At the Wilson residence 6 weeks earlier…
Tom was laying on his bed looking at the ceiling, and the marble figures of riders on horses rushing into battle that were carved into it with so much precision and detail the mains of the horses could be seen from the bed 4.5 meters below, he also wore a white robe with purple lines all over it.
Noah; Hey, what's with the long face? Is something wrong?
Tom; Noah, do you understand women?
Noah; I'm not sure what you mean.
Tom; never mind.
Noah; …
Though, I have spent a few years among a dark elf tribe back in my home world. They were a female majority.
Tom; so, did you get along with them?
Noah; oh yes, we did! They practically raised me. We went swimming, hunting, playing all sorts of games.
Tom; good to hear, so I have this question. If there was this girl, you liked, and she liked you back, but then she had to leave and you didn't know why, what would you do?
Noah; There was this girl you see, Harmony. She was a light elf who ran away from her tribe, and due to conflicting ideologies, dark and light elves hate each other. One day she stumbled upon the village where the dark elves lived, but instead of being executed on the spot, she was saved by the dark elves. And decades later, she saved me…
Flashback…
Harmony; Do you really have to go?
Noah; I do, but don't worry, after I take down that man who killed my parents, and terrorized us for years, I promise, I'll come back to you.
Harmony, in tears; Alright!
Noah; that was the last time I saw her.
Now to answer your question, I believe she would probably have a really good reason, one that was so important, it didn't just concern her, but also someone she cared about. And she didn't want to involve you.
Tom; I see. Thanks Noah. Anyway, you wanna help me train tomorrow?
Noah; my pleasure. Wow I didn't realize that was so helpful.
Tom; it wasn't, unless you're actually a woman all this time.
Noah; figured as much.
That story just made you more depressed, didn't it?
Tom; big time.
Noah; *chuckle*
The next day (present day) …
Tom while opening a hatch in the middle of nowhere; *sigh*
Tom walked down a long spiral of stairs within a dark, cramped bunker. When he got to the base, he opened the door leading to the lab where he found…
Tom; Huh? There's no one here. I guess I'll just…
As Tom turned around to leave…
Harry right in front of Tom; And what would you do if someone was here?
Tom walking backwards; whoa, man, chill out.
Harry; why did you come back here?
Tom; I just came to talk, alright.
Just hear me out. I did some digging into Linex yesterday, I think I could help you get back at them. And shut them down.
At this, Harry walked away and turned around.
4 years ago…
? in a black suit; I don't suppose a position like this is best suited for your talents, don't you agree young man?
Harry; Are you promoting me sir?
?; As a matter of fact, I am. Your transfer begins as soon as you accept the position.
Harry; I DO! Anything to leave this shift!
?; what a cleaver boy.
Harry; I was naive back then, if I had said no, or walked away, none of this would have happened, I wouldn't have been involved.
Tom; what happened?
Harry; they took me to a base in Seoul, where they did thousands of illegal human experiments and research violating international human rights and ethical laws. It was there that they converted me. And turned me into this.
Harry then removed his lab coat which had covered his whole body besides his head, and his skin turned inside out, revealing a body that looked more machine-like than human. It was like every cell on his body had flipped simultaneously but instead of red muscle and veins revealed there was this reptilian looking skin that shimmered like obsidian.
Tom; whoa. What is that?
Harry; a classified element stolen from the GRE. Lighter than any metal, yet at least 10 times as durable than the toughest.
Tom; OK so, do you want to take down Linux.
Harry; It's already been covered, and by the way, are you familiar with the god Hermes?
Tom; The messenger, right?
Harry; yes. His was the name I was given. I hope you find out why soon.
Hermes then lunged at Tom so fast blinding speed
[Speed so fast the human eye can't see it]
But Tom instinctively pulled out a short sword and struck him to the left, allowing Tom to move out of the way.
Hermes; so, you figured me out. No matter.
Hermes then ran to strike Tom but then Tom parried it with his short blade.
Tom; *It's just like I thought, we're in a cramped space underground, he has no room to accelerate, If I keep this up, tire him enough to…
Hermes with his arm on Tom's collar; don't think I don't know what you're up to.
Hermes then pulled Tom out of the bunked at high speed then burst through the hatch, he then ran to gain momentum before throwing tom 50 meters across the desert with one swing.
Hermes; so, what was the plan you cooked up before entering my bunker? You know very well I'm not stupid.
Hermes then grabbed Tom's shirt; AND I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE MISTAKE ME FOR A FOOL.
Tom had dust all over his clothes and face as well as several scratches from the toss as Hermes yelled at him he let his head fall back while his eyes and face stayed unresponsive as if unconscious.
Hermes; well?
Tom's left lip came up forming a smirk suddenly a powerful electromagnetic pulse (emp) wave spread around Hermes and Tom, then dust began to spread.
Hermes; what the…
Then Jake punched Hermes in the face sending him a few feet back, then Nino then tackled him to the ground, but he soon got back up.
Hermes, while looking at his arm; *chuckle* so you weaken me with an emp blast to rob me of my speed then finish me off? Too bad you won't have much ti…
*bang*
Tom on his feet while holding a gun from behind Hermies; …
*bang*bang*bang*
All 4 bullets hit their target, but fell off Hermes tough body.
While everyone was in shock, Hermes then slammed Tom with a kick to the head then Tom fell with his head slamming the dirt.
Itona to Tom whose face was on the ground; Dude common training's barley started.
Noah, in Tom's backyard; I think this is enough for now, you don't look so good.
Itona, while eating nuts; the reason for that is clearly because his head is clearly not in it.
Noah; why. What's wrong?
Tom; It's nothing.
Itona; that's 100% a lie. I can clearly see it on your face.
Noah; common Tom, what's wrong? If there's anything bothering you, it'll do nothing but drag you down and hinder your training.
Tom; *sigh*
Itona, just as Tom was about to speak; It's Rose isn't it.
Tom; I hate you.
Noah; how did you know?
Itona; because that's all he thinks about.
Noah; I'm very sorry for your loss.
Tom; It's OK. It's not her fault, it isn't anyone's fault. I guess I'm just not over her being gone yet.
Noah; it's fine, it's OK to miss someone you've lost no matter how long it's been. Now how about we continue tomorrow?
Tom; you know something Noah, you're the most caring mentor I've ever had. But after getting that of my chest I think I'm ready to continue. At least 2 more rounds.
Noah; alright, let's go then.
EOC