PSA #1

Hey everyone, it's a me, Jakio. But really, it's Jake.

Just a quick public service announcement to all of those that read this (thanks, by the way). I should be releasing chapter one of my story either tomorrow or Monday. Please feel free to read it. I'm aware of some inconsistencies at this point, but am not really in a heavy editing stage. So, there may be some errors and such. If there are, let me know. Also, let me know anything that doesn't follow logically or seems a little odd. I don't mind. If there's anything good, as well (something you like, etc.) please let me know, so I can do more of those kinds of things and really figure out what my strengths and weaknesses are with writing.

Sincerely, your buddy, your friend, your partner in crime, blah blah blah,
Jakearooni

Blog Introduction

Hey guys, my name is Jake Jensen. I recently returned from an LDS mission in Japan and am now working to become an author. This story sprung from an idea I had before my mission. But if I told you what the idea was, it would probably spoil the story. Anyhow, enjoy! I've spent a bit of time on this during NaNoWriMo (national novel writing month), and I really am starting to like how it's working out. Anyhow, feel free to help me out with constructive criticism or praise and whatnot.

Thanks for reading. I'll be trying to update the story once a week, and will do my best to respond to anything you have said. Again, thanks for taking the time to read my story over.

Prologue

It was a cold, red day—same as every day on the People’s red world. Of course, it had changed drastically in the last few centuries. Just to the west of Olympus Mons was a verdant field of various fauna and crops that surrounded the bustling city of Tarnaeus. Though still mainly red, there were bits of silver, grey, and greens that stood out. Tarnaeus was a clump of chrome splotched with rust from the storms. Skyscrapers were not much of a deterrent to storms.

Sergeant James B. Tibble sat atop a ridge line two miles east of Tarnaeus. His Hephaistos Mk II Power Armor allowed him ample room to stretch his neck in a circular motion. With a sigh he looked down his scope towards the southwest. Construction walkers lumbered to and fro, moving large pieces of framework for the walls of highway five. Traffic sped each in each direction, the left side moving towards the city, the other side moving away from it. The new propulsion software in each vehicle cast a deep green glow that turned into magnificent waves of light as they cars sped intently to their various destinations.

James reached out to the Morianton—the artificial intelligence who was connected, or “linked in” as the ‘Klesians said—to his brain.

Mor, tell me what you’re getting.

How about a please? Morianton responded.

James clenched his teeth. Just do it.

The reticule on his heads-up display (HUD) jumped from car to car, spinning from left to right then right to left as Morianton scanned the contents of each vehicle. With every scan there was a number of clicks. He felt a stream of information enter his head. Red Nissan—civilians. Orange Nissan—civilian. Red Ford—civilian. Silver Taurus—civilian. At least fifty other scans also turned up empty.

Need to see what Nellus has found, he thought.  No sooner had he thought this then his comm had activated. Thanks.

Of course, Jimmy. 

I told you not to call me that. James groaned.

Of course you did, Morianton sneered. However I’ve always considered it to be rather endearing.

You feeling alright, Mor? 

I do not feel, Jim…

He sighed. “Nellus, you getting anything? We really need to put this guy down.”

“Nothing but these new models. Martians really love their cars,” a deep, gravelly voice responded.

“No kidding. People are buying them like they’re hot.”

“Too bad we got ‘em on Earth already.” Nellus gave a throaty chuckle which sounded like gravel being crunched under heavy boots.

James laughed. Suddenly his eyes exploded, his vision dimmed. A spike of pain tore through the back of his head, causing him shudder. He crushed his eyelids together, looked down away from his scope. Another tremor tore through his body. Inhaling sharply, James dropped his rifle and tensed his body. Another tremor. He was in the dirt.

Then, nothing. James lay there in the martian soil, his biceps twitching periodically. He reached back and touched his head. No puncture marks or anything of that nature. What was that?

It seems you got hit by something, Jimmy, Morianton stated. James rolled his eyes and groaned. What the cause could be, I do not know. This is unusual considering your circumstances. Perhaps with a little time—

Whatever. Can you use the suit’s medical functions to neutralize it if it happens again?

Do you think me to be a buffoon? Of course you do; that is typical of your people.

Mor! Can you do it? 

Morianton was usually so mellow, but today he was aggressive. Something had gotten him riled. It was a lot like that operation on Jupiter the year before. It would have to wait though. James would talk to him after the mission.

Hypothetically I could utilize the suit’s power cell to—

Do it, Mor.

The whole conversation had taken a few seconds. Morianton hummed in response. He felt a hint of irritation boil up.

James’ comm cracked with static. There was a moan. “J, my head feels like it just got beat by a sledgehammer, man.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Wait, you felt that too?”

“Yeah I did, it felt like—what? What do you mean? You feel that too, man? The hell?”

“I felt it. If it hit both of us, then—”

“Biological weapon?”

“Possibly. What’s Helvian say?”

“Hold on.”

Mor? The drum in his chest was beating at an incredible rate. Adrenaline pumped into his system. James could feel his pulse hammering off in his forehead. His head pounded mercilessly. And yet, his eyelids were strangely droopy. A smoke slithered through his mind, dimming his synapses, causing a momentary drop in reaction time. He blinked again, searching the highway meticulously. All the while his HUD fed him a continuous stream of information.

It is a possibility, Jimmy. Perhaps a biological weapon that attacks the same wavelength as your brain.

Is that even possible?

Morianton gave the equivalent of a huff for an AI. Theoretically, yes.

“James, Helvian says it’s probably a biological weapon.”

“Same response on my end too. But Mor says he can probably do something about it if it happens again.” Cars zoomed by. Still no target. His eyes twitched left, twitched right. An endless line of cars.

“Hold up, James, shouldn’t our shielding block that sort of thing?”

“Not if it’s something we haven’t seen before.”

James eyes kept moving, as if a machine that had been switched on and couldn’t be switched back off. Cars of all shapes and sizes were streaming towards the north. Most were the regular small-and-sleek model, though there were a few bulkier cars. These looked much like semis of the old days—back when wheels were usually used for transportation—but a bit smaller. Most of them were shaped like a rectangular prism with rounded corners and were of the silver or gray variety. On the front of the semi, just below the windshield was an identification code, used for identifying the company.

While his HUD was searching each individual car—without many results—James’ eyes drifted towards a particular semi. He looked it over for a moment. It was the same basic gray as the other semis. Windshield was the same. Everything was the same. Shrugging, he started looking towards another car, when his reticule locked onto the car he had been inspecting. The reticule popped outwards, then turned green.

James cursed and marked the driver, who was moving into the left lane. Four hundred meters up was an off ramp which would take him to the observation outpost positioned just below the top of Olympus Mons. Five hundred meters up was a tunnel.

“Target found. Nellus, he’s yours.”

“And the civilians?”

There were five cars next to the driver, two of which were behind him. If Helvian’s targeting software somehow got messed up, Nellus might end up taking out a civilian. If he made the shot, there would still be casualties.

“If he takes that tunnel, we’re done for, all us. They get that intel on our suits, everyone is at risk. Everyone dies. Take. That. Shot.” 

300 meters. There was a brisk silence.

“Tracking him now. There’s an off ramp.”

“What?” James looked at the driver, glanced at the off-ramp. It was on the right side of the highway. The target was on the left side. 

“If we get him onto the off-ramp, we could save those civilians.”

James shook his head and let out a short breath. “There’s no time, man! Take the shot!” He tapped a button on the side of his gun which activated the focusing lenses. Just a precaution.

He kept he sights lined up on the car, put his finger on the trigger. In the next split second he heard a distant puff. The driver’s chest exploded, a blue orb of plasma blasting outwards in all directions, frying the semi. Next thing James knew, the semi smashed into the car next to it. There was a distant crunch of metal on metal. One car glanced off the bumper of the target’s car and into a mess of traffic. It was one heck of a mess.

“Nellus, man, I’m sorry, I know they’re part of the People’s Republic, but I didn’t want—”

Nellus cursed.

Tapping his weapon off, James sighed, releasing a long breath and letting his shoulders relax. That was it. The People’s Republic wouldn’t be getting that intel. For just a little longer the The Allies for Free Earth could relax. Just a little bit longer and—

Another curse. A sharp breath.

“Nellus? Nellus?” James activated his rifle and aimed over at Nellus’ position, just 200 meters to the southwest. He had been positioned two hundred meters from the highway. When he looked over there, he furrowed his brow. Nellus was still there, but he was bowed to the ground. His hands were balled into fists which he was pounding furiously into the ground.

“Nellus, you alright ma-“

A shout of agony blasted from James’ comm like a punch to the ear. “No, please. No! You son of a-“

The comm clicked off.

“The h-” James started, then he felt it. It was like someone had split open his skull , grabbed a screwdriver and was now slowly digging the screwdriver into his thoughts. He gasped for air, fell to his knees. His hands flew to his head. The screwdriver pressed farther, inching its way deeper, tearing at his mind for… something. More pressure. Heavy breath left lips; he couldn’t breath. He opened his mouth wide, blinked rapidly. 

Morianton, help! It was no longer a screwdriver, but a serrated knife. It cut deeper, shredding his thoughts, his memories. Why am I here? There was a pulse. His head felt like molten slag; he couldn’t remember what he was thinking about. Dark specks began flooding the edge of his vision.The light and the dark battled for supremacy, the light defending it’s claim, but losing ground quickly.

James, it seems your vitals are higher than normal. I shall assist you to the best of my ability. I will take the pain away.

For a few minutes, spasming under the pain, James tried to make sense of what Morianton was saying. Like a dim light being switched on, he understood. His mouth opened and closed, but he couldn’t manage to speak. Something inside of him told him he had to tell Nellus, had to warn him, had to let the Allies know, had to tell Frederik and the others. But it was to no avail as a cold smoke reached for the light and switched it off.

Everything disappeared under the cover of black sheet.