The laboratory door creaked open, revealing a chamber cold and sterile as a tomb. Flickering neon lights cast an unsettling glow upon strange medical contraptions and tubes filled with a viscous liquid that pulsed with an eerie green light.
Jade, Gala, and Luna stepped within, feeling the weight of apprehension settle upon them like a shroud.
A scientist garbed in white approached, bearing a box of shimmering syringes that glinted in the unnatural light. "Welcome, candidates for the soldiery," he intoned, his voice flat and devoid of warmth. "You have been chosen to receive this serum, a revolutionary artifice that shall reshape your very beings."
"What perils lie within this undertaking?" Luna asked, her gaze unwavering as she fixed it upon the scientist.
"The risks are but a trifle," the scientist replied, his eyes flitting away from Luna's keen scrutiny.
"Merely a fleeting discomfort. In return, you shall wield strength and speed beyond mortal ken."
"Fleeting discomfort?" Gala scoffed, his voice laced with disbelief. "Do not trifle with us. Tales abound of those who have perished from this very draught."
"Those are but whispers and shadows," the scientist said, his voice gaining a sharper edge. "This serum is safe and efficacious. You shall become heroes, champions of our realm."
Jade stared at the syringe held in the scientist's hand, feeling a tendril of doubt coil within his heart. "What manner of concoction lies within this vessel?" he inquired.
"Tears of the gods, some might say," the scientist replied, a thin smile playing upon his lips. "But trust in me, youngling, it shall alter the course of thy life."
A high-ranking officer entered the laboratory, his face stern and unyielding as granite. "Time is fleeting," he declared, his voice echoing in the sterile chamber. "We stand in dire need of strong arms to face the foe. You are our last beacon of hope."
"Last beacon?" Jade frowned, a sense of unease settling upon him. "What meaning lies within those words?"
"The enemy grows stronger with each passing moon," the officer replied, his gaze grim. "They possess new weapons, a host that swells with every tide. We require this serum, and many such as you, to turn the tide of this war."
"Yet, we remain ignorant of the true nature of this serum," Luna protested, her brow furrowed with concern. "We know not what fate awaits us."
"Choice is a luxury we can ill afford," the officer said, his voice as cold as the winter wind. "It is an edict from the kingdom. You must accept this draught."
Jade, Gala, and Luna exchanged troubled glances. They knew they were caught betwixt a rock and a hard place. Their hearts yearned to end the war, yet the shadow of the serum's unknown perils loomed large before them.
"Very well," Jade said, a sigh escaping his lips. "We shall partake. Sir," he continued, holding forth the cloth-wrapped box, "might I entrust this to your keeping? It bears a message from my father."
"I know not the whereabouts of the royal smith. My father bade me deliver it to him."
The scientist reached forth and opened the box without a word. Jade looked as if he would protest this intrusion, but the scientist spoke before he could utter a sound. "Forgive me, but I must needs know its contents."
"I shall deliver this directly to Master Demantra," the scientist said after a brief inspection of the spearhead. "He serves as the royal smith."
That day, all of squad nineteen took their turn upon the cold medical chair, feeling the sharp sting as the syringe pierced their skin. The frigid liquid flowed into their veins, sending strange and unsettling sensations coursing through their bodies.
Groans of pain echoed through the chamber as they endured the painful and bewildering changes wrought within them.
The three lay weak upon the sterile laboratory beds, their bodies trembling and slick with sweat. Screams and moans filled the air, a testament to the body's fierce struggle against the alien substance. An incredible torment it was, lasting for several long hours.
Some from squad nineteen even succumbed to unconsciousness the moment the serum was injected, their bodies overwhelmed by its potent effects. One by one, they drifted into a troubled slumber.
Four days hence, a vast chamber met their eyes, filled with rows upon rows of beds where those who had survived the serum's embrace now lay.
White-coated attendants moved with hurried purpose, tending to the sleeping soldiers.
Jade awoke with a gasp, his lungs burning for air, a strange vitality thrumming through every fibre of his being. His muscles felt stronger, denser, as if imbued with a new and potent energy. He sat upright, seeing Gala and Luna also stirring, their eyes flashing with a similar newfound power.
Jade cast his gaze about the chamber, noting the endless rows of neatly arranged beds. Several others were also awakening in various corners of the vast hall.
"What has befallen us?" Gala asked, his voice hoarse and rough. Gala and Luna lay not far from Jade, separated by but a single row of beds.
"I know not," Luna replied, her brow furrowed in concentration, as if perceiving sights unseen by others. "But I feel... different. My vision is clearer, reaching further than before."
Jade clenched his fist, feeling the raw power surging through him. "I too," he said, a note of awe in his voice. "I feel stronger than I ever imagined. Look at these muscles!"
A scientist entered the chamber and approached Jade, a smug smile playing upon his lips. "Welcome to the world of newfound might," he said, his voice dripping with self-satisfaction. "You have received power beyond measure."
Several attendants approached to assist the three to their feet. "Come now, we must proceed to the cell defragmentation chamber," the scientist said. Jade was helped into a wheeled chair.
The three were conveyed in these chairs towards a room filled with glass tubes and cables adorned with attached syringes. Many tubes already held soldiers who had awakened earlier, suspended within the strange apparatus.
Within the tubes, they were pierced by needle-tipped cables, then submerged up to their shoulders in the glowing green liquid that pulsed with an inner light.
"You can fully unleash the new power, and you three are already in an active state," the scientist explained, then paused, turning his gaze to Jade, Gala, and Luna. "Yet, you can scarce stand, can you?" Jade glanced at Gala beside him.
He did indeed notice a strange fatigue clinging to his limbs, despite the surging power.
"You are experiencing severe muscle fatigue. That is why your limbs feel as lead. But the power itself, you feel its limitless potential."
"Even as you wield this newfound power, you remain but mortals with activation limits. That is why I have brought you here. To complete the final stage of your transformation."
"And you," the scientist said, approaching Jade and touching his shoulder with a curious air, "you possess something most intriguing. Your muscle mass has altered drastically." He then turned to Gala. "Nearly the same as this fellow."
"So, what manner of power is it?" Jade asked, his eyes fixed upon the scientist's face, seeking answers.
"You may possess a singular gift. Amongst such special powers, only 'All Rage' is visible to the naked eye. That is because the muscles of your lower body have developed so significantly," the scientist replied, his gaze lingering on Jade's legs.
"What of me?" Gala inquired, a flicker of unease crossing his features at the mention of Jade's special power.
"I cannot say yet; we must needs examine you further." Gala's face fell with disappointment.
"Very well, you shall be prepared to enter the 'Myths Cybernetic' tubes. You shall undergo cell defragmentation for the next twenty-four hours." The scientist moved away from Jade and began preparing the first tube.
"What is this 'cell defragmentation'?" Luna finally spoke, her voice laced with worry. The scientist turned towards her, a reassuring smile on his lips.
"Fear not, we are merely injecting super micro robot cells to regulate the serum within your bodies."
"In other words, you shall be able to wield the new power only when the need arises, and return to your normal state when it does not. Unlike your current condition."
"You are experiencing severe fatigue as a side effect, which can shorten your lifespan if this new power is used continuously, due to the rapid aging of your cells."
"Will our lives be shortened? Are we bound by a certain span of years?" Luna asked, her agitation growing.
The scientist sighed, a hint of weariness in his eyes. He approached Luna, gently tucking a stray strand of her dark hair behind her pointed ear.
"Look at these ears, so exquisitely formed. Are you perchance from the Lalaluna continent?"
"Worry not about the passage of years. Your two companions are the ones in greater peril should they remain in a constant state of new power activation."
"They do not possess cell regeneration as swift as the Talingan Aru people." Jade and Gala exchanged shocked glances.
They had never known, and were reluctant to pry into Luna's past should she not wish to speak of it. They now realized that behind Luna's beautiful tresses lay the subtle points of elven ears.
Gala was struck by her beauty, a newfound appreciation dawning within him.
Luna gently brushed the scientist's hand away. "Very well, I shall proceed." The scientist smiled, holding Luna's hand for a fleeting moment.
"You need not hide your beautiful ears. All nations agreed a thousand years ago that you are a part of this world. You are human too, child of Bornika."
"I know..." Luna replied softly, her gaze falling shyly to the floor. She knew Gala and Jade had seen her true form, a secret she had kept closely guarded from her two companions.
The scientist moved on with his work, his focus returning to the preparations. "How old are you, miss? At least grant me that knowledge. Those two are your friends, are they not? They seem to know you not well at all."
Luna remained silent, her lips pressed into a thin line.
The scientist turned and removed his close-fitting ear flat cap, revealing a surprising feature. "My name is Philippe..." The three of them were taken aback. The scientist possessed no earlobes.
"You..." Luna stared at Philippe, her eyes wide with astonishment. "Yes," Philippe replied, a hint of sadness in his voice,
"I have walked this earth for fourteen hundred years, and these ears are a testament to the dark past of our people."
"Bornika is the only realm that accepts us with open arms, besides the isolated lands of Lalaluna."
Jade spoke as Philippe was about to continue, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "Luna, you are still my friend. Differences of form cannot erase the fact that we fight together here. Is that not so, Gala?"
"Y-yes..." Gala nodded, his cheeks flushed a deep crimson. The nobleman was clearly smitten.
"Three hundred and seventy-six years... my age," Luna said softly, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Grandma! You are older than my grandma!" Jade laughed, a genuine and hearty sound. Luna shot him an annoyed glance. So too did Philippe, who returned to his work with a renewed focus.
The three of them then entered the 'Myth Cybernetic' tubes that Philippe had prepared. After awakening the next day, they were completely recovered from their fatigue, their bodies feeling strong and ready for the trials ahead.
All who awoke that day were led to the training room, a vast arena filled with strange and wondrous equipment designed to hone their newfound abilities. There, they met their trainer, a burly man whose face bore the scars of many battles fought and won.
"I shall train you," the trainer said, his voice gruff and commanding. "I shall forge you into the strongest soldiers this kingdom has ever known."
The training was arduous and exhausting, pushing them to their very limits. They learned the intricacies of war strategies, the brutal realities of battle tactics, and the precise usage of a variety of weapons.
They also learned to master their new powers, to wield them with precision and maximize their devastating potential.
Jade discovered that the new power granted him access to 'All Rage', a state of intense fury that drastically amplified his strength and speed, making him a whirlwind of destructive force.
Gala found that his muscle strength had increased exponentially, allowing him to lift impossibly heavy objects and smash through obstacles with ease.
Luna found that her vision had been enhanced beyond measure, allowing her to see across vast distances and anticipate the movements of their unseen foes.
Her special power was precisely akin to that of Jade's mother, granting maximum power to the ciliary muscles of her eyes.
Only Gala seemed to possess no singular special force beyond his greatly enhanced strength. But that did not diminish his burning determination to see the war brought to an end.
During the rigours of their training, they grew to know each other better, their initial reserve melting away in the face of shared hardship.
They learned of each other's backgrounds, their hopes and dreams, and the fears that lurked in the hidden corners of their hearts. They also learned to work together as a cohesive unit, each utilizing their unique strengths to complement the others' weaknesses.
However, the underlying current of competition still flowed between them. Gala, driven by his great ambition, still yearned to prove himself the best amongst them. Luna, who had begun to open up slightly, wished to show that she was not to be underestimated.
Jade, his heart still set on ending the war, was determined to prove that he was worthy of the power he had been granted.
The three of them returned to their camp, eager to rejoin squad nineteen and share the news of their transformation, and perhaps even boast a little of their newfound abilities.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of hundreds of thousands of soldiers searching for their own comrades, they entered their barracks, only to find it eerily empty.
Their squadmates' belongings were neatly arranged beside their beds, a silent testament to their absence. "Where is everyone? Are we the last to return?"
Gala asked, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach as he began packing his gear. Jade and Luna followed suit, their hearts filled with a growing sense of foreboding.
They did not wish to be left behind should squad nineteen be departing soon.
A soldier in a white Jindara royal helmet entered suddenly, his boots echoing on the wooden floor. Jade, Gala, and Luna instinctively stood up in a semblance of formation.
"Soldiers! At ease!" the lieutenant commanded, his voice carrying an air of authority. "Listen well. You three are the only ones who survived the serum's reaction and adapted to its power."
The three of them were struck dumb with shock. Their minds raced, the only certainty in the face of failed serum adaptation being a grim one. "Lieutenant..." Jade said softly, his gaze falling sadly to the floor.
"Lieutenant Jack! Call me Jack..." Jack softened his tone, a hint of sympathy in his voice. "Your friends were sent home in panzer wagons. I am sorry to say, they all failed the trial and perished in the process."
Gala's fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles white. Jade sank onto his bed, his eyes burning with unshed tears. Luna looked down, her left arm held tightly against her chest as if to contain her grief.
"I will lead squad nineteen from this day forward. We shall form a new squad, and seven others will soon join our ranks to fill the empty spaces."
"I understand the weight of your loss. I too have walked this path. But we must remain focused! Two days hence, we depart! Now, rest."
Jack left the three remaining members of squad nineteen to their silent grief, departing without uttering another word, knowing that any further platitudes would be hollow and pointless.
He wished them to reflect upon the true cost of war, that it was not a glorious tale of heroes, but a harsh reality where many fell before ever drawing their swords.
Gala walked slowly to sit on the edge of his bed, his shoulders slumped with sorrow. Luna and Jade followed suit, the silence in the barracks heavy with unspoken grief.
"This is war," Gala said finally, his voice low and somber. "We are still in the training camp, and we have just received the serum's power."
"I will keep moving forward," Luna declared, her voice firm despite the sorrow in her eyes. "Our struggle with squad nineteen cannot end here. We carry the determination of our fallen comrades within us." She stood up, her resolve hardening.
"You know," she continued, her gaze sweeping over her two companions, "mourning our friends will not bring them back. The only path forward is to face the battle. That way, our families and the families of our fallen comrades will be safe at home."
"You are right, Luna," Gala replied, a newfound determination flickering in his eyes. But Jade remained silent, his gaze still fixed upon the floor, lost in his grief. He then lay down upon his bed, seeking the solace of sleep to quiet his troubled mind.
That day, the three of them mourned in silence, each grappling with their own grief. None of them spoke of the seven empty beds that stood as a stark reminder of their loss. That night, Jade resolved to keep his heart guarded, allowing only Luna and Gala to breach its walls.
So too did the other two. They did not wish to bear the pain of such loss again in the midst of battle. The new squad nineteen would be composed of strangers, but so be it.
Two days passed swiftly, the Jindara forces having been pushed back from the front defensive line.
Today, they stood at the city gate, ready to depart for the battlefield. They looked at each other, a silent understanding passing between them, each knowing that their lives were about to change forever.
***** *****
To the Battlefield
The city gate opened wide, revealing a dusty road that stretched towards the distant horizon like a ribbon unwinding across the land.
Jade, Gala, and Luna stood before the gate, their gazes fixed upon the distant battlefield, a place of unknown perils and inevitable conflict. Behind them, the Jindara forces marched with grim spirit, their ranks stretching as far as the eye could see, ready to face the coming storm of war.
"Here we go," Gala said, taking a deep breath, the air thick with the scent of dust and anticipation. "The enemy's battlefield awaits."
"Are we truly ready for this?" Jade asked, his gaze shifting between Gala and Luna, seeking reassurance in their faces.