Vietnam, The Jungle near Nui-Pek hill……

A group of three men were patrolling the dense jungles around the hill, which- back in the day- used to be a military base during the course of the Vietnam war.

Actually, the men were not men at all. Two were just children, Cyborgs from a super secret organization; the third was the ‘Handler’ of the two, a caretaker, and at the same times their adoptive father. But there was a catch, though he might not look it, the father figure looked like a kid from 19 years of age, While he was actually 43 years old by now.

“What now Dad?” the boy named Takashi asked.

“Now that we are in here, we need to contact an old tribe here who called us in.” the father named Ronaldo answered as he checked over his backpack and weapons. “We’ve been to them before.”

“Who are they?” Kei- whom was the twin brother of Takashi- asked, not being able to recall whom his father was talking about.

“The Jarria tribe.”

Ronaldo had seen his share in war, and he knew the area well. Having visited it often with his family, to see old friend of his grandfathers who had fought here. made friends and lost them again.

Nui-pek hill was the standard spot where they would land at the very top. The top of the hill was always clean of forest and jungle, seeing as a lot of agent Orange- a chemical agent that destroyed trees and vegetations- had been spilled here which polluted the land. This happened when the base became overrun with Vietcong forces, and the American forces along with a few of Ronaldo’s grandfathers pulled out, Calling in an airstrike on their abandoned, and now overrun base.

“Only difference now is that we are prepared for this, instead of having crashed around here.” Takashi casually joked.

“Maybe the wreck is still here.” Kei agreed. “Maybe I could salvage the engine parts and electronics. Do you know how expensive good grade instruments for planes cost?”

“I do Kei,” Ronaldo answered as he put his arms though his backpack. “However, we aren’t here for that, we are here because something strange is going on.”

“Ok dad, let’s go then.” Takashi answered.

“Hey Takashi, Don’t forget you’re Ultimax.” Ronaldo answered as he threw the said weapon toward his adoptive son.

*******************************************************************

“Clay, are you sure this is the place?” Tausha asked her Yautja husband.

“Positive.” Clay answered as he switched his mask to detect ‘hard-meats’ “they are hiding somewhere.” He said matter-of-factly.

Tia’ja, the Human-Yautja hybrid daughter of the two adults stood in-between her mother and father, playing around with the hilt of her sword as it was in its sheath at her hip. She was nervous, as she had never been to the home planet of her mother, but they weren’t here to see family, after all, her mother had no relatives left alive on this planet. This was all about stopping an epidemic of Hard-meats.

“Oh Clay.” Tausha called out as she took her mask from heat vision to normal view. “I am seeing 3 humans about half way from that hill.”

“I saw.” Clay answered while checking his energy levels of his shoulder cannon. Something he rarely used. “They seem fairly good armed for ranged combat, a strange choice in a jungle as this.”

“Let’s just avoid them for now.” Tia’ja suggested. “Better leave sleeping dogs lie.” She said in a wise tone, a term she had often heard her mother use when she was talking about not alerting someone.

Clay chuckled slightly. “Alerted dogs aren’t so easily caught as sleeping ones.” He pointed out. “We might do well to give them a scare.”

“Don’t do anything to drastic ok?” Tausha said in an alarmed manner.

“just a scare is enough, unless you want to reason with them…” Clay offered.

“No, just a scare is fine.” Tausha finally agreed.

*********************************************************************

The group of three had been walking for a while now. In addition, currently, they were half way of their target.

Mosquito’s were everywhere, it was hot and damp, logging all the ammo and survival gear did not help either. Suddenly, Ronaldo felt a sting in the back of his neck and he slapped at the spot right away. Looking at his hand after the deed, there was a dead mosquito on it, which had now been reduced to an organic mass of a pancake. “one less, thirty-million or so to go.” He grumbled.

“Dad, can we take a break?” Takashi asked.

“Why?” Ronaldo asked curiously. “You two are cyborg remember? The only one who has it tough is me.”

“That doesn’t mean that we don’t need a break to drink something, dad.” Kei answered.

Thinking about it, Ronaldo could feel slightly thirsty, though the virus that kept him young also accounted against the affect of dehydration. “Sure, let’s have a drink.”

Kei was happy, being a bit of a slacker at times, though it was different for Takashi, he was the hyperactive of the two. Moreover, if he were sick of moving around, then it would really be serious.

Setting their backpacks down, Ronaldo took hold of a machete, a knife he always took with him while in the jungle. They did have normal, clean drinking water in bottles, but he’d rather save them for now. There was plenty of water to go around in the dense jungle its self, all you needed to know was how to find it, which Ronaldo did.

Coming near a tree, he grabbed hold of a vine which hang from a tree. The vine was thick, and Ronaldo just knew that he had hit jackpot. He first cut high, then low. With the vine in hand, he gently held it, trying not to squeeze it. His boys had already readied a few cups.


Ronaldo held the vine in a diagonal position, letting the lower part rest above a cup. Then he squeezed the vine in the middle, after which water started to run out. Before long, the cups were all filled, and they drank.

It was sweet, and Ronaldo enjoyed it. His two sons had to learn to enjoy it, because it was too sweet for their tastes, but they enjoyed it now as well. Silence was between the small family, as they enjoyed a few badly-deserved drinks.

Sadly, their little break was disrupted in a rude manner.

Two energy shots flew right for them, hitting the ground where Ronaldo sat.
The ground busted up in a miniature explosion. Ronaldo flew through the air at that point. Luckily, he landed safely thanks to his martial arts training.

The two brothers reacted in a different manner however, they where right on the ball on where the energy shot came from, and they aimed their favorite weapons toward the point of origin. With Takashi being the trigger happy of the two, he opened fire, and Kei, being the follow up, followed immediately.

Takashi’s Ultimax machine gun, together with Kei’s Minimi machine gun made for a formidable hailstorm worth of bullets.

“Cease fire, Cease fire!” Ronaldo screamed. Though slow, both of them stopped their shooting.

“Looks like we hit nothing…” Takashi said in a disappointed manner.

“That and you’re wasting ammo.” Ronaldo pointed out.

For a moment, they all carefully listened, waiting to see if the person responsible was still around.

***********************************************************************

Clay felt surprised. These humans have quiet some skill. Especially the man with dark blonde. he thought to himself.

Clay has had dealings with other human males, but they were nothing compared to these three. Yet, he did not like the thought of them being around all that much. However, he had done what he had planned on, and he was after a far more deserving and worthy of pray. These humans could better be reserved for another day.

It was time to return to his wife and daughter. Who were already trying to find the Hard-meat that escaped his grasp for so long.

*********************************************************************

The threesome had grabbed their stuff in a hurry, and speeded away to their meeting point at the local village. With their hearts pounding away in their throats, they were shocked to see the village.

The village had been whipped clean of all life; bodies littered the ground, the stench of blood and rotting flesh was overwhelming.

“Oh god…” Ronaldo said wit shock. “What the hell happened here?!”

The two brothers were silent, not even daring to speak. These people where their friends. They had stayed here for a few weeks, and they had played with a few of the local children, but they now all lay dead.

“Takashi, Kei,” Ronaldo started in a saddened tone. “Recon the area for 15 minutes, and meet me back here.” he ordered.

“Yes sir.” The brothers answered as they set out to do so.

As the brothers left, Ronaldo slummed to the ground. who could have done such a thing? he wondered.

With just crying on the ground, he gained nothing, so instead, he looked for his best friends body… sadly, he found it in a nasty way too. Nutt, He was dead, his stomach cut open with three large cuts. Strangely, the cuts were not anything he had ever seen. These cuts were like claws, but they were nothing an animal could do…

However, even more strangely, the energy shot’s that had been fired at him prior to him coming here told him that something was really wrong. First of all, energy weapons weren’t even close to becoming a reality yet. In addition, as seconds, these cuts were not done by anything he knew or saw, but maybe there was a new weapon, one he hadn’t encountered yet.

“Dad,” Takashi said as he returned from his recon. “Nothing so far, only dead bodies. Haven’t heard anything from Kei though, nor have I seen him.”

“Come again?” Ronaldo asked as he quickly stood up. “Kei hasn’t checked in?”

Takashi shook his head, which was news that he really did not want to hear. Whatever killed the people of this village here might have gotten him too.

Thinking this, cold shivers ran down his spine. Kei was no weakling, but he lacked in hand-to-hand combat. As he kept thinking about it, he reached for his radio. Prior to leaving the drop zone on Nui-pek hill, He handed out Radio earpieces. No doubt, Takashi already forgot about his. However, Kei was more careful with things like that.

*********************************************************************

Kei had been caught off guard with a blade to his neck from behind.
Tia’ja had been searching the area where Kei did his recon, and she was able to catch the 17 year old from behind.

Kei, in spite of him being a Cyborg could not do much at this point. He knew that getting hurt in this place could spell his death. Therefore, he decided not to fight, praying that he would come out unharmed.

Taking a deep breath- while keeping all his control into not attacking- he was able to utter his first words again. “What do you want from me?”

Tia’ja was slightly confused, she had hoped that the human male would try to put up a fight, but he did not. At the same time, she only knew little of her mother’s own language, but enough to understand what he was saying. “What you doing?” she said, demanding to know.

Kei could make out that the one holding the blade was not used to talking English, but at the same time, he realized that the fingers of this person were not human. “I am exploring the surroundings of the village.” Kei answered casually.

“Why?” Tia’ja demanded.

“Our friends lived there, now they are all dead.”

The tense moment was interrupted as something unexpected filled the area around them. “(This is hotel six to fist Bravo, come in.)” It was the radio earpiece, which Kei had on loud so he did not have to wear it in his ear to hear it.

Tia’ja got slightly scared after hearing that. However, she refrained from making a sudden movement, which would result in her slitting this young male’s neck.

“That’s my father…” Kei said nervously. Thinking it would be safer to tell his captor instead of keeping things from them, and making things even worse. “He is going to expect an answer, or he will come looking for me.”

Tia’ja thought about what to do; she thought about just killing this male, and get on her way again. On the other hand, she thought about what her own father would do if anything where to happen to her or her little brother. “Speak to him.” she said in a threatening voice. “Speak about me, then you die.”

Nervously, Kei took hold of his earpiece.

***********************************************************************

“Nothing… This stinks,” Takashi said in a slightly angry and distrusting voice.

“Keep your cool Twitch,” Ronaldo scolded. “Maybe he is just taking a leak.”

“Damn long Leak then.”

“Hotel six to Fist bravo, do you read?”

“(Hotel six, Fist bravo, Reading you 5 by 5.)” Kei finally answered.

Ronaldo let off a sigh of relieve, as did Takashi. “Thank god Bravo, I thought you’d been zapped. What were you doing anyway, taking a leak or something?”

“(Something like that Six, Brown stuff actually.)”

“Copy Bravo, spare me the details, what’s you’re 20?”

*********************************************************************

Shit… Kei thought to himself while he started working up a slight sweat. the golden question I feared would come. “I got a little lost in the boonies, but I believe that I know how to get back at the bridge from Nui-pek to Jarria. Or if I hit the road early, I’ll be there soon.”

“(Understood Bravo, we’ll wait for you, Six out.)”

Upon hearing that, Kei sighed with a little relieve. One less thing to worry about, but he was still worried about the knife at his throat.

“What are you going to do to me?” Kei asked firm but cautiously.

“I not know.”

“Tia’ja!” Tausha called out in a scolding manner at the sight of her daughter holding her blade to a 17-year-old boy’s neck. Even if she called out to Tia’ja, Kei could not understand any of it because it was in an alien language to him. “Let him go right now.”

“But mom, he has a weapon. And not a small little toy either.” Tia’ja tried to argue.

“These people don’t carry weapons by choice.” She said in Kei’s defense.

Had Tausha taken a better look, she would realize that Kei was actually Japanese, not Vietnamese. Moreover, a Vietnamese carrying US Army grade gear was highly impossible as well.

“What are you going to do about him seeing us?” Tia’ja demanded to know.

“Let me worry about that.”

“I don’t know what you two are talking about,” Kei said aloud, finally being slightly annoyed by not understanding what was going to happen to him. “But please, I don’t want to fight or get hurt, I just want to go back to my father unharmed.”

“Don’t worry; we won’t hurt you, if you won’t use you’re weapon on us.” Tausha answered.

At that moment, Tausha heard a total of 3 weapons being de-cocked. At that moment, a 19 year-old and another 17 year-old came out of the shadows.

“And we won’t as well.” Ronaldo offered. “Though I have my worries about the woman holding that small sword to my son’s throat…”

Ronaldo held onto his AMT Hardballer’s- two Stainless steel versions of the old Colt 1911- as he still did not fully trust the situation, but as a show of good faith, he kept his weapons down and save. However, at a moment’s notice, he could change that if he wanted to.

The sword was finally lowered with a nod from Tausha. Kei took a step forward then turned around to look at his captures face. The moment he did he almost jumped up out of fright, what he thought to be human did not look so human at all.

“Easy Kei.” Ronaldo warned. “Though I do wonder what the hell is going on here.”

“Allow me to explain…” Tausha started.

*********************************************************************

It took a while, but the whole story was explained. A ‘hardmeat’ rigged a ship on accident, resulting in the ship coming to earth. and with Tausha being from the planet, and Clay having some knowledge of the planet and the language as well, they were selected along with their daughter for the hunt.

Clay had joined them as well, but not in a very friendly manner. Upon seeing his wife and daughter sitting with three human males, He became slightly jealous, and attacked Ronaldo.

The combat did not last long as Kei and Takashi automatically aimed their machineguns. However, Ronaldo had ordered them to stop before they opened up. and at the same time, Tausha blocked Clay from doing anything, and explained what had happened.

As honest as Ronaldo always was, he could understand it. After all, Ronaldo himself was not what met the eye. He told them about the ‘Virus’ he carried. In addition, that he explained that he was actually 43 years of age.  Nevertheless, one thing both Clay and Ronaldo agreed on, this so-called ‘hard-meat’ needed to be stopped.

Ronaldo took things done to his friends seriously, and he was not going to let anyone off the hook for it. No matter if it was a human or an alien, to him, they died all the same when pumped full of bullets.

“So…” Ronaldo finally said when the mood around them had settled. “Anything to go on?”

“No.” Clay said bitterly. “We know it crashed in a canyon of sorts.”

“Might be the old Ho-chi-min Trails.” Ronaldo thought aloud as he opened his map. Showing the said trails. “What do you know of this alien? What kind of places does it like, breeding, the works.”

“Warm, wet, hidden.” Tia’ja answered.

“Nah, that doesn’t fit the area…” Ronaldo grumbled.

“What about the old rat tunnels?” Takashi suggested.

“Yeah!” Kei agreed. “The old rat tunnels, we used to play there with the other kids of the village. It’s dark in there, but hot and it’s really sweaty in there as well.”

“Rat Tunnels from the Vietnam war you say?” Tausha asked.

“Yeah,” Ronaldo answered. “A lot of these tunnels sometimes go through solid rock, so they serve as an alternate route through mountains, As well as places to play for children, acting like they are the Vietcongs and USMC fighting each other.”

“And always beforehand fighting among each other of who would be the invading Americans and who are the glorious Vietnamese.” Takashi pointed out.

At that point, Tausha felt a little insulted, she used to live in America, so this actually got her attention while so many good American soldiers died in that war for the people here. so this actually felt like an insult.

“That’s not important Takashi.” Ronaldo lightly scolded. “In any case, I’d doubt that you’d get through them big guy.” Ronaldo said as he peered over to Clay. “The tunnels are a problem for someone as tall as you’re wife and daughter here. So it would be impossible for you.”

“Then I will blow up the entire region.” Clay answered.

Ronaldo chuckled. “Right and we’d be able to keep the existence of aliens a secret how?”

“He has a point Clay. If a bomb exploded here, we’d be sure that we would get spotted.” Tausha agreed. “And, I don’t want to be reminded of what happened the last time around someone saw you and me.”

At that point, Clay peered over to Ronaldo and his sons. “Oh don’t worry.” Ronaldo responded. “Too be honest, we aren’t even supposed to be here, so we are basically partners in crime at this time.”

Before long, it was agreed upon that everyone would enter the tunnels, except for Ronaldo and Clay. They would move as two teams. However, Ronaldo suggested that Tausha teamed up with Takashi. Because of is ‘quirks’ with ladies that didn’t have a boyfriend or anything yet.

Kei and Takashi both exchanged their heavy machineguns for their pistols, the same their father wielded, and they mounted flashlights as well. Tia’ja exchanged her sword for a smaller Katana, Kei was nice enough to loan her one of his pistols with a few spare magazines. However, Takashi was reluctant to do so as well. Ronaldo did not loan out any of his trusted pistols, but he managed to scavenge an old Makerov pistol, which he handed over to tausha.

“Good Luck.” Ronaldo bid them.

“Nah, we don’t need luck.” Takashi answered.

“We have skill, so no need for luck.” Kei agreed.

“Good hunting.” Clay bid his daughter. “And be mindful of that human.”

***********************************************************************

Crawling through those tunnels was a real pain; for Tausha and Tia’ja at least, Kei and Takashi did not have much of a problem moving around, so they took the lead. Going through the tunnels took a heck of a long time because of that. Sadly, they were only half way. Of course, Small talk was started sooner or later…

“You’re father is impressive.” Kei commented casually as he took care of an old trap that had not been sprung yet throughout the years. “From the looks of it, he looks very strong.”

“Is that what call complement?” Tia’ja asked.

“It is, yes.” Kei said with a smile, amused at how this alien yet human woman faired with her limited amount of English.

“(This is Hotel Six to Fist Bravo, What’s you’re sitrep?)”

Kei almost jumped from the sudden interruption. In addition, he accidently pulled the pin on the trap. The trap was a grenade trap. Luckily, a grenade had a built in 5 second delay normally, and seeing as the Vietcong were not handy at modifying those; out of pure adrenaline Kei ripped the grenade off its trap fitting and threw it down the tunnel’s corridors.

Shorty after that, the grenade blew. And even though the grenade was a great distance away when it blew, a small bit of shrapnel made it to him.

Kei yelled from pain for a short moment. and it took a small while for it to die down. all the while, Tia’ja looked helplessly at Kei as he struggled with the pain still.

“(Fist bravo, we heard an explosion up here, are you alright? Please respond!)”

“Hotel six, I’m alright…” Kei said breathing heavily. “just got nailed with a bit of shrapnel.”

“(Roger, do you need to call it quits or?)”

“I’m fine for now; it only nailed me in the arm.” Kei said as he tied a bandage around the wound. “Bloody hurts though.”

“(Bianchi is going to have my ass…)” Kei heard Ronaldo mutter. “(Roger that Bravo, Alpha, what about you?)”

*******************************************************************

“(Six, We encountered a few corpses, but nothing matching aliens.)”  Takashi replied.

“(They are mainly bones, nothing fresh.)” Tausha said aloud.

“This will go on forever…” Clay said in a fit, being tired of waiting around.

“I know…” Ronaldo agreed. “Copy Bravo, any of you want to call it quits for today?”

A moment of silence…

“(Alpha here, Tia… or however you pronounce her name feels like she’s had enough tunnels for one day. We are coming up.)”

“It’s Tia’ja.” Clay growled.

“(Sorry, not good with the pronunciation.)”

“(Bravo here, we are coming up as well. I for one had my fill.)”

“Roger, I’ll be sure to have food ready by the time you hit top side. Hotel Six out.” Ronaldo concluded as he turned his communicator off.

Rubbing his nose, he grinned slightly. “You’re suggestion of just bombing this place seems very appealing right about now… However, I want to prevent damage to this place at all costs…”  

“Then you’d better come up with a better plan.” Clay grumbled.

“Well, I’ll see what I can think of, but I’d like to know more first…”

***********************************************************************

Both teams had returned, true to his word, Ronaldo had arraigned for food to be ready, being kind enough to make six meals total. Though it was a small amount, it was better than totally nothing, They were getting to know one another a little better now. And from the corner of Ronaldo’s eyes, he could just see love in the air. Kei had taken a liking to Tia’ja, but she did not seem to be very responsive. Tausha and Clay were sitting together in the moonlight. Takashi was keeping himself busy by just carving all sorts of things out of wood. Sadly, most of them ended in objects resembling instruments of death. As for Ronaldo, he just sat silently.

He looked at the sky, which was filled with the stars. The skies were so clear that it reminded him on the days he used to spend with his long passed away wife. Moreover, a touch of grief filled his heart.

***********************************************************************

Night had fallen, the alien, hybrid and the four humans were sleeping. Ronaldo and his boys were used to this, so they had made make shift beds out of wood with an impressive display of bush craft.

There sleep was peaceful; however, Clay did not fully trust the situation… His Daughter was sharing the same bed with the human whom she had gone into the tunnels with.

However, strangely, Ronaldo himself was sharing his bed with his son Takashi, leaving his bed to him and Tausha. It seemed so strange, why did he trust Kei with his daughter, but not his son Takashi.

He heard a soft whimper, coming from the boys. Takashi and Kei were both crying in their sleep, however, there was something off. These young boys, carrying such heavy weapons, while their father figure was only wielding two peashooters, It just did not add up.

However, something even more unexpected happened. Ronaldo sat up without warning. Clay kept silent, acting as if he was sleeping. All the while keeping watch on Ronaldo.

“Crap…” he muttered, which was barely hearable to Clay.

Ronaldo started rummaging around a little, and soon after, he got out of bed. Therefore, the rummaging Clay saw must have been him putting on boots. However, before he moved out, he checked his weapons and sighed. “You don’t have to act like you’re sleeping.” Ronaldo said silently. “I can feel you’re eyes almost stabbing me in the back.”

Clay Chuckled Lightly. “You surprise me human, I did not expect you to realize.”

Ronaldo chuckled as well. “Enemy’s at the gate, better sharpen your blades.”

It did not take Clay any time to realize, he realized right there and then that they have been encircles with Hard meats and they were closing in.

“Oi, Takashi, front and center.” Ronaldo said while shaking Takashi’s shoulder.

“Just five more…” Takashi muttered in Dutch.

Ronaldo sighed. It was the same old story, awake he is hyperactive, ones he sleeps, he just cannot wake up. “Takashi.” Ronaldo started using Dutch and a mesmerizing tone of voice. “They have a 99% off on Miniguns and ammo at ammo-nation…”

“When are we going?” Takashi exclaimed.

“Right after we take care of some trouble.”

“Tia’ja, wake up, it’s time to hunt.” Clay said as she shook her shoulder.

Kei pushed himself up, as he slept on his belly. While he did, Tia’ja’s arm fell from his back; apparently, she clung to him as she slept. “Morning already?” he asked, still a little drowsy and sleep drunk.

“Close.” Ronaldo called out. “More like enemy’s ready to attack.”

With a yawn, Takashi cocked his machine gun. “Time to get a body count top score again.”

“Why are they waiting?” Tausha wondered, now being fully awake and ready.

“I believe that chemical I fixed up worked.” Ronaldo said to Clay.

“It does.” Clay agreed.

“Lock and load!” Kei answered, ignoring the idle talk.

A bloody battle incurred. As Takashi and Kei ripped away with their machineguns, the rest went in for close combat, Clay using a staff weapon, Tausha and Tia’ja using their trusty swords and Ronaldo used a combo of a sword in his left hand and a pistol in his right. However, he soon found out that Clay’s explanation of the ‘hard meats’ having Acidic blood was no bluff.

As such, he switched to prefer ranged combat. There were over 20 enemies to kill, and one who spawned them all… the queen whom escaped as a youngster.

As the battle raged on, Takashi and Kei made sure that they didn’t get flanked, while Ronaldo made sure that no Alien could come close at the wrong time without getting a few round of forty-five ammo. Having killed 16 now, they finished off the remainder, but the main prize was still to be found.

The chemical that kept the hard meats at bay had been let loose in the tunnels, hoping that it would draw the sucker out…

***********************************************************************

It was dusk, and they were all tired from it all. Takashi managed to lose a finger because of the acid; Ronaldo had a scar on his cheek from shooting a hard meat that was a little too close. However, he just brushed it off. His skin would restore its self within a few days thanks to the Virus within him.

Now it was time to wait around… and see if anything was going to happen.

“Say Clay.” Tausha said softly into his ears. “You saw how they slept together didn’t you?”

“I did, and I disapprove.”

Ronaldo huffed as he drank some water from a vine. After gulping it down, he wiped his mouth and turned to the husband and wife who were sitting so comfortably together. “You’re lucky that I let Kei sleep with her, and not Takashi.”

“I wondered why you did that.” Tausha casually wondered.

“Takashi can’t be trusted around woman, especially when it comes to sleeping next to them. Kei will not get any ideas; it is all the same to him. But not to Takashi.” scratching the back of his head Ronaldo made a silent confession. “I guess they never will get a real girlfriend. So just looking at Kei, as he enjoys himself for the moment with your daughter brings joy into my heart.”

“I don’t understand…”

“I can’t explain it though; too much hush-hush stuff, plus I believe it would bore you to tears anyway.” Ronaldo answered as he peered to his son enjoying himself just sitting next to Tia’ja, who was enjoying the early morning sun.

An old memory of Ronaldo himself and his long since deceased wife crossed through his mind… and though that memory was of an old photograph, it would be the same for Kei in the end… separated, never to be together again… it made him sad, but he could not help it. Nor could he avoid it. The only thing Ronaldo could do was to let Kei have his moments.

“Do you have the gun oil with you, Takashi?” Kei asked as he had field stripped his machinegun.

“I have it.” Ronaldo answered. Taking out the said oil and throwing the bottle toward Kei.

Kei was always careful about his weapon. Making sure that it was in prime condition, even when in the battlefield, knowing that a battle might be coming up, he always cleaned his weapon on a regular basis.

Yet, it seemed out of place. An half alien sitting next to a full human so lovely, it was really out of place…

“I hate wait game.” Tia’ja muttered as she hugged her knees.

“It isn’t so bad.” Kei answered. “I am used to it by now, though my brother doesn’t really have the patience for it.”

“That remember me, you arm ok?”

Kei gave a nod. “Its fine, the shrapnel only nabbed the flesh, not the muscles. So I am fine.”

“Ok.”

“Hey dad, how much longer?” Takashi asked.

“I don’t think that it will be long, though I don’t really know.”

“Right.” Kei answered as he started putting his weapon together again.

“Damn this waiting! I want to kill something!” Takashi exclaimed.

“I see you mean with brother.” Tia’ja said, confirming the earlier statement Kei gave concerning his brother.

“Ease off Takashi.” Kei said in a joking manner. “Maybe they will come as soon as I am done putting the Minimi together again.” he laughed loudly after then when he just snapped the last little part in place.

The world had slowed down, visions focused on the one little spring pin snapping into place… it pushed its self in, while sliding into place. suddenly it clicked, securing the weapons internal parts. that single click was like the trigger everyone had been waiting for.

Before anyone realized, the earth in front of him busted open, as if a space shuttle was ramming its way through at maximum speed.

A huge monster of a hard meat popped up, fully annoyed from the chemical and hungry for a fresh meal.

Ronaldo did not even weaver a second to draw his weapons and started firing. “Better Load that MG Kei!” he yelled. “Takashi Open up!”

“Damn it! Me and my big fat mouth!” Kei yelled as he rushed a fresh belt into his weapon. “Nothing is going right!”

Meanwhile Takashi was just taking aim and he started firing. While Clay and Tausha used shoulder cannons. Tia’ja had grabbed hold of Kei’s Pistols and was firing as well.

The Alien queen did not know what hit it, and after a couple of 500 bullets and 200 energy shots. The Alien queen lay dead, killed by a hail of ranged weaponry.

A bleeding corpse of alien mush lay on the jungle floor, the area ravaged. Ronaldo felt the need to kick a dead horse; he took a few pot shots, something he did out of pure hatred.

By now, in Clay and Tia’ja’s eyes; Ronaldo and his boys really earned their respect. they all helped kill the hard meats, along with the queen, proving them self’s to be just as good as any Yautja in combat.

However, the battlefield was a complete mess, but that was ok, the organization whom sent Ronaldo expected problems.

*********************************************************************

A few calls had been made, and government relieve forces were on the way to take care of the clean up.

However, Tia’ja took a trophy, one that she achieved with the help of 3 other human warriors, but they let her have it. Ronaldo and his boys could not hold on to the prize, it would be too much of a hassle trying to explain something that came forth from fiction.

One prize the boys and their father did get was a retractable staff weapon, which they took with grace.

Kei had thought about explaining his feelings to Tia’ja, but he refrained from it. Officially, he was not supposed to exist, and officially; there were no such thing as alien. All Kei could do was watch as he saw what he felt like his one chance at romance and love slip through his fingers, only to pray that they would meet once again under different circumstances…

As The Alien ship’s door closed, Ronaldo laid his hand on Kei’s neck, giving him some emotional comfort. “I hope we will meet them again someday…” Ronaldo told him.

“Yeah.” Kei agreed with a nod as he waved at the giant ship.

As it took off, the wind played with Ronaldo’s braid.

It did not take long for the ship to change into a tiny speck in the sky. After which Ronaldo stretched his arms. “Right guys, Let’s get going. We still have to get back to Nui-Pek for dust off. So let’s double time it.”

Both brothers gave a nod while they packed the staff weapon into their backpacks.

For a moment, Kei held firm to the staff, and his pistols. Tia’ja had handed it to him, and she had held and fired both his pistols… so he treasured the moment for a while. “A good friendship lasts forever, Even one as impossible as this.” Kei thought.


                                               The End