Even with unusually high morale, nothing could have prepared The New Heroes for what's to come.
Thousands of cyborgs stood on standby around Hopeshire Fort and Starport City. Each of them had mechanical upgrades and laser weapons.
The boat settled in the water.
The mere dozen remaining members of The New Heroes secretly arrived on the sandy shore. They witnessed their enemy's overwhelming size.
Pepe's eyes were wide, and he took a long, deep breath. "We will survive another battle of war today," he managed to declare. He walked forward.
Demoralized, Aaron sweated profusely and asked, "Are we heading towards our deaths?"
"It's our final mission. We'll survive and return home afterwards," Pepe urged in an attempt to raise his squad's morale.
The New Heroes were silent. Most of them murmured with despair.
Aaron glanced at the cyborgs. He pleaded, "It's certainly a death mission! I don't want to die!"
Bridget teared up.
"I have something dear to live for," Aaron proclaimed and hugged her. He looked at his comrades and suggested with a weak smile, "Let's not suffer and die anymore. Let's go home and live the rest of our lives at peace."
Many squad members agreed to his sentiment.
Still, Stark growled and insisted, "We have to save General Bobby!"
Lucius held a stern expression. He turned and asked, "Pepe, do you believe in this mission?"
Pepe stopped with his back turned to them. "We're here to save General Bobby, but it could lead to our deaths. I could have refused the mission, but I accepted it, instead. Whatever happens, it's fully my responsibility as I made the final decision," he admitted. He clenched his fists.
Aaron scowled and demanded to know, "Why would you accept such a mission? I don't care if you want to save your mentor, but death can't be decided for others."
"You already accept defeat, then," Stark intervened.
"I prefer to live as everyone else here," Aaron argued.
"Let's talk, you and me. Aaron, I believe in this mission," Pepe addressed and sighed. He turned around and pressed, "Humanity needs and depends on us to usher in a new era of peace and survival. At the rate of this war, humankind will cease to exist. If we abandon our duty, then, the rest of our lives at peace won't be long nor meaningful. It's our duty as heroes to turn the tides, so we and our loved ones can thrive. I decided to depart on this forsaken mission, so we can fight for our future now!"
"Are you saying that instead of dying at peace doing nothing, we should fight for an improved life or die trying," Aaron inquired.
Pepe nodded confidently.
Aaron rejected his notion and scoffed. "Pepe, you're still young, so you might not understand. The peaceful world which you fight for will never exist! As long as there's conflict, there will always be a battlefield!"
Pepe sincerely questioned, "Can I ask what you fight for, Aaron?"
"I fight, so one day, I can return home with Bridget. But what does this have to do with our march to certain death," Aaron responded.
"What is your home like," Pepe asked with a curious stare.
Aaron reluctantly replied, "My home is filled with beautiful crystals and fields of flowers. The sky is as big and blue as the ocean, and its sky islands illuminate the city underneath. It's stunning and beautiful. Why do you ask about my home?"
Pepe thoughtfully looked at his brothers and explained, "I fight for my home, as well. Tell me. What will you do when The Evil Cyborgs show up and take over?"
"I'll... I'll fight," Aaron stammered, flinching at the question.
"We are free to choose when to fight and what we fight for. I don't want to wait until they're at my home," Pepe remarked and smiled. He further announced, "Let me tell all of you what I fight for. I fight for our homes. I fight for our people. I fight for our right to choose our own destinies. In other words, I fight for our freedom! Fight for your own freedom to live peaceful lives! For that life, we must survive our final mission and save the world!"
With his words, everyone else was inspired.
Aaron pondered his grim situation and gazed at the sea horizon. The battlefield would always be his home. He had seen countless people die from this war, and yet, he continued to fight without a choice. He wanted to be free in a better world. The only thing he could do was to fight for that goal. That was his choice to make. With a tear, he confessed, "I finally understand you, Pepe. Thank you."
At last, The New Heroes stepped onto the sandy shore.
"Stay hidden," Pepe ordered in a whisper.
Cyborgs scouted and searched the area.
The New Heroes crept through the sandy terrain and made their way to the fort.
"Something's not right," Lucius muttered.
"What," Stark questioned.
"Are you feeling sick again," Matteo inquired.
"Huh? No," Lucius, embarrassed, mumbled.
Hafen understood and affirmed, "There are no signs of General Bobby's or his army's survival. It's also suspicious that the cyborgs are on standby here. It's almost like they expect something. Like us." He realized too late.
At that moment, dozens of cyborgs spotted them and sprinted to them.
"We've been spotted," a squad member alerted and panicked. His face was full of shock and horror.
"We should retreat," Aaron urged. He grabbed Bridget's hand.
Aaron and Bridget hurried back to the boat.
Other squad members followed them.
"This is bad," Hafen noted.
"What should we do," Matteo queried with a worried look.
Stark clenched his teeth. "We can't abandon General Bobby," he contended. He readied his fists against the looming cyborgs.
Just then, Aaron and Bridget stopped in their tracks. Their eyes widened with terror.
"Get behind me," Aaron demanded and reached his arm in front of Bridget.
"No, I'll fight with you," Bridget protested. She opened her hands, and sparks flew out.
"The cyborgs have found our boat," a squad member, behind them, announced, and his face darkened.
Lucius' eyes widened, and he stared at Pepe. "Pepe, your orders," he demanded.
Pepe quickly turned. He turned back again, and he gritted his teeth. "Everyone! Hold on and listen," he ordered and braced himself.
Hundreds of cyborgs now surrounded The New Heroes. They glared and prepared for a fight to the death.
Forced into a standoff, how will The New Heroes escape such a terrible predicament? With the air tense, what will Squad Leader Pepe's next orders be?