"I'm afraid there's nothing you can do to help those friends of yours. The only thing you should know is that they are gone already." Amara said in a sincere, sad voice.
"What do you even mean by that! So you're telling me we just forgot about them because some stupid alien stole their consciousness, huh?!" Habib erupted like a volcano. Amara remained calm in her sitting. "Don't you have some inert galactic connection with other people that stops this mad alien from doing the shit!" He exclaimed.
"I've seen firsthand the atrocities they have committed. The last race that went head to head with the Kr'ang did not live long to tell the tale. They were slaughtered like they were nothing, destroyed their world and left behind gruesome and decayed. The little that made it out was luck," Amara revealed. Sadness written all over her face.
The revelation makes everyone sad. Does that mean there's nothing they can do? Their friends are gone forever with no trace. Is this how it'd end for both Steven and Gabriel?
"I can see on your face a determination and rebelliousness. If you wish to venture and risk the little you have left, I won't change your mind. But you should know you are putting even more people at risk if you wish to proceed with it." Amara warned.
A FEW YEARS EARLIER…
The sound of violin drifted through the air, a melancholic melody that seemed to match the rhythm of the sea. Susan has always found solace in the violin and the shore was her favorite place to play.
As she played, a figure emerged; Gabriel, stood a short distance away, his eyes fixed intently on her. Susan sensed his presence and turned around to look who it was.
"Incredible!" He gave his compliment in a low and sincere voice. "You play with passion," he added.
"Thank you," she responded as she felt a flush rise to her cheeks. No one has ever complimented her before since she always played alone and by herself.
Gabriel took a step closer. "I'm Gabriel," he introduced, holding out his hand.
"Sui'zan… Susan,"she replied, her voice barely above whisper. Gabriel flush with a smile, his cheeks burning re like a tomatoes.
" I'm a big fan of music and I play instruments also. Set Drum is my main," Gabriel said. They have something in common and Susan was excited.
" I like the violin."
" And you're so good with it. Your teacher is incredible I can tell," Gabriel said.
" No, I have no teacher or instructor. I taught myself," she responded.
" Then you're more magnificent than I thought. Here, lemme show you my limit in violin playing," Gabriel said as Susan handed the instrument over to him to play. She watched in awe how Gabriel played, the boy was an expert. Well, he does have a teacher unlike her.
EAGLE CLAWS: UNDERGROUND ARENA
The crowd were cheering and chanting for the main event. The air was thick with sweat and smoke. In the center of the ring two fighters face off. One of them was Habib himself, going by the name 'The Ace'.
His opponent; The Bone-breaker / BB charged at Habib, who dodged and waved, landing a series of quick jabs and kicks. The crowd erupted into cheers as BB struggled to get back to his feet. Habib launched himself at BB after the poor thing managed to stand up, tackling him to the ground again.
The two fighters rolled around the ring, punching and kicking. The crowd was on its feet, screaming and cheering like never before. The battle was intense and the watchers couldn't get enough of the sweat and blood. They paid to watch grown men beating their asses out.
During the hot battle was when Steven entered the arena.
Habib spotted his chance. With a swift kick and a flying elbow drop that sent BB crashing to the ground, knocking him out.
The crowd yet again exploded into shouts as Habib stood victorious, his arm raised in triumph. While some roar and shout in total anger for losing on their bet candidate some can't stop laughing in joy of winning their bet.
Habib spotted Steven amid the crowd as he climbed down the ring and squeezed himself into the crowd and managed to drag Steven away from the noise to a perfect place where they could talk.
"I'm glad you show up," Habib stated after getting the medical kit from his closet.
"Sorry for the lateness. I got held up. I'm glad I didn't miss your last fight in this shit hole."
"No worries, man."
"The mess you always get after each fight makes me wonder how you survive. Thank goodness your face remains intact or else you would have chased all the ladies crawling over you," Steven teased him as he applied a bandage on the bruised areas.
"All thanks goes to having military parents." Habib answered. "So how was your job hunting? Any luck yet?" He asked. Steven shocked his head In a negative way.
"Same old story. No one wants to employ someone with a criminal record. And I'm exhausted right now."
"I can't say I know the feeling but I'm pretty sure it's bad. Anyway I've got someone to help since I'm retiring from the arena. So, I linked you up with my father and he was glad to assist you too," Habib explained but before Steven could respond, a short and fat man entered the locker room. The man has a circular shaped head and is bald.
" There you are." The man said approaching the other two.
" Hey director," Habib said in a bored voice. The man chuckled, rubbing his heavy stomach.
" I can see you are ready to leave…"
Can you just say whatever you want to say, old man. Habib thought.
"Hi director," Steven announced his presence since the man didn't seem to notice him. The man waved back but his gaze was still fixed on Habib.
"You have always been the best fighter in this arena. Watching you leave would definitely be a blow in our face, but you have life ahead of you. I want to wish you good luck on your new journey. You will be missed," the man said, placing his right hand on Habib's shoulder.
"Thank you director, for everything." He said. The man smiled and left the room. "That's one hell of a talk from a greedy man," Habib added, putting his shirt on.
"What are you expecting, the man is about to lose 50 percent of the arena attendees since the majority are you fans." Steven responded, making Habib laugh. He picked up his belongings from the locker and they took their leave.
PRESENT…
Sitting around the table was Habib, Susan and Amara herself as they're waiting for someone's arrival.
Shortly, a man who looked young and probably around the age of 30 entered the room. Behind the man was his older butler, following with a tray of tea. The butler excused himself after serving the guests.
"To what do I owe the honor of your visiting my dear Amara?" The man began with a gentleman gesture and charming smiles.
" Cut the crap Jordan, I'm not here to be flattered," Amara said. She noticed the confused glance the other two were giving them so she decided to make things clear. "Don't let your eyes deceive you young ones. Jordan was one of the best illusion caster I know," she explained.
With a snap of his finger, Jordan cast an illusion, changing the room's appearance to a totally new one in a matter of seconds wowing both Habib and Susan.
"So tell me what brought you here. And not alone which is unusual if you."
" The Kr'ang have strike again like they used to," Amara get to the point.
" That's nothing new. This isn't their first and probably won't be the last. Why are you bothered so much this time? I remembered the last time you were like this," he said.
" Because they crossed me…again."
"Then let it go."
"What?!" Habib and Susan exclaimed at the same time.
" You hear me right. Let it go. You might have managed to persuade Amara but you can't do the same to me. Trust me it's hurt less when you forget about them than to strike,"he said and glanced at Amara. " You know I'm right Amara."
She was quiet. "You know what they are capable of. The chaos they leave in any path they walk. You know what those things did to your world." Jordan mentioned and all emotions drained from Amara's face. This made things even more complex for the other two so Jordan decided to make it clear.
"Kr'ang were responsible for the destruction of MARS. The Martians tried going into war with them but it all ended in a blood bath. Only a few of them survived," he narrated. This revelation makes the young girl sink into despair.
"Is that true? The Kr'ang were responsible for the death of our people!" She said, her voice shaking.
" Yes. Susan, if you strike the Kr'ang just once, they will retaliate with thousands of blows. That's why I'm so scared to let you go knowing the risk you are putting the people of this world into."
"I'd take my chances instead of sitting down and watching. Knowing my Friend is out there somewhere that needs my help," Habib spoke standing up.
"This is very dangerous. You have no idea what you're walking into," Jordan said and Habib scoffed. " But I can't be of assistance if you insist."
"You can?," Habib repeated.
"Yes I can."
"Count me in," Amara said, surprising them. "I swore to your parents to watch over you Sui'zan and that's what I'm doing. Now that you have taken it upon yourself to visit an old enemy, maybe this wasn't just about your friend anymore, maybe it's what you are meant to do. I've failed you once, but I won't let the failure occur twice."
" So we are doing this then…"