From the Ashes: Chapter Three

“Isis we have trouble!” yelled Ryan holding out a walkie-talkie.1

“Isis here, what’s the problem?” asked Isis into the walkie-talkie. From the other side she could hear her fathers’ voice. 2

“Isis we have R.A.I.’s inbound.” announced Isis’ father. “We need back-up immediately.” Isis’s eye filled with terror and he heart pounded like a jackhammer. She couldn’t really think of what was going on at the moment, other than they where under a direct attack by Mobile Assault Unit under Eclipta. She was suddenly disturbed by Drakes voice.3

“What’s a R.A.I.?” asked Drake.4

“Robotic Assault Intelligence.” answered Ryan. “They are only used as a buffer against our forces, kind of like a first wave before the real fight begins.” Drake nodded in acknowledgement to Ryan’s words. Isis looked down at the city and she had finally made up her mind.5

“We’re going.” said Isis. “My father needs our help and I will not allow Genetico, Eclipta, or any of their allies to destroy what is left of my world!” She quickly darted into the statue and down the flights of stairs and was already at the bottom before she realized the scene that lay before her. A tragic scene was before her, one of blood, misery, and of death. The soldiers that once patrolled the area were now dead. Corpses scattered the small island and the air smelled of burned flesh. How silent the death where for them, they didn’t even know what hit them. So swift Eclipta worked annihilating all that stand before them, nothing could prepare them for what happens next. 6

Drake and Ryan soon met Isis down on the ground and also saw the massive carnage. 7

“Did those machines do this?” asked Drake.8

“Yes, they are specially designed to kill quietly, a stealth mode if you want to get technical.” answered Ryan. “Well Isis where are we going next?” Isis’s gaze was focused on the tower near the center of the ruins. That is where they needed to go. And that’s where they would find her father, hopefully still alive.9

“To the main building.” said Isis turning back to Drake and Ryan. “My father will be there.” Ryan and Drake nodded a yes and darted off with Isis close behind. They knew some of the R.A.I.’s would still be in the vicinity and the equipment they carried would be no match against the heavy armor of the machines. 10

After crossing some ruined streets and the now desolate Central Park, they came upon the Empire State Building, around the building where more corpses, the wounds on these were different, no burns, but large holes where vital organs were supposed to be. Ryan knelt down to check one of the victims.11

“Definitely not an R.A.I. attack here.” said Ryan. “I have never seen anything like this. It’s almost barbaric how they where attacked.” He looked at the wounds closer. Deep gashes, holes penetrating where the heart and lungs once where, a wound severing the spinal column, and a hole in the back of the head, causing massive trauma to the brain, whatever these where, they knew where to hit and how exactly to hit them.12

“Some new weapon by Eclipta.” a gargled voice from behind startled everyone. 13

“Brett?” Isis looked and examined the horrible disfigured mess of a man.14

“Yes, they all came so fast, like a swarm of bees.” said Brett. “So fast…” He collapsed and his body went into a convulsion and then completely stopped moving. Ryan went over and checked his body.15

“Just like the others.” said Ryan. “But they missed some vital organs, he was probably running and they just missed darn shame to.”16

“What are you trying to say?” asked Isis.17

“Oh I didn’t mean it like that; it just means he suffered longer than the others.” Ryan returned to his previous stance. “Well should we be going to the tower?” In the short distance stood the tower, waiting, beckoning Isis and the others. They proceeded with caution and stealth, trying to avoid any contact with R.A.I.’s or the new unidentified machines. Thirty minutes passed and they group came upon the entrance to the tower. To everyone’s shock there was no door, only a large hole created most likely by a bomb. 18

Isis followed by Drake and Ryan, entered the building with their pistols armed and ready for combat. They all secretly hoped for no battles, but that would not be the case.  Upon entering the main lobby they saw wreckage and debris from what looked like a recent fight. While searching through the wreckage they heard gun shots from the floors above. Drake jerked his head up and looked at the elevator as the doors opened with the unpleasant ding sound it makes. 19

“Looks like an invitation.” observed Isis. She walked near the elevator and called for Drake and Ryan through various jesters. They formed a triangle and slowly moved down to the elevator, checking cautiously behind random columns and overturned desks. Nothing was in this room except rubble and the occasional deceased. Drake and Ryan ran the short distance between them and the elevator doors. On arrival they cautiously checked the elevator for bombs and other hidden weapons. When all was clear Drake called for Isis and within a second she was there with them and ready to go to the top. Before entering more gunshots were heard and they didn’t seem too distant. 20

“I would say maybe the fifth or sixth floor…” said Ryan.21

“What would be on those?” asked Drake.22

“Ammunition and weapons stores are on the fifth and on the sixth would be my father’s office.” Said Isis, a sudden wave of terror washed over her when she thought of what could be going on. She looked at the walkie-talkie which had been silent since they left the Statue of Liberty. 23

“Why don’t you guys use the floors above?” asked Drake.24

“Seriously damaged after the Great Destruction, no one ever bothered to restore the building.” answered Ryan. “Isis, are you okay?” Isis was deep in thought and was looking deeply at the walkie-talkie and decided to call for her father over the little black box. Isis proceeded to pull the walkie-talkie closer to her mouth. She then pushed the button and spoke.25

“Father, are you there?” asked Isis. “Answer me!” For a moment there was nothing but static until a familiar voice came through and it was not of Mason Borrow.26

“Father, you want your father little girl, then come to the sixth floor.” The voice was male of course and the only one to recognize it was Drake. He knew the voice belonged to none other than Serith. Drake managed to keep his boiling anger down to nothing more than a punch into the wall. He pulled his fist back and looked at the blood that now covered the knuckles and the wall. Pain was nothing more than an illusion to him now and he didn’t care about what was going on around him, he just knew he wouldn’t allow another person to lose a father because of his brother’s greed. Before Isis had a chance herself to run into the elevator, Drake had already made it in and was waiting for Ryan and Isis.27

“We have to stop them.” said Drake with sternness in his voice. “At any cost we must stop them!” Isis was confused by his latest actions. At first she saw him as a quiet person that had nothing much to say and yet now he wants to play hero and save everyone, two very different opposites. 28

“I know we have to, but can we?” asked Isis looking over at the ready and willing Drake.29

“You never know unless you try.” said Ryan walking into the elevator. Isis sighed and walked into the elevator. The doors closed when Drake pushed the elevator button for the sixth floor. Sounds of an engine turning on with the mix of random clanks and chimes as the elevator climb from floor to floor. With every increase of the floor number the hearts of the young heroes began to pump faster. They all feared what would be on the other side of the doors and the fear would soon be realized. The electronic screen read six and the doors opened to reveal an office. It had brown glistening floors and marble columns lining the path which lead to a desk, a desk where Mason sat at one time. Instead a man in a dark blue trench coat was sitting there with a smirk of evil. 30

“Welcome, Isis I presume?” asked the man.31

“Yes and who are you?!” asked Isis with anger in her tone.32

“I am Serith.” The man stood from the chair and with his hands in his pockets he walked casually around to the front of the desk, he then proceeded to lean back against the desk. “I am the one who attacked your pathetic rebellion.”33

“Where’s Mason?!” asked Drake. “Serith, what have you done with her father?!”34

“Oh come now brother…oh he didn’t tell you? I am his brother and I assassinated our father. That is why he hates me.” said Serith beginning to laugh to himself. Isis looked at Drake and was going to ask him why he didn’t tell her, but she decided this is not exactly the best time. 35

“For the last time, where is my father?” Isis pulled out her pistol and aimed it at his head. 36

“No need for hostility.” said Serith mockingly. “Here is what you keep asking for.” From behind one of the columns comes a machine, maybe seven feet tall, it had six long skinny legs that looked like sharp swords more than legs, it had a round body and a head shaped like a diamond with four optic eyes. It was completely silver and had only two arms, they where long and had very sharp claws and in one of them was Mason.37

“So this is the new weapon developed for an assault?” asked Ryan.38

“Yes, it is called O.A.D., Omega Assassin Droid.” answered Serith. “Very efficient, but the machine is still to costly to mass produce!” Serith snapped his fingers and the machine moved over next to Serith. 39

“Let him go!” yelled Isis.40

“Sure, after I do this.” Again Serith snapped his fingers and the machines claw began to squeeze Mason. He’s eyes shot open and he lot out a scream as the pain shot through his entire body. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth as the machines grip continued to tighten. Isis took a step forward but was stopped by Ryan. “Good, you better listen to you friend. If you wish for your father to live then you better be prepared to give me what we need…the weapon you have been building.” Isis had no idea what Serith was babbling about, however Ryan knew exactly.41

“Fine, we will Serith, were is the drop off point?” asked Ryan.42

“The capital city, Genetico Building that is the place where we will make the switch.” said Serith. “Before I go, I have a gift…another ancient relic.” Serith opened his hand and in it was a control device. 43

“Just like the one back at Archangel.” said Drake. Serith gave a smirk across his face and looked towards the machine holding Mason. 44

“I think it’s time for us to leave.” Serith pulled out a little device and put it directly into his ear. “Eclipta Helicopter Team Alpha, this is Serith, I need immediate evacuation pronto!” The windows that lined the wall behind Serith suddenly exploded sending the glass in all sorts of directions. Serith laughed and took of couple of steps back, the large machine also followed. “Until we meet again brother.” Three large helicopters appeared behind Serith. One of the sliding doors opened revealing three men dressed in black armor; they held out there hands waiting for Serith. Serith took a bow and did a back flip into the air, the three armored men caught him and pulled Serith into the helicopter. The O.A.D. followed and jumped into another helicopter, and they quickly lifted away from the tower.  As the sounds of the helicopters faded away into the cityscape, Isis, Drake, and Ryan snapped back into reality. 45

“Is there anyway out of here?” asked Drake pulling a shard of glass from his left forearm. Ryan thought for a moment and remembered that they had there own helicopter on the next floor, but only two people could get in. 46

“Yes, and we must hurry, I don’t think Serith will be waiting long before his finger pushes the button.” explained Ryan. “We will have to take the stairs to the next floor, there we will be able to use a helicopter and leave the city, hopefully before Serith pushes the button.” Ryan, followed by Isis and Drake ran up into a room that was lined with stair, all going straight up into the next floor. With speed and agility they all ran like the wind up the mountain of stairs. Soon the stairs ended at a large steel door. Ryan put a hand in one of his pockets and searched for the key to open the door to what would be salvation. After a few tense moments of Ryan’s chaotic search, he finally found them and frantically put the key into the door, it swung open to reveal a landing area for helicopters, the room was encased in steel for support against the damaged floors above. 47

“Here you go.” said Ryan lifting Isis into a seat of the helicopter. “Drake, take good care of Isis for me. You need to search for her brother Rook and Bishop they have the answers you seek.”48

“Your not coming?!” asked a despaired Isis.49

“No, as you can see only two will fit and you two are younger than I am.” explained Ryan. “You two must find the answers and the plans, and hopefully a way to stop Genetico and Eclipta.” 50

“Off we go…” said Drake starting up the helicopter. “Are you okay back there?” He looked over his shoulder and saw a sobbing Isis. He looked back at Ryan whom was standing at the large opening where the helicopter would be leaving. He could see Ryan mouthing the words ‘go’. Drake was hesitant at first, but he decided it was for the best and pushed some buttons and off they went, before they left the building completely Isis waved by and so did Ryan. Drake and Isis wouldn’t make it to far, about fifth teen minutes after take off, the ancient relic went off, and with a cloud in the shape of a mushroom, Drake knew what would come next, a shockwave. It did come knocking some of the basic controls out and the back propeller off line. 51

“Hang on tight!” yelled Drake. 52

“I’m trying!” yelled Isis back. The helicopter spun and twisted in mid air, and warning sirens went off like crazy causing Isis to cover her ears, and before either of them knew it they almost at the ground. “Father…” Everything went black and she felt nothing.53