The hovercraft offered its passengers full view of the Kapitolls citizens at the edge of the city below as they prepared to shelter themselves in their underground homes from being charred by aliens.
As they flew into the city, there was a sense of panic and they could be seen frantically scattering themselves across the road network.
Sirens and electronic warnings noisily filled the Kapitoll City as citizens also ran either to their homes or underground shelters for cover. The medic crews could be seen driving at identified stations key point stations where everyone could receive help if they were injured. Some drones flew in the air to record the situation on the ground with its reports sent to headquarters.
Elisabeth , who piloted the hovercraft, did possess skills beyond Alexis comprehension. She flew them all as they saw it all which included Josef, who was naturally afraid of flying but would not admit it publicly.
They eventually landed safely near the dome which served as an advance staging point and was immediately escorted to the bunker room underneath it.
At each point, a guard was stationed and secret codes only known to them were keyed in at the entrance.
Alexis felt as if they were being caged they passed through ten heavy steel doors until they eventually reached the heart of the war room.
Massive screens covering every inch of the world map with pilots and soldiers stationed at their bases were marked with red blinking lights. The navy bases, meanwhile, were marked white.
Alexis stood in awe of the mode of which the Kapitoll had prepared itself against an eventual attack. She could understand now how the president felt when Frank abandoned them to form the rebels.
Frank was the exceptional few who could control a battle with two fronts at one time.
A captain led the landing party to a room full of crches which allowed the transference team to begin entering their targeted individuals.
Hues of light blue filled the room which calmed everyone. Josef stood at a crche while the lab coats prepared to have their passengers transferred.
He looked at Alexis note pad and wrinkled his eyebrows. There must be a mistake here, he said to one of the technicians. Agent Maria is to merge her mind with a Sentinel Queen
Orders are orders, sir, theres nothing I can do about it, came the reply.
What seems to be the problem here, Josef Elisabeth interrupted.
Josef shook his head. Theyre placing her mind with one of the cruelest species ever. Shell be detected easily even before they merge their minds together, he said.
Elisabeth scrutinised the report carefully which had Franks signature on it. He authorised it, she said. Have a little trust in Frank. He knows what hes up against.
She also took up Franks report which confirmed her thoughts. After transferring himself with a low-ranking Sentinel subordinate, hell make his way to the official residence where the Queen resides.
Hell then transfer himself to another subordinate who controls the attack board. With this in hand, hes hoping that both brother and sister will intercept the attack signal in the hope that theyll stop the war before its even being launched onto Earth, she said.
I didnt know Frank could switch in a middle of a mind transference programme. How does he do that Josef asked. It was the first time he ever heard that a soldier was capable to do so on his own merit.
Its something which hes been trained to do since day one, and although Alexis can do it too, but her strength lies with strategy tactics. Frank, being her elder twin, was transferred to another programme which only he, and only he, came out alive, she answered.
This plan may work after all because twins have a common bond between them. The bond is in their blood; they were born from the same set of parents. It strengthens their existing genetic code even though its been changed to suit the militarys needs.
In this case, theyre stronger when theyre united with Frank doing the running, of course, she added.
Wait, Josef said, how do you know so much of their training Especially Franks Its not on the official records. I must have read their reports so many times and knew all the mind agents or supersoldiers who crossed my path.
Elisabeth grinned at the question, passing the assessment report to the subordinate. Their training was never designed to be on public record, Josef. As it was then, its the same now which is simple were at war.
As for me knowing about Frank, Im his clone, an artificial intelligence protocol prototype for him to assist in his missions if he didnt return, which is also, as you say, not in the records.
And if, God forbid, that Franks mind collapses during the transference process When he dies in combat Josef queried.
Thats simple enough, guardian. Ill be replacing him in his stead then, she answered while turning to the crches. Amazing, isnt it how technology evolves faster than human evolution Although ironically, were unique but were also replaceable like the stars; we burst after fulfilling our duties, creating a supernova running across the galaxy.
Now, youre being poetic. But, your conscience is not the same with his. How can you operate the same way he does let alone think like him Josef asked.
Theres a special protocol set aside for contingencies in case Frank cease to exist, Josef. The protocol is his conscious which will be replaced temporarily through another transference process and the crche is available here.
There were initial tests on other supersoldiers with negative results. This was because the candidates werent compatible either they had different sets of values or just plain dumb.
My creator was kinder to provide me with enough human emotion especially as a woman. This allows the transference process easier.
Call it what you like, hormonal or not, but Im the female version of Frank.
The laboratory was filled with hundreds of capsules ready for the soldiers mind transference as every technician stood by the equipment.
Although there were a hundred supersoldiers ready to be deployed, only six had been identified with the equipping themselves to cross into their enemies minds.
Upon walking into the room, Natalies mind was focused at the task at hand. She was suited up in her army uniform. Fully recovered after sustaining a minor injury, she had made herself useful in the ward while others turned to assist the technicians to create more crches if the necessity came.
Sean, meanwhile, had been wheeled in after gaining permission to be reactivated. A technician and two more scientists scrambled to place him into the capsule to place the padded wires beside his temple and check his vital signs. Sean lived for this kind of adventure. He knew that he could be slow in being civil but he was an active, combat-trained soldier. He had come to terms with not being able to use his legs but even without it, he reasoned, he could still serve to save humanity.
Natalie was surprised to see him today. Although now handicapped with both of his legs amputated due to the crushing blow from the concrete blocks during the recent attacks, Seans appearance did not deter him from setting his mind.
Natalie approached him without kneeling down.
I havent seen you in awhile, she commented as they shook hands. Ive been attending to the children. They were scared when I rescued them during the scrimmage.
Sean smiled back. His striking deep-blue eyes twinkled with delight. Good thing you saw to them. Itll take a few more years for them to join us, and truth be told, Im glad that theyre not here to join us today. He patted the crche beside him.
I should also thank my lucky stars that Im still useful despite this, he showed the electric wheelchair that he was using now.
Natalie then kneeled down. Im sorry for not being with you then, Sean. But, Im glad were in this together.
Hugging her, he whispered to her ear. It was Alexis who saved me, he said.
What Natalie pulled back in aghast. Shes dead. Murdered by them in the complex, or that was the report which I read, she said.
Sean chortled. Officially yes, the agent whom we know as Alexis has been decommissioned. But, I knew it was her when she rescued me from the rubbles.
Placing his rough palm on her own, Sean passed several images to his friend.
Can you see her there Can you not feel it was her who came after me he asked. More images and conversations passed between them.
It took Natalie a moment to see the unrecognisable face but it finally came to her. How did she manage to alter herself into another without a crche Was she ever a double-agent or a sympathiser to their cause she asked.
Sean shook his head. She was neither of those. Shes the co-commander of the rebels twin sister. Her task wasnt simple. She was to bring them the cure to those who had defected to stay alive. But, by God, shes now known as the Peacemaker for forging the cooperation from sides.
We werent programmed for her kind of mission. Her mind is different than ours; its not so simple to explain in scientific terms but she doesnt think like us at all. Her mind deviates from the norm, he replied.
Natalie started to frown worryingly. Should we be frightened of her She could back track us, knowing our strength and weaknesses. It doesnt help with her being so close to President Cole too. She could
No, shes not a traitor. This Im certain, he said.
A pair of scientists then appeared.
Ready, Agent Sean Were going to place you in the crche and upload you now into one of the Sentinels pilots. Its General Franks orders.
Sean nodded. Im ready when hes ready.
As she saw Sean climbed into his capsule with him now sealed, Natalie was still processing the information in her mind.
She decided to store it aside and concentrate on her mission instead.
Agent Natalie, a technician called and handed her transfer orders. Youll be Seans wing man as well prepare you to enter another enemys mind.
At least Ill be able to monitor Sean while were in space, she muttered as they injected a sedative serum into her neck.
She then placed herself into the capsule while the scientists hurriedly attached her with the padded wires to the sides of her temple with a monitoring screen beside her.
Drifting sequence ready, said a female technician to her subordinate. Prepare for a neuron handshake for each soldier now.
Watching from above in another section of the dome was President Cole in full combat gear. She leaned onto the railings, waiting for the effects of every transcending team to engage in a battle plan which only Frank knew how to execute it.
Please let this incident be the last. Let there be no suffering endured by anyone after this, she prayed silently.
The crches meant for the small team was placed in a cruiser. Franks extra crche, meanwhile, had been placed separately in another chamber as a form of an emergency from the others to allow him more freedom in bending the enemies will without the disturbance from those he was leading. It also was built to be used by Elisabeth or Alexis in case Frank did not survive during the first wave of attack.
Frank, an hour older than Alexis, was considered the veteran of the two. His twin sister also had one extra made crche which was placed beside his where she laid down with two scientists monitoring her.
He cast a glance at her face which appeared serene. She was wearing the necklace which their mother handed down to them before she was gunned down by her own species to save her children.
He gently placed his palms onto the creches shield, grimacing at the thought of the eventuality of her ending. He wished with all his might that she would be spared from the atrocity which he predicted would leave her mind immobile for awhile.
Temporary amnesia was a condition which all supersoldiers tend to experience, later likened to a useless racing horse.
Depending on the degree when inflicted with it, some would become senile or worse, a living corpse with fragments of memories some pleasant, others are just plain nightmares living among the human community, believing themselves to be purely humans instead of entirely different species.
Ah well, he thought, youll be fine. Ill just have to have a little faith in you, Sister.
He was suddenly jolted back to reality when Josef approached him.
Both of you have done the Kapitoll proud, Josef beamed. Well, are you ready, General Ill prepare you for the journey myself.
Frank nodded. Im here, arent I he replied gruffly then held onto Josefs shoulders and pulled him close.
You know this is her biggest mission that shes undertaken, he whispered. Dont leave her alone with the lab coats for one second once shes succeeded. She wont be herself again, he added, pressing onto Josefs shoulder more.
The guardian understood the implicit message. After all, he had trained and watched her grow before his very eyes. He had seen the side effects of other supersoldiers after undergoing intense battles.
The Kapitoll government, unfortunately, had not prepared a post-traumatic programme designed especially for them. It was only meant for humans.
Like toys, the genetically-engineered soldiers would be disposed or integrated with other citizens in special institutions with other human veterans.
But, most of the time they would be disappear without a trace and their records erased along with their existence. Like the scene at Elysium, where scraps of body parts would be left to rot.
There was not even a memorial site for those who had sacrificed for them like at Arlington Road, Josef lamented.
He laughed momentarily when a thought occurred to him that a proposal was presented to the presidential committee for one to be made not so long ago.
Despite the intense pressure of lobbying through the committees corridors, the proposal was met with a cynical laugh and kept in a vault with other such like-minded ideas.
When pressed for the committees reasons to not pursue with it, the answer came in ten words uttered by the presiding council himself: We dont have the lands for this kind of foolishness.
From then on, Josef vowed he would immerse himself to allow the supersoldiers to stand equally as their human counterparts.
No more shenanigans. No more excuses or bureaucracies.
No more discrimination between man-made weapons from their own flesh and blood.
And finally, no more excuses for bloodshed.
The sirens were louder now as it hit midnight. Without a moments hesitation, every soldier made their way to their battle stations except for Alexis, Natalie, Frank and Sean who were already strapped into their capsules.
Using a cargo ship under heavy disguise as a mercenary one, they were flown mid-way reaching an advance battle station near on the moon.
Alexis had earlier estimated in order to shut down the laser beams within the Sentinels main dreadnought, they would have to gain closer access to immerse their mind with each respective host.
The mind transference can only work so well when the host is near to us. Not light years away, she debated with Josef.
It was an oversight but which was rectified immediately after gaining consent from the president.
Just make damn sure the aliens systems are down so we wont have more bloodshed on our hands, was all Cole said.
Frank had agreed with his sisters assessment. Shows youre in command now and out of school, he joked while ruffling her hair.
The carrier landed safely on the moon patch behind the Sentinels warship without a hitch. Elisabeth, acting as co-pilot, went to inspect each crche.
After a few minutes, she gave a thumbs up to Josef. Their vital signs are good. Ill start with Frank.
Pushing on a few buttons, the crches lid opened slowly. Injecting him with a purple serum this time, Josefs eyes fluttered slightly as he woke up to the bright lights above him.
Slightly disorientated, he grasped Elisabeths arms as he brought himself up.
Wake the others. Well need some time to orientate ourselves, he said.
Floating himself towards the pilots console, he saw the tip of the dreadnought which hosted the Sentinels queen.
Keep us on the low while I prepare the others through the transference process, he said to the pilot and returned towards his crew.
How do you feel he asked them.
Never been better, general. Now, strap us up while were still not yet detected, Natalie replied.
Suspended mid-air, both Natalie and Josef allowed the nanobots to be attached on their skin which was supplied by the scientists at the last minute.
Since theres no oxygen in space, these little guys will harness their small claws onto the sides of your temples, switching themselves into a transference equipment instead of the usual mind pad that youve used in other missions.
Theyll disintegrate slowly into your flesh, allowing your crew to undergo the process at a faster rate for a neuron handshake with your enemies.
Frank was initially worried in case they would be tugged mid-way should the Sentinels sense their presence.
Thats where Elisabeth and Josef come in theyll monitor your progress with the monitor as usual beside you.
Once interference is detected, like pulling a piece of thread from flour, theyll guide each of you through the wormhole with the serums injected into you.
This sounds like fun, Frank remarked sarcastically.
The moon underneath them started to tremble which resulted with some of the systems malfunctioned.
With Josef running towards the console, Elisabeth placed her hand on Franks.
A little shake wont matter. Weve got everything under control, she assured him.
They eyed each other one last time before she placed the nanobots onto him.
Dream of me, she whispered quietly, kissing the tip of his nose. Then, she injected the amber liquid usually used during the soldiers missions.
She repeated the process with the others, calming them when Sean felt a searing pain in his temples.
Its the nanobots working its way into your system, she said. The pain will ease away in awhile. Let them perform their task.
They grimaced momentarily which eventually led even led to Sean and Natalie shedding a tear.
The nanobots were shredding into their flesh, peeling into their brains layers.
But their vital signs remained steady. Elisabeth pinpointed their targets on the screen and saw their faces were now calm.
The moon began to stablise which left the shuttles gravitys left unharmed.
Alls well that ends well, Elisabeth remarked.
Through their minds, Alexis saw through the Sentinel queens huge, slanted dark eyes that an entire council had assembled. They were huge, armed and menace-looking.
Like a bee, they followed the queens instructions to re-colonise the earth. Signals were sent out her antennae to her faithful battalions.
Alexis saw warships assembled at one corner of the hall which flew out one by one. She hoped fervently that either Natalie or Sean managed to intercept into one of the pilots minds.
Frank, meanwhile, managed to intercept into his targets mind, taking total control of it.
The Sentinels temporarily memory folded into his when Frank tugged at his subconscious, forcing it to show him to the ships bow.
Along its tunnel, there were no available light which meant Frank relied heavily on his victim. After a good twenty minutes, they reached the hull with the console controlled by five pilots.
They turned around, clicking in their language a word which was interpreted as surprise. Frank wasted no time but to snatch two Damascus blades strapped in the victims back and swiftly executed them with their heads now rolling on the floor.
Taking control of the console, he intercepted two pilots which he identified as Sean and Natalie.
Good to see both of you still alive, he called onto them telepathically. Now, turn around and start firing at the squadrons.
Lasers started reaching out to the entire battalion with some returning fire.
Were outgunned and outnumbered as it is! cried Sean as he out maneuvered a flight which nearly hit him in sight.
Can Alexis do something with their queen it was Natalie shooting another space fighter.
Shes attempting to get hold of the queens mind, Frank replied, aiming at a few space fighters himself. But, he knew the dreadnought was too slow to catch on. The queens too strong for her, he added.
He turned away from the hull without first turning it on to automatic pilot mode.
Im going to help her now. Take them all down before they head towards Earth! he said.
Alexis nose was now bleeding profusingly on the shuttle parked on the moon.
Shes struggling to latch onto the queens mind. She knows Alexis is in there, Josef said.
Franks on the move. Hes heading towards her now, said Elisabeth.
Back in the enemys ship, Frank saw the Sentinel queen latching onto her crown as if a flea was eating her brains away.
I need help here! Alexis screamed once she noticed a blue wave pattern indicating Frank was nearby.
With the blades in his victims hands, he lurched forward towards the queen, forcing her from her throne.
Both twins knew the ultimate price once he had the queen down. He hesitated for a moment until she screamed out to him.
The Sentinel Queens proboscis was slithering out, clutching the ends of her antennae as her wings spread and folded in pain.
Let me go, Frank. Shes getting into my mind. Cut off her head. Kill her now! Alexis wailed in agony.
The Sentinels skin was thick and tough. He pushed the creatures weight away, rolling upwards until he saw her eyes.
Please Frank, please! LET. ME. GO!
With those final words, Frank crossed the blades together and cut off the queens head, knowing that even though he had saved the world from another wave of colonisation, he had actually killed his one and only surviving family.
Immediately, all battle cruisers seemed to suspend in space. The entire fleet turned away leaving the aerial battlefield as some stood in confusion with the entire scenario which they had just encountered.
On the moon, instead of rejoicing in their hard-earned victory, Josef peeked into Alexis capsule which was now filled with blood, oozing from her orifices.
It filled the crche which she was placed. Placing his palms onto its surface, he mouthed the words God while Elisabeth tried to pry him away in the zero-gravity part of their cruiser.
Meanwhile, Sean and Natalie had returned safely following the navigational path set prior to the mission. With their own crches opened, they witnessed the scene as Josef continued pounding on the lid.
The last to reach them was Frank. He was speechless as the last memory etched in his mind, stronger than before.
She knew the consequences, Josef, was all Frank said as he floated towards the cruisers console to navigate their way to Earth.
They had not gained any form of triumph today, only salvation from a near-ending catastrophe which resulted in an unnecessary death one of their best elite soldiers.
With Josef and the entire crew inconsolable, they saw their enemy away from the attack position and beamed into another direction at light speed.
Adrenaline was still pumping in Franks physical body. He wanted to chase them down, blaming them for Alexis death.
Elisabeth, sensing something was wrong, quickly checked their navigation route. It was still headed towards Earth. She immediately pushed the auto-pilot button and watched Franks reaction.
He remained still all through the trip back to the military base.
