The Purge
Chapter 2: Conleth

“The earth is what we all have in common. It is what we are made of and what we live from, and we cannot damage it without damaging those whom we share it.”

Wendell Berry

It felt like only yesterday when I left home to train for the Republic. That was three months ago. Now, the Barriers are slowly collapsing. I could feel it weakening every day by the buzzing it made.

The game’s changing and I’m afraid the time to fight is about to come.

My family and I were about to leave the state. It was the day when the G.Is finally came to take me. I heard them telling my parents I was Addonexus. Comet-Born they say. They said they weren’t going to hurt them. They said they just wanted me to save earth. They said they needed me. But those were all lies.

They shot my brother in the head the moment I tried to escape. In moments of shock I let them escort me to the amphibian. All that I could think of was blood and my brother lying on it. I never saw my family again after that.

I didn’t know who to blame. The aliens who hunted us like wild boars or the humans who shut us in a cage. All I know was that I should control the flame that’s burning inside of me. I hissed at the heat building up in my hands but I kept it at bay.

I let the scientists experiment on me. They placed something inside my head that enabled me to see things virtually. My mind became sharp and my actions were always cautious and guarded. My display said,

CONLETH ARGENT

ADDONEXUS 2

REPUBLIC OF ARGOS- SECTOR 2

LEVEL 0

TOTAL SCORE: 0

Numbers and letters flew out of nowhere every time my brain wondered. They appeared on my screen like an instant answer. It was cool. Sure. But being controlled wasn’t.

The Krypteia Program had been on for years. It was created in order to protect what’s left of humanity. It was part of the Addonexus regime to protect the after earth even if it would cost us our own lives.

The Program came with the Zenith’s addiction to Addonexus. They say we are very rare beings and we arrive only every 75 years. Others who came before us die when we were born. Meaning, if there were 50 Addonexus who lived off to 75 years then there will also be 50 Addonexus born during the next arrival of the Halley’s Comet.

The Republic valued us like money. When the comet arrived 15 years ago there were 75 Addonexus born. Quite fewer than the last years but the humans had to manage.

I was one of the recruits.

Our trainings were very systematic. They were intense and they tend to challenge us every single day; harnessing our powers. There was no one I could fight for to live except the anger left by the separation of my family.

When Major Ross thought we were ready, she immediately assigned us to our army. Out of the 25 who were recruited with me, only 15 passed the trials. I looked at my display to see that my record had changed. It had told me of my fate.

LEVEL 20

TOTAL SCORE: 10, 565

I was meant to be a soldier.

I don’t have any idea what they’ll do to the others who didn’t pass the trials. They would probably be sent home. Good for them. I was jealous at first. But then I realized that there was no home. I think I’d have to get used to speak of home in the past tense.

I followed the map given inside my head. My body moved so easily like it knew exactly where to go. Only my soul was clueless.

CONLETH ARGENT

ADDONEXUS 2

REPUBLIC OF ARGOS- SECTOR 2

LEVEL 20

TOTAL SCORE: 10, 565

REASSIGNED: WYVERN ARMY

COMMANDING OFFICER: BRI TYRANICA

The last (two) informations about me blinked in red as soon as I stepped in a corridor with the Wyvern’s coat of arms on the walls. It looked like the symbol described in mythology books called Jorgumand. The snake biting its own tail. The outlines of the walls were in metal grey and red, the same lines that now appeared in my new uniform.

At the far side of the corridor, I saw a figure coming towards me. As if on cue, my zoomed in vision revealed a boy of my age with sleek jet black hair.

I positioned myself in a salute the moment he stood before me.

“Soldier Conleth Argent, sir. Reassigned.” I said but his eyes remained formal just as his stance. His eyes traveled up and down my figure, regarding me skeptically.

“The commander will join us shortly.” He said. With that, my display awakened and revealed his virtual information.

ATHREN KNOX

ADDONEXUS 1

REPUBLIC OF ARGOS- SECTOR 3

LEVEL 32

TOTAL SCORE: 18, 918

DESIGNATION: WYVERN ARMY

So he wasn’t my commander.

“Interesting level.” Athren said. “I got into level 18 when I was reassigned into an army.”

“Thanks—”

“Don’t get too cocky now because you got a good 20 in your trials. That won’t be enough to pass the commander. If you want to stay you will have to work harder than that.”

“How many are there to compose an army?” I asked to clear the tension between us.

“Well, we started off with two. Now that you’re here, obviously there are three of us.” He answered.

“The three of us? Including the commander?” I asked, puzzled. “How can you call that an army with only three soldiers?”

He huffed. “Don’t stress yourself over that. It’s just the camp’s jargon. Do you remember that thing they placed inside our heads? If you’re smart enough to know what it is, don’t question Zenith or the Republic. It could trigger an alarm or something. Don’t want to get your head blown off into pieces now would you?”

I scoffed at him. “I’m not scared of them. I should be afraid of what’s out there.”

He smirked at me. “Point taken.”

“Argent?”

Both of us turned to the voice.

Athren might have been right about that thing inside my head. Maybe it programmed me to look at her and have everything around me disappear. I’ve never imagined that I’d live another day and gaze at something so beautiful.

“Commander,” Athren saluted at once. She acknowledged him with a glance and she set her Addonexus eyes on me. I think I left my mouth gaping and my heart in sheer awe. She raised an eyebrow at me. I felt an elbow on my rib cage. I flinched back into reality.

She has long brunette hair tied in a tight high ponytail behind her back. But it was her eyes that caught me. They were aberrant than any Addonexus eyes I’ve ever seen. Probably because the blue of her eyes were more dominant.

“Soldier,” she said. I realized she was already in front of me. Up close she was even more beautiful. I looked down at her lips and I felt the stupid urge to kiss her.

“So beautiful.” I found myself murmuring out of the blue. Her eyebrows rose with fascination. I’m guessing she didn’t quite expect compliments about her to be said out loud.

“Your commanding officer just asked you a question, soldier.” Athren voiced out and my ego somersaulted into my stomach.

“I’m Conleth.” I raised my hand for a handshake. She looked down at my hand as if I have insulted her.

“I’d shake that hand if the world is not in chaos.” She said as her eyes trailed back to meet mine. “This is battle camp, soldier.” She pointed out, bluntly. “We raise a salute to pay respect to those in high command.”

Overwhelmed, I kicked my mind back to the soldier I was recruited for. I stood up straight, raised my chin up high. “Conleth Argent, sir—I mean, ma’am.” I said as I peeked at her. “Reassigned.”

She looked at me as if she’s looking for something I don’t even know I have. In the end, she loosens by crossing her arms and taking a deep breath. “You’re not quite what I expected.” She said as she turned her eyes away from me. I suddenly had the urge to pull her back. “Well, I have no choice but to take you in. Athren would be so kind to show you to your room.”

“Um, commander—”

“Just call me Bri.” She said as she turned back to me. When my tongue got lost of words, she raised her eyebrows again at me. “Do you have any questions?’

“You’re a girl.” The moment I said that I wanted to slice myself into half. That was obviously down grading.

Her face went slack but it was obvious that I have spiked some repugnant emotions. “So? Do you have a problem with that?”

“No. No. Of course not.” I shook my head. “It’s just I never expected you to be…” beautiful. “…a girl.”

“Good. Training starts in five.” She said as she turned on her heel and walked away.

BRI TYRANICA

ADDONEXUS 1

REPUBLIC OF ARGOS- SECTOR 1

LEVEL 40

TOTAL SCORE: 25, 888

DESIGANTION: WYVERN ARMY-COMMANDER

I have known a lot of girls in school but none of them can compare to my commander. I think the universe has conspired something to distract me of what I lost. But she was quite a distraction. I felt like my heart was gonna run for miles when I was around her. She placed a time bomb inside of me. I should have known she was trouble the moment I laid eyes on her.

“I know exactly the feeling.” Athren tapped my shoulder in comfort. I looked back at him from the disappearing view of Bri. “But don’t give your hopes up. She’ll break your heart.”

Irritated, I dodged his hand away. “Why? Are you her boyfriend?”

Athren snorted. “Believe me. I tried. But I was one of those who failed.”

So it seems I’m not the only one smitten by her beauty.

“Maybe you just didn’t try harder.”

He sighed. “If you want to try and win her affections, go ahead. I won’t stop you. But I just want to warn you; don’t let her looks fool you. She may look like a lady but she can fight like a viper. She doesn’t pull hair, she breaks bones.”

I looked back at Bri from a distance. I listened to my heart beating as it slowly faded along with her.

And then I thought: It’s not only the battlefield I’d come in to fight. Because deep inside, I was already fighting for something and I was already losing.

“I thought I told you five minutes.” Bri said when I arrived fifteen minutes later in the Wyvern training room. But instead of reasoning out to defend myself, I still replace myself awestruck with her.

“I’m sorry.” Was all I could muster out of my pathetic mouth.

“I hate waiting.” She said as she crossed her arms.

She was in tight jeans and black tunic that hugged her perfectly carved body. Her feet were bare in the soft floor mat.

“Take off your shoes.” She commanded. When I didn’t make a move she raised an eyebrow at me.

“Right.” I scrambled to take off my shoes.

I heard her sigh in exasperation. “You seem to have trouble obeying orders. We have to do something about that.”

I finished taking off my shoes and she motioned her pointing finger at me, commanding me to approach her. I swallowed hard before I did. When I got too close than I should, she pushed me back.

“Sorry.” I cleared my throat as I corrected myself.

“Do you have any experience in fighting before?”

I shrugged. “I did exchanged brawl fights in school. Does that count?”

She sighed and rolled her eyes skyward. “Not so good but still. Okay. Hit me.”

My eyes widened at her immediately. “What?”

“You heard me, soldier. Hit me.” she said patiently.

I flinched. “But you’re a girl.”

She rolled her eyes skyward again. And before I knew it, I fell on my feet with the force stronger than a truck. My right cheek stung and my lower lip got cut. I looked up at Bri looming over me like the Goddess of War.

“Rule #1: Don’t hesitate.” She offered her hand and I gratefully accepted it. I was so confused of the electrifying sesation of the slightest contact between our hands that I almost forgot about the pain burning on my cheek.

“You all right?” I saw the hint of smirk on her face. Athren was right. She could fight like a viper. “I told you to hit me.”

“I don’t hurt girls. Especially beautiful ones.”

She snickered. “Ah. A gentleman. Well, don’t flatter me, soldier. There’s no place for a gentleman in this camp. What if the alien disguised itself as a pretty girl? Won’t you attack?”

I shrugged. “I guess…?”

“Then you’ll die first. The best way to survive is to be consistent with your decisions.” She took a step back from me and I felt the urge to pull her back towards me.

“Now block.”

Before she could strike, a warning red sign appeared on my display. I guess my head was finally working. I raised my forearm to block her straight.

She smirked at me. “Good.” She pulled away again. “Rule #2: Think ahead of your enemy.”

She struck before I could block her attack. And so, my face met the ground again. I groaned in pain.

“How many rules do you have?” I grunted as I stood back up on my feet.

“Just three.” I could almost hear the smile on her face. She loves to put me in my misery.

“What’s rule #3?” I dared ask and she raised a cocky eyebrow at me.

“Show no mercy.” She struck again but I lifted her arm in the air with the same side arm. She twisted herself free from me and I gained another punch on the face. From the corner of my eye, I could see her smile in victory. She was more distracting than the pain.

“In fights, there are no first attacks. It’s because your first defensive act is actually an offensive move. So both the attacker and the defender get hurt by blocking at the same time.”

“You’re a pretty good teacher but you’re a badass sadist too.” I said as I wiped off the sweat on my forehead. “Do you train alone with Athren too?”

She scoffed but she rolled her eyes. “Before. But Athren’s all right. He can take care of himself already. But you…”

I frowned at her. “You don’t think I can defend myself?”

She shook her head and her feet lashed at the back of my leg and I fell on the ground again.

“Was that an introduction to a new rule?” I groaned.

“No. There are just three rules.” She prompted. “That’s just proof that you still can’t defend yourself. I’m just clearly stating my point.”

I groaned again and I muttered a curse under my breath. I looked up. I saw her hand reaching out to me and her smile.

“Welcome to Wyvern Army.”

That was three months ago.

Bri is still having her solo sessions with me. I guess she is still not convinced that I can defend myself or maybe she’s just making that as an excuse to stay with me alone longer. But then again, I guess those silly daydreams of mine are about to end.

Today, the Republic has recruited the last batch of Addonexus in the camp. Out of 25, 18 had passed their trials and were assigned into an army. And now, I stood in front of the Wyvern corridor not as a neophyte but as a soldier of an elite squad in Battle Camp.

Not for long, two girls appeared at the corridor scattering my thoughts of losing my private sessions with Bri. One brunette and one blonde. I frowned at the blonde one. It’s very unusual to see a blonde Addonexus. Most of us here have dark hair. And she’s so tiny. She looked more like 12 to me. Ignoring that flaw, I turned to them just as I was assigned to do.

“Good day, soldiers.” I said. “Welcome to Wyvern Army.”