Stabe: Chapter 1

Chapter I

Beginning

August 18, 2016: Washington D.C.

             The day started off calm enough. Joggers were on their morning laps. A couple of police cruisers drove through the streets. The sky was filled with gray clouds casting a dim light on the city. Everything seemed to be perfect. But, in an instant, everything changed.

             A bright light exploded outside the White House and a giant pink ball expanded tearing through half the building and leaving a giant crater in the lawn. Everyone in the immediate area stopped in their tracks. Several vehicles smashed into each other as distracted drivers looked at the large ball. The ball slowly shrank back, leaving an empty indent in the White House. Half the building was destroyed but all the debris had been vaporized.

             As the pink ball shrank an object took shape within it. Eventually, odd appendages poked through the orb. A head and body began to take shape and finally a glowing pink being was left floating above the crater and ruins. The creature looked like the hybrid child of a fighter jet and a spider. Its body was entirely triangular and its head was nothing more than a bump on the nose of the body. Eight long, spear-like, legs extended from the body of the monster. The pink glow slowly faded revealing the creature’s real color, a ghostly, pale white. The beast was over one hundred feet tall and fifty feet long.

             The creature slowly descended into the deep crater. As soon as its feet touched the ground, it climbed back out and scuttled around the lawn of the White House. Its monstrous legs tore through the manicured grass and uprooted several hedges. Four glowing blue diamonds sprouted from the beast’s back, hovering over the creature. These diamonds spun rapidly and a bright blue beam sliced through the cityscape. A deafening explosion followed the beam, tossing cars and pieces of building into the air.

             The beast turned on the remains of the White House and the beam swung through the mansion several times, demolishing the building. A small black line drew itself on the monster’s head and it let out a terrifying roar before running into the city.

I stood, awestruck, as people ran every direction. I couldn’t move no matter how much I wanted. My arm fell to my side and the black backpack slung over my shoulder fell to the ground. Soot from the black smoke fell all around the city, staining the pavement black. A soft cough behind me snapped me back to attention. I glanced over my shoulder to look at the man leaned against a bright and shining sports car.

“We can’t stay here anymore, kid,” the man grunted, watching the monster scuttle away. He casually blew a small cloud of smoke out before setting the cigarette back in his mouth.

I hesitantly nodded and took a final glance at the flaming ruins of the White House. Swallowing hard, I turned again and went to the other side of the car. A single person at the end of the road caught my eye. A girl in a long white dress was staring at the vehicle. Before I could get a better look at her, one of the monster’s legs smashed into the space in front of the girl. I was jerked into the car, pulling the door shut behind me, and was pushed forward as we reversed quickly.

“Damn thing,” the man murmured. He bit on the butt of the cigarette, letting the ashes fall into his lap. “Of course it had to show up today of all days.”

The man was named JAK. His light brown hair that completely covered his head and he sported a subtle goatee on his chin. His eyes were covered by a dark pair of sun-glasses. JAK was dressed in a plain black, button-up, t-shirt and tan slacks. An FN Five Seven was holstered on his hip and served as his only weapon. These were the only things I knew about him.

I held onto the door as we spun in the road. JAK threw the vehicle into drive and slammed on the gas pedal. The tires screeched loudly as we shot down the road. I quickly buckled myself in as we careened around a corner. JAK was heading back towards the monster.

“This is going to get rough, kid,” he warned through clenched teeth. “Hang on tight.”

“Isn’t there something you have to defend against debris?” I asked, reaching for the handle by the door. “I thought you government types had something like that.”

“Most do,” he slightly smiled. “But I wasn’t planning on running into something like this.”

My heart jumped into my throat at his words. We were driving right into a beast that had the potential to level the national capital. JAK didn’t seem worried in the least bit, just focused. His determination was almost enough to lower my fear. Almost.

The vehicle weaved past large piles of debris, fires flapping around us as we passed. I closed my eyes and silently prayed. I could still feel JAK’s driving around the destroyed area, which was a good sign. After a minute or so, the ride became much calmer; though still just as fast. I dared to open my eyes and the view out the windshield was much more serene. Some rubble lay on the sidewalks but the streets were entirely vacated.

I looked over at JAK, who was focused on the road, and cleared my throat. “So what does this boss of yours want with me?” I asked. I’d like to know more but I think I’ll be lucky to get that much out you.

“Lots of things,” JAK said, emotionlessly.

“Like what?” I prodded.

What I had been told when JAK got me was that my life was in danger. I thought that was strange but he refused to give any more information. That was just a few minutes ago. Then that creature attacked the city and I was practically forced to go with him.

“Gonna sound like a stupid question but, did you see that creature destroy the White House and then a fair portion of the city?” JAK asked his focus still on the road. I slowly nodded. “That is one such thing. Any other questions?”

“Well…”

“Save ‘em for later,” JAK interrupted. “For now all you need to know is that we’re the good guys. Anyone who isn’t us isn’t a good guy.”

I nodded again, my gaze returning to the road. “One more question,” I said. I didn’t wait for him to say no. “Who are you guys? And don’t tell me you are the good guys.”

JAK was silent for a moment. “The UN calls us Lunar…” JAK began. Before he could finish a giant white leg stabbed the ground in front of us. “Dammit!” JAK shouted, spinning the wheel sharply.

The car attempted to turn around the corner but instead went up on its side, passenger side up. We slid on the vehicle’s side and the trunk caught the leg of the creature and we began to spin on our side. JAK still held onto the steering wheel but lost his cigarette. For a brief moment I saw a building racing towards us through the cracked windshield. I held my eyes shut and held onto the handle by the door while waiting for the impact. It came much sooner than I thought it would.

I looked up to see the glistening armor of a large robot standing over the car. The machine looked like an oversized suit of armor knights used to wear in the old days. It was painted white with a black trim. The helmet was just like a knight’s as well but it lacked a plume of any sort. I could see two glowing green eyes in the shadows of the helmet.

I continued to stare up at the giant when I heard a gun draw. In the next instant the gun was being pressed against my head.

“Don’t move,” JAK ordered, shifting around behind me. His face appeared beside me and his hand reached for the door handle. “So that’s their little secret,” he whispered, shoving the door open. “Whoever is piloting, you better back off!” JAK barked. “Caelum isn’t getting the kid!”

The robot began to rise from its kneeling position. At its full height, the machine stood over one hundred feet tall. JAK didn’t appear intimidated and instead climbed out of the car to stand on its side.

“Do you hear me in there?” JAK demanded, aiming the handgun at the machine. His gun might as well have been a pea shooter compared to the giant in front of us. “May as well leave now and cut your losses!”

The robot’s head suddenly snapped up. I was forced to watch with a limited view as a bright blue beam sped overhead, striking the machine in the chest. The blast knocked JAK away, making him tumble over the back of the car, while the machine was thrown in the opposite direction. I hesitated before undoing the seat belt that still held me in the vehicle. Pulling myself onto the edge, I could see the suit of armor was sprawled about thirty feet away. JAK and the monster were nowhere to be seen.

I pushed myself up and out of the vehicle and dropped to the ground below. The machine still lay on its back, unresponsive. Slightly worried, I began to jog over to the giant. I stood behind the torso of the robot looking for a way up when I vaguely heard glass crunching. I turned to see JAK briskly walking over to the machine with his gun raised.

“Get away from that thing,” he ordered, quietly at first. When he was about twenty feet and I hadn’t moved he raised his voice. “I said to get away from it!” JAK pointed his gun at the sky and fired.

I stepped back from fear and the surprise as the ringing in my ears resounded. I looked back at JAK who had crossed another ten feet. Behind him the creature crossed a street, destroying a large building. Debris fell into the street, carrying a cloud of dust with it. JAK stopped at the feet for a moment, glancing back to examine the damage. I noticed several grooves along the side of the machine that resembled a ladder. My eyes shot back to JAK, who was still looking at the cloud of dust rushing towards us.

Good guys, huh? I thought, taking a cautious step forward. No good guy would pull a gun on someone innocent.

The dust cloud swept past us and I jumped to the ladder under the dust cover. It only lasted for a second but I was already a good way up in that time. The ladder itself was about thirty feet high. By the time JAK looked back, I was on top of the giant robot looking for a way inside. There was obviously a pilot to this thing. There had to be a way in. I found a tiny, almost invisible button on the chest, just above a black scorch mark. I quickly pressed it, hoping it was the answer to my problem.

A hissing noise erupted from the machine. My mood elevated and I stepped back grinning. A black, rectangular, outline formed and the rectangular section slid over, creating a doorway in the robot’s chest. I smiled triumphantly and started to take a step towards the doorway when a gun was pressed against me back.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay away from this thing?” JAK questioned, pressing the gun into my back. He stepped around me and glanced inside the machine, keeping the gun aimed at my chest. “Where the hell did you go?” he whispered, leaning away from the open hatch.

JAK took a quick glance behind me before looking back at the hatch. I started to inch my way forward, thinking of how to get him away. JAK’s thumb moved towards the slide of the gun and an audible click sounded.

“I know what you’re thinking.” He murmured, not looking away from the interior of the robot. “But if you even try to get in this thing, your life no longer belongs to you.”

His words confused and worried me. “What do you mean?” I asked, stepping towards him.

JAK waved the gun, telling me to back up. I hesitantly did so. “I can’t tell you that right now.” JAK murmured, stepping away again. “You just have to trust me.” He dropped his guard, placing his free hand on his hip and scratching his head with the grip of his gun. “Where the hell did she go?”

I eyed the gun and took a deep breath. We were only a couple feet from the edge of the robot’s collar. Before my thought was complete I lunged at JAK. My shoulder slammed into his ribs and he lost his balance, stumbling and falling off the machine. His gun clattered away and slid over the edge.

I stood where JAK had been, my sudden adrenaline kick receding. I smiled again until a loud crash resounded from nearby. I turned to see the monster thunder down the street, demolishing the wrecked car. The monster skidded to a stop and its head turned to face the downed robot. A black line formed over where the creature’s mouth must have been. This mouth opened and the creature let out a long, high pitched screech.

I instinctively covered my ears, and closed my eyes against the noise. Somewhere, deep in my mind, something else echoed. It grew louder as the monster’s wail became longer. When it was a shout in my head I finally understood.

Get in.

I opened my eyes and the creature was still wailing. I had turned to face the lifeless face of the giant and my back was to the creature. Rough hands grabbed my shoulder and started pulling me towards the open hatch of the robot. I looked to see an angered JAK, whose sunglasses were now missing a lens exposing his hazel eyes, pushing me towards the hatch.

“Dammit. Dammit. Dammit,” he grumbled. “Stupid animals.” He easily lifted me up and set me down on the left side of the hatch. My feet met a slick wall and I fell into the shadows of the hatch. “Listen to me!” JAK yelled. I could barely see his face from where I now stood. “Remember who you are and don’t lose yourself to them. Do only what you think is right, not what someone tells you is right!”

With his words finished, JAK pressed the button above the hatch. I tried to say something but the door was sealed. The cockpit of the robot was pitch black with no source of life. I started to feel around the area I was in and found I was standing on a comfortable leather chair. I continued to fumble in the dark and also located what felt like two joysticks. This told me I could control the robot if I needed to. I just had to learn quickly.

After situating myself in the seat, I gripped the joysticks and grimaced. “How do I turn this thing on?” I whispered to myself.

I felt around more, trying to find some kind of key to start the thing. Nothing, not even a light switch. An idea occurred to me and I reached into my pocket. I pulled out my phone and pressed the power button. The bright light from the LED screen lit up a small portion of the interior. I panned around, checking everything around the joysticks, the foot pedals, and the left hand wall. Still nothing.

Slightly annoyed, I looked to the right and saw a half moon hole in the wall. I scanned the array of buttons and switches in the small shelf. My heart fluttered when I found a small ignition socket. That feeling dropped as soon as I saw the key was missing.

“Crap,” I muttered, hitting my head against the wall.

My grip on my phone faltered and it fell into the space on the other side of the wall. I leaned down and saw the glow of phone’s screen. My phone sat in, what looked like, a copilot’s chair. Next to the phone, was a small, flash drive-looking, device. I glanced back at the ignition and the hole seemed to be a perfect match. I lifted the drive and fit into the slot.

I took a deep breath before turning the key. Immediately, several unseen lights came on, filling the white cockpit with light. A Heads-Up-Display lit up behind the joysticks. The dome over my head became entirely clear glass. I had a complete three-hundred and sixty degree view. I looked dead ahead to see the creature scuttling over to the robot. I grabbed the joysticks, trying to get the machine to move.

Running start-up initiative. Pilot identification required. The HUD read.

“I don’t have any identification!” I yelled at the screen, still pulling on the joysticks.

Pilot identification denied. Access denied. Start-up cancelled. The HUD responded.

“No!” I shouted, as the lights blinked off. I was left with the parting image of the creature stopping above us. “Dammit.” I hissed, reaching for the drive. “Start-up already!”

I twisted the drive in the slot again and the robot began to start-up again.

Running start-up initiative. Pilot identification required. The HUD repeated.

I was frozen with fear as the creature lifted one of its spear-like legs. “Dac Strife! My name is Dac S. Strife II!” I quickly shouted.

A small hourglass appeared at the center of the screen. The creature began to drop its leg as the hourglass flipped. The robot shook from the impact but the armor didn’t give way. The hourglass flipped again and the creature lifted its leg again. I gripped the joysticks harder.

“Hurry up!” I shouted.

Pilot identification confirmed. Welcome DAC STRIFE. Unit 01 start-up commencing.