an attack, running away from danger. But at this moment in time, he never thought he’d run faster as he sprinted outside. He stopped outside the entrance of the hospital. An explosion had rocked the entire hospital and he could already hear the police sirens getting closer. The rain was pouring now and his clothes were already sticking to his body. He looked around, trying to locate where the explosion had come from. Some disgusting, stomach turning feeling had caused him to leave Paula, Jen and CJ in the hospital room. He looked towards the large parking lot next to the hospital. Smoke was rising from the very back of it. It took Sam no time to react; he set off at high speed towards the smoke.
He weaved in and out of parked cars as he got closer to his target. His entire body was drenched; his hair stuck onto his face. But he was determined and nothing was going to stop him. His heavy steps echoed on the hard, cold and wet pavement. The smoke was only two aisles down. He could feel the heat from the fire and smell the burning metal. He turned quickly around a set of cars and turned left. And right there before his eyes was the accident. Two cars had exploded and were still blazing even with the pouring rain. Debris and fiery pieces of the cars were scattered all over the ground. He stared at the destruction in awe, his fear rising with it. Then he looked in a tiny circle that wasn’t covered by any debris or fire. His eyes grew larger. Haley, Samantha and Tony were all lying in the circle, seemingly unconscious. He ran to them quickly, dropping down to his knees next to them. He raised Tony’s head slowly and put his hand down next to his neck, checking his pulse.
“He’s alive” Sam said aloud, more to himself than any of them. He looked down and saw a burn mark on the front of Tony’s shirt. It looked like he had been… “Hit by lightning” Sam said, horror filling his voice. He quickly ran over to Samantha and Haley. They hadn’t been hit by lightning but they were surely unconscious. He heard the sirens making their way over to him. He immediately stepped over his injured friends and waited for them. I don’t know what is going on. But I’m afraid. I am very afraid.
Afraid of death
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“Doctor, will you just tell me if they’re going to be alright!”
Sam was yelling over all the commotion going on in the hall way. He was running next to the stretcher that was quickly being rolled down the emergency room. He was trying to keep Doctor Ryder’s attention on him but was failing as attendants surrounded the stretcher that was carrying Tony. The doctor just quickly glanced at Sam before looking back to Tony. But Sam did not lose speed; he kept up with them. I am not leaving Tony’s side until I know if he’ll be alright or not.
“Sam!”
He stopped quickly and turned around to face Paula who was running to catch up with him. She stopped in front of him, panting and out of breath
“What happened?” She asked, in between taking breaths.
“Samfa, Tony and Haley were attacked. I’m guessing by the same people. They destroyed their car and looks like took them on hand to hand. And they beat Tony and them down.” He explained, looking towards the now distant Tony.
“Oh my god, are they going to be okay?” She asked
“I checked them when I got there. They were all breathing fine. But Tony had burn marks on his shirt. Burn marks, Paula. Like he had been hit by lightning.”
“Lightning? Just Tony? There’s no way that Haley and Samantha would have escaped any damage if Tony got hit by lightning. They all would have been burned.” She said, completely confused and bewildered.
“Yeah, that’s the part that scares me. Neither Haley nor Samfa had burn marks. It was just Tony.”
He looked down at her, finally pulling his gaze away from the corridor in which Tony had been rolled down, and met Paula’s gaze. He could see fear and confusion bluntly written in her eyes and across her face.
“What do you think happened?” Paula asked; her voice now lowered and more secretive.
“If you ask me, who ever these people are, they did this. They attacked Jen and CJ. They must have attacked these guys as well. There is now way that this was a random attack, especially involving electricity. That’s what they used on Jen and CJ. They’re targeting us, Paula. For some reason, they’re targeting our group of friends.”
“But why? What did we do?” She asked.
“I don’t know. But somehow I think it involves either the Empire or Ian. Although I don’t remember there ever being mentioned men wearing dark cloaks. We’ll have to ask Jen.” Paula nodded and they quickly turned and started walking towards Jen’s room.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“I’m telling you guys, there was never anyone wearing dark cloaks in our dimension. At least, to my knowledge there wasn’t.”
Sam and Paula had made it back to Jen’s room and now sat in front of her and CJ. They had asked her a series of questions and, unfortunately for them, all of the answers came back negatively for them.
“We’re not accusing you of anything Jen so you don’t need to be so protective. We’re just confused and scared.” Sam explained.
“How do you think I feel, Sam? CJ and I got electrified by these freaks without even knowing what the hell we were going up against. Now they attack Tony, Haley and Samantha. Ian’s knife is right here although he brought it with him into the other dimension. I’m just so confused and over-whelmed right now that I could scream!” Jen yelled, more out of frustration than towards any of them. “And as far as I know, these people could very well be the remainder of the Empire. They could have come back for vengeance. But we don’t know for sure. But we sure as hell need to find out soon before they decide to stop playing with us and just kill us!” When she had finished, she jumped out of bed and began walking towards the two metal lockers in the back of the room.
“What are you doing?” CJ asked her.
“I’m getting my clothes. We’re both fine so let’s get the hell out of here and find those things and stop them!” She said, opening the locker to find her clothes. CJ nodded, jumped up as well and made his way to the locker.
“Guys, you can’t leave. There is no way the doctors will let you.” Paula said.
“Screw them. This isn’t part of our job anymore. They made this personal.” CJ said.
“You guys can get in serious trouble. You know that, right?” Sam said, half-smiling. He knew saying anything wasn’t going to stop them. And that made him happy; putting their jobs on the line for their friends.
“Who cares? We’re trying to catch the criminals. If anything, we should get a promotion after this.” CJ said as Jen and him walked by Paula and Sam, clothes in hand, towards the bathrooms. Paula and Sam looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and walked out of the room after them.
Part Two
Geintz stood on the roof of the hospital, over-looking the city of Melrose. The sun shone down on the snow-covered city, not hot enough to melt of the freezing snow but enough to shine off of it brightly. The rain had come and gone quickly and the sun followed. The rain had covered the snow with a thick layer of water and, with the temperature that it was now; it would surely turn to ice soon. He watched as cars and people made their way by in their pitiful lives. But he wasn’t really watching anything. He was listening. He had been listening in on the conversation of the first two humans that he had ordered attacked. He chuckled as he heard them leave. Suddenly, he heard a zap and he turned slowly to see Urgantava stepping out of the scorched circle he had just made. He was much taller than Geintz and extremely well-built. But his mind wasn’t nearly as powerful as any of the other Eleven and he was easily confused unless properly explained in extreme detail. He was more of the brute tank.
“Urgantava, our plan is going quite well. Wouldn’t you agree?” Geintz said, walking over to his minion.
“Yes Master Geintz. But I don’t understand why we must wait to kill these creatures.” Urgantava said, looking at his hand. He slowly closed it into a fist. “I could easily crush them all in the palm of my hand.”
“Indeed you could, friend, but the whole idea to pick away at their morale and force them to want to confront us. And just as well, that objective is completed. Now is our time to wipe these mongrels out, along with the rest of this world.”
Urgantava smiled from under his cloak. “How do you know that, Master Geintz?”
“Why, I’ve been listening in on their conversations. From up here, all I have to do is concentrate using the power of the Gaelias and I can locate and listen to anything I want to. That’s how powerful I am, Urgantava. I hate to say that…you’re not as powerful as me mentally but my friend, I could never crush any foe with such force like you.” Geintz said; a wicked smile across his face. He had just easily insulted one of his most fierce lackeys yet by throwing in a small compliment, he would get the answer he expected.
“Thank you, Master Geintz. You are far too kind.”
Like shooting fish in a barrel
“Urgantava, go back to the Eleven and tell them to prepare. Our targets are going to meet up soon and then we will strike.” Geintz said, turning away to look out again.
“This is it, isn’t it Master Geintz? We’re finally going to get our revenge. No more chasing clues and bread crumbs through portals anymore. We can finally go back to our home.” Urgantava said.
Geintz turned around again. His smile had changed; it was less wicked and more comforting and caring. He walked over to Urgantava and clasped his shoulders. He looked up at him. “Yes, Urgantava. It is nearly the end. Soon, soon we can go home.”
Urgantava nodded. Geintz let go of his comrade and walked back over to the edge. He heard a zap and knew that Urgantava was gone. The comforting smile was gone. His face was grim, a look of hatred and remorse written on his face.
Pure hatred.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Sam, Paula, Jen and CJ all made their way down the last hospital corridor, heading towards the entrance. They were all chattering at once, talking about what they were going to do. They went through the doors that brought them to the reception room. Nurses and patients turned to look at them as they walked by but they paid no attention to them. They were just about to head they the entrance suddenly the doors they had just come through burst open again, a lot more fiercely this time, followed a shout of “Wait up!” All four of the friends turned to see who was yelling after them, only to find Tony, Haley and Samfa making their way after them.
“Whoa wait, you guys need to get back to your rooms. You just got attacked.” Sam said, holding his hands up in a motion telling them to go back.
“Like hell we are, we’re all fine.” Samfa said.
“Besides, we know you four are going after Geintz and his pals too so we’re coming along.” Tony said, putting his left arm through his jacket. He was wearing the burned t-shirt still.
“Geintz? They have names?” Jen asked, confused.
“Oh they have names alright. They call themselves the Eleven. They are some race called the Pretori or something like that. They said they’re here to punish us for heresy.” Haley said.
“Heresy? What the hell did we do to them?” CJ asked, not really expecting an answer
“Nothing. We didn’t do anything as far as we’re concerned!” Paula blurted out, angrily.
“Alright listen!” Sam said. “Let’s move this conversation outside.” He nodded towards all the people starting to take notice of the conversation. They all quickly walked out the front entrance to the parking lot. They walked a little ways in and then stopped in one of the rows of cars. They could still hear fire engines and police cars down a ways by what was left of Haley’s car. Sam turned to them all and took a deep breath.
“Okay, obviously we are up against something big. These guys are more powerful and have better technology than any of the other Empire troops we ever faced.”
“Are we saying that these guys are some elite group from the Empire? If they’re some different race from human beings, than the Empire sure wasn’t destroyed when Ian went through. And they’re been making new waves in communication. Or they could be some of the Empire’s test subjects and they just call themselves the Pretori because they view themselves as more elite than human beings.” Jen said.
“They said they were an ancient race from a world called Praen. They can’t be test subjects. Obviously the Empire had expanded its communications through space and had discovered this race and made good with them. They seem to have a lot of things in common, namely destruction and blood shed.” Samfa explained.
“What ever the difference, we defeated the Empire here. We fought off their best troops. We need to get everyone together and explain this entire thing. Then we need to come up with a plan. Something that obviously doesn’t include guns.” Tony said.
“Alright, then we’re agreed. We need to do something about this before any more of us get attacked or worse. Get everyone together. We’ll all meet at Liza and Jeff’s and figure something out from there. Everyone get out your cell phones and start calling. Let’s go!
They all nodded. Jen, CJ and Samfa went with Paula while Haley and Tony went with Sam. Sam looked up at the afternoon sky. It was sunny right now but it looked like there were clouds on the horizon, ready to come block the light away.
What a simile.
You may not think it will when you head down there. You may think "Hey, just going down the Cape. No big deal."
But the truth is, you're getting away from your hometown where you've been miserable for almost a month. Where you've barely been out of the house. Not because you didn't want to leave but because you didn't have anywhere to go. And the only thing keeping you sane is your girlfriend and the few friends that still care to come see you. While at the same time, questioning your future and your place in the world because of all this.
As you can see, it's a been a rough end to this summer. It started out great but it just got rough. I know when it started but I'd rather not state when it did. Plus the people involved should know anyways. I never said this to anyone minus Rachel because I was afraid saying it would drive me farther away from the people I care most for. My friends from home. But now that I'm away from Melrose, away from my room where I spent days in, I've realized something. If you drive me away because I tell the truth, then the problem isn't with me, is it? I have problems with some of you. Some of you have driven me so far towards hatred it's ridiculous. Whiles others just seem to ignore me. Well, here's what I say to you all. I don't hate you for it. I still love you the same way I did last summer. So much that I worked hard, day and night, to try and recover SLURVE. So much that when I got down here, I realized something fairly quickly. This story, although not everyone in our group likes it or reads it, is my gift to you. I started writing the first one because I wondered what it'd be like if we had never met each other. If a few of us knew one another but others didn't. And what it would be like to meet for the first time. Now that it's a year later, and I feel like I don't know some of you anymore, I realize how important this story is to finish. Maybe not just for you guys but for me too. And I apologize to everyone, especially Natalie, Liza, Paula and Sam. The ones who kept asking me when I was going to post a new chapter. The ones who kept on me. And I let their requests fall on deaf ears. I'm sorry for waiting so long to start writing again. But being down here, has reawoken me.
My writer's block is gone.
My faith in myself and my friends is back.
Oh and I guess the biggest news....I'm not leaving on Friday. I want one last weekend with you all. Please give me that opportunity.
So...without further ado; Chapter Twelve of Anti-Reality 2.
Chapter Twelve: Epiphany
Part One
-=Day Three=-
11:36 AM
Sam had run hard before. He remembered clearly running for his life, running in for an attack, running away from danger. But at this moment in time, he never thought he’d run faster as he sprinted outside. He stopped outside the entrance of the hospital. An explosion had rocked the entire hospital and he could already hear the police sirens getting closer. The rain was pouring now and his clothes were already sticking to his body. He looked around, trying to locate where the explosion had come from. Some disgusting, stomach turning feeling had caused him to leave Paula, Jen and CJ in the hospital room. He looked towards the large parking lot next to the hospital. Smoke was rising from the very back of it. It took Sam no time to react; he set off at high speed towards the smoke.
He weaved in and out of parked cars as he got closer to his target. His entire body was drenched; his hair stuck onto his face. But he was determined and nothing was going to stop him. His heavy steps echoed on the hard, cold and wet pavement. The smoke was only two aisles down. He could feel the heat from the fire and smell the burning metal. He turned quickly around a set of cars and turned left. And right there before his eyes was the accident. Two cars had exploded and were still blazing even with the pouring rain. Debris and fiery pieces of the cars were scattered all over the ground. He stared at the destruction in awe, his fear rising with it. Then he looked in a tiny circle that wasn’t covered by any debris or fire. His eyes grew larger. Haley, Samantha and Tony were all lying in the circle, seemingly unconscious. He ran to them quickly, dropping down to his knees next to them. He raised Tony’s head slowly and put his hand down next to his neck, checking his pulse.
“He’s alive” Sam said aloud, more to himself than any of them. He looked down and saw a burn mark on the front of Tony’s shirt. It looked like he had been… “Hit by lightning” Sam said, horror filling his voice. He quickly ran over to Samantha and Haley. They hadn’t been hit by lightning but they were surely unconscious. He heard the sirens making their way over to him. He immediately stepped over his injured friends and waited for them. I don’t know what is going on. But I’m afraid. I am very afraid.
Afraid of death
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“Doctor, will you just tell me if they’re going to be alright!”
Sam was yelling over all the commotion going on in the hall way. He was running next to the stretcher that was quickly being rolled down the emergency room. He was trying to keep Doctor Ryder’s attention on him but was failing as attendants surrounded the stretcher that was carrying Tony. The doctor just quickly glanced at Sam before looking back to Tony. But Sam did not lose speed; he kept up with them. I am not leaving Tony’s side until I know if he’ll be alright or not.
“Sam!”
He stopped quickly and turned around to face Paula who was running to catch up with him. She stopped in front of him, panting and out of breath
“What happened?” She asked, in between taking breaths.
“Samfa, Tony and Haley were attacked. I’m guessing by the same people. They destroyed their car and looks like took them on hand to hand. And they beat Tony and them down.” He explained, looking towards the now distant Tony.
“Oh my god, are they going to be okay?” She asked
“I checked them when I got there. They were all breathing fine. But Tony had burn marks on his shirt. Burn marks, Paula. Like he had been hit by lightning.”
“Lightning? Just Tony? There’s no way that Haley and Samantha would have escaped any damage if Tony got hit by lightning. They all would have been burned.” She said, completely confused and bewildered.
“Yeah, that’s the part that scares me. Neither Haley nor Samfa had burn marks. It was just Tony.”
He looked down at her, finally pulling his gaze away from the corridor in which Tony had been rolled down, and met Paula’s gaze. He could see fear and confusion bluntly written in her eyes and across her face.
“What do you think happened?” Paula asked; her voice now lowered and more secretive.
“If you ask me, who ever these people are, they did this. They attacked Jen and CJ. They must have attacked these guys as well. There is now way that this was a random attack, especially involving electricity. That’s what they used on Jen and CJ. They’re targeting us, Paula. For some reason, they’re targeting our group of friends.”
“But why? What did we do?” She asked.
“I don’t know. But somehow I think it involves either the Empire or Ian. Although I don’t remember there ever being mentioned men wearing dark cloaks. We’ll have to ask Jen.” Paula nodded and they quickly turned and started walking towards Jen’s room.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“I’m telling you guys, there was never anyone wearing dark cloaks in our dimension. At least, to my knowledge there wasn’t.”
Sam and Paula had made it back to Jen’s room and now sat in front of her and CJ. They had asked her a series of questions and, unfortunately for them, all of the answers came back negatively for them.
“We’re not accusing you of anything Jen so you don’t need to be so protective. We’re just confused and scared.” Sam explained.
“How do you think I feel, Sam? CJ and I got electrified by these freaks without even knowing what the hell we were going up against. Now they attack Tony, Haley and Samantha. Ian’s knife is right here although he brought it with him into the other dimension. I’m just so confused and over-whelmed right now that I could scream!” Jen yelled, more out of frustration than towards any of them. “And as far as I know, these people could very well be the remainder of the Empire. They could have come back for vengeance. But we don’t know for sure. But we sure as hell need to find out soon before they decide to stop playing with us and just kill us!” When she had finished, she jumped out of bed and began walking towards the two metal lockers in the back of the room.
“What are you doing?” CJ asked her.
“I’m getting my clothes. We’re both fine so let’s get the hell out of here and find those things and stop them!” She said, opening the locker to find her clothes. CJ nodded, jumped up as well and made his way to the locker.
“Guys, you can’t leave. There is no way the doctors will let you.” Paula said.
“Screw them. This isn’t part of our job anymore. They made this personal.” CJ said.
“You guys can get in serious trouble. You know that, right?” Sam said, half-smiling. He knew saying anything wasn’t going to stop them. And that made him happy; putting their jobs on the line for their friends.
“Who cares? We’re trying to catch the criminals. If anything, we should get a promotion after this.” CJ said as Jen and him walked by Paula and Sam, clothes in hand, towards the bathrooms. Paula and Sam looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and walked out of the room after them.
Part Two
Geintz stood on the roof of the hospital, over-looking the city of Melrose. The sun shone down on the snow-covered city, not hot enough to melt of the freezing snow but enough to shine off of it brightly. The rain had come and gone quickly and the sun followed. The rain had covered the snow with a thick layer of water and, with the temperature that it was now; it would surely turn to ice soon. He watched as cars and people made their way by in their pitiful lives. But he wasn’t really watching anything. He was listening. He had been listening in on the conversation of the first two humans that he had ordered attacked. He chuckled as he heard them leave. Suddenly, he heard a zap and he turned slowly to see Urgantava stepping out of the scorched circle he had just made. He was much taller than Geintz and extremely well-built. But his mind wasn’t nearly as powerful as any of the other Eleven and he was easily confused unless properly explained in extreme detail. He was more of the brute tank.
“Urgantava, our plan is going quite well. Wouldn’t you agree?” Geintz said, walking over to his minion.
“Yes Master Geintz. But I don’t understand why we must wait to kill these creatures.” Urgantava said, looking at his hand. He slowly closed it into a fist. “I could easily crush them all in the palm of my hand.”
“Indeed you could, friend, but the whole idea to pick away at their morale and force them to want to confront us. And just as well, that objective is completed. Now is our time to wipe these mongrels out, along with the rest of this world.”
Urgantava smiled from under his cloak. “How do you know that, Master Geintz?”
“Why, I’ve been listening in on their conversations. From up here, all I have to do is concentrate using the power of the Gaelias and I can locate and listen to anything I want to. That’s how powerful I am, Urgantava. I hate to say that…you’re not as powerful as me mentally but my friend, I could never crush any foe with such force like you.” Geintz said; a wicked smile across his face. He had just easily insulted one of his most fierce lackeys yet by throwing in a small compliment, he would get the answer he expected.
“Thank you, Master Geintz. You are far too kind.”
Like shooting fish in a barrel
“Urgantava, go back to the Eleven and tell them to prepare. Our targets are going to meet up soon and then we will strike.” Geintz said, turning away to look out again.
“This is it, isn’t it Master Geintz? We’re finally going to get our revenge. No more chasing clues and bread crumbs through portals anymore. We can finally go back to our home.” Urgantava said.
Geintz turned around again. His smile had changed; it was less wicked and more comforting and caring. He walked over to Urgantava and clasped his shoulders. He looked up at him. “Yes, Urgantava. It is nearly the end. Soon, soon we can go home.”
Urgantava nodded. Geintz let go of his comrade and walked back over to the edge. He heard a zap and knew that Urgantava was gone. The comforting smile was gone. His face was grim, a look of hatred and remorse written on his face.
Pure hatred.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Sam, Paula, Jen and CJ all made their way down the last hospital corridor, heading towards the entrance. They were all chattering at once, talking about what they were going to do. They went through the doors that brought them to the reception room. Nurses and patients turned to look at them as they walked by but they paid no attention to them. They were just about to head they the entrance suddenly the doors they had just come through burst open again, a lot more fiercely this time, followed a shout of “Wait up!” All four of the friends turned to see who was yelling after them, only to find Tony, Haley and Samfa making their way after them.
“Whoa wait, you guys need to get back to your rooms. You just got attacked.” Sam said, holding his hands up in a motion telling them to go back.
“Like hell we are, we’re all fine.” Samfa said.
“Besides, we know you four are going after Geintz and his pals too so we’re coming along.” Tony said, putting his left arm through his jacket. He was wearing the burned t-shirt still.
“Geintz? They have names?” Jen asked, confused.
“Oh they have names alright. They call themselves the Eleven. They are some race called the Pretori or something like that. They said they’re here to punish us for heresy.” Haley said.
“Heresy? What the hell did we do to them?” CJ asked, not really expecting an answer
“Nothing. We didn’t do anything as far as we’re concerned!” Paula blurted out, angrily.
“Alright listen!” Sam said. “Let’s move this conversation outside.” He nodded towards all the people starting to take notice of the conversation. They all quickly walked out the front entrance to the parking lot. They walked a little ways in and then stopped in one of the rows of cars. They could still hear fire engines and police cars down a ways by what was left of Haley’s car. Sam turned to them all and took a deep breath.
“Okay, obviously we are up against something big. These guys are more powerful and have better technology than any of the other Empire troops we ever faced.”
“Are we saying that these guys are some elite group from the Empire? If they’re some different race from human beings, than the Empire sure wasn’t destroyed when Ian went through. And they’re been making new waves in communication. Or they could be some of the Empire’s test subjects and they just call themselves the Pretori because they view themselves as more elite than human beings.” Jen said.
“They said they were an ancient race from a world called Praen. They can’t be test subjects. Obviously the Empire had expanded its communications through space and had discovered this race and made good with them. They seem to have a lot of things in common, namely destruction and blood shed.” Samfa explained.
“What ever the difference, we defeated the Empire here. We fought off their best troops. We need to get everyone together and explain this entire thing. Then we need to come up with a plan. Something that obviously doesn’t include guns.” Tony said.
“Alright, then we’re agreed. We need to do something about this before any more of us get attacked or worse. Get everyone together. We’ll all meet at Liza and Jeff’s and figure something out from there. Everyone get out your cell phones and start calling. Let’s go!
They all nodded. Jen, CJ and Samfa went with Paula while Haley and Tony went with Sam. Sam looked up at the afternoon sky. It was sunny right now but it looked like there were clouds on the horizon, ready to come block the light away.
What a simile.