After a few weeks, early morning news, "A spike in Homo-luminus birth just happened. At Saint Savanna Hospital, a record of Twelve Homo-Luminus were born, at Jordan Hospital, a record of Seven, at Federal Medical Centre, a record of Nine, at...".
"Daaaaamn," Joe said. "Hmm, why do I feel unsafe with this rates," Joe thought. "It's just unfortunate that we can only...for now, hope, that they don't fuck us up".
At David's own place, after they had arrived, where they sat on pillows at a table, "First", David said. "The last time we met, I thought it would be the next day before we see each other. "Yeah, I too. But we have started our training drills for the upcoming Expedition to the Dread," Elaine explains. "Wow. God speed on your travels," David prayed. "Amen".
They were having a good time. They had cooked, David had flogged (won) Elaine in Chess like 5-1. "Mehn, you are one Chess monster," she said, resting back, while Dr. Gearne frantically played a car race game on his phone. "Who would have thought," Elaine asked, looking at him.
"But let's get down to business, shall we?" he suddenly asked, almost slamming his phone on the table. "Woah, careful," Elaine said. "There's nothing to worry about. I reinforced it with Mecha Alloy," he said, feeling smug. "Oh yeah? How about we check the weight?" David suggests. Dr.Gearne pauses for a while, "Naaaah!", he said as they burst into laughter. "Yeah. So on the issue of AI. Why don't you like AI?" Elaine asks Dr. Gearne. "It gives this fake vibe to ones work, like it is not original, you know?".
"Well, what of you?, David".
"Pa, if I use AI in building a Mecha, and you use it to build also, I can always bet it with you that we won't build the same thing. The same with writing. Just because a writer uses AI to write does not mean the whole idea was AI's. Big no. As long as the user has his own vision, it won't and can't be...the...same, therefore, making it original", David answered.
"Well, I guess that's that. Maybe you should try it," Elaine advised, and Dr.Gearne shot a surprised look at her, for a moment. "You're feeling rather tired today," Dr. Gearne said. "The strenuous training sessions have been...". "Strenuous I guess," David replies as they all chuckled. "Yeah, I mean they are having us going fully equipped, with some new technological inventions I have never seen or heard of before. Which reminds me. Dr. Gearne, I tink you have a competitor," she said. "Hmm. No matter, as long as I can keep doing what-". "Pa, we all know that's not going to be possible. We need to fight this," David opposed. "And we will, son. We will," Dr. Gearne said, with eyes calm but determined, and mind wondering on his next big project.
A few days later, Elaine sat inside a canvas tent pitched somewhere within the now-deserted one-mile radius where Veldron army was camped. The area was stripped bare, save for the occasional hum of trucks and the shuffle of soldiers gathering supplies for the journey ahead. Elaine perched on a weathered supply crate, her gaze fixed on one of her wedding photo.
A voice broke the silence behind her.
"I guess he's not taking it well."
She didn't turn. "You have no idea, Mill. Ever since I told him I was going, he hasn't called. Not even a message."
Mill stepped around and sat across from her, his expression mirroring her weariness. "Yeah, I get it. My wife's been on edge ever since she found out I was co-leading the unit."
Elaine gave a faint nod, eyes still on the photos. "It's probably harder for him, though. Being Adesanya's younger brother... One call from him, and I wouldn't be sitting here."
Mill leaned forward, voice low but firm. "Whatever this is, we have to make it count."
Elaine looked up. "I heard you were supposed to pick two more soldiers?"
"Yeah," Mill replied, glancing toward the tent's entrance. "They should be here any minute."
"I can't just wait to get this over with," Mill said, dusting his boots with a rag. "Hmph, I think we can. Or at least, we should," Elaine said. "Why?" Mill asked, really surprised. "We need to ensure the artifact is retrieved, and if possible, end the threat of the Dread. I'm pretty sure you don't want your unborn child to even hear of it," Elaine points out. "Hmm, I guess you're right," he said.
Just then, two men step in with deliberate grace. Both were in soldier uniforms, but one had a lean but solid frame. Mere looking at it, anybody with a mature mindset will not underestimate him, brown haired and eyed, with a long blade, curvy edge.
While the other was a towering figure with sharp Asian features, boots pounding the flagstones with commanding force, each step echoing authority. Broad shoulders squared and chest puffed out, they radiated readiness, muscles taut beneath their military uniforms.
"Here comes Han, the only known unknown survivor of The Dread," Mill announced, nodding toward the imposing warrior, whose fierce gaze could pierce steel.
"Hmph, the only 'known unknown' survivor. What a title," Elaine said. "Known in the sense that very few people in the Military know, and unknown in the sense that most of the world don't know," Mill explains.
As Elaine nodded slightly, " Jasper here," the lean guy said.
"Hi," Han greeted, his voice unexpectedly soft and cute, sparking a roar of laughter from the group, apart from Elaine who just gave a chuckle. Han included. "Oh, come on, you lot know that's not my real voice," Han said, now in a deep, resonant tone, grinning.
"How did you do it?" Elaine asks.
"The cute voice or...", as she shot him a skeptical look.
"Oh, in the Dread, right. I just skimmed the edges," he said, driving his curved palms forward, eyes squinting, "and came back out," he said, chuckling, .
"Why the theatrics?" Mill asked, leaning back with a smirk.
Han settled onto a crate, eyes glinting with mischief. "We're headed into a place no one's come back from. Might as well squeeze in all the laughs we can get."
"You guys are not going to die," Elaine declared firmly, her voice steady.
"Amen!" Jasper bellowed, raising a fist.
"And you are?" Han asks.
"Elaine," she simply replied, meeting Han's gaze with a spark of defiance in her eyes, totally ignoring her given titles.
"No way, the Battle Mage of the technological era, Ranked 5th among the Elite Soldiers in the whole of Veldron," Han confirms, in awe.
"Huh," Jasper let's out a sigh of relief. "I'm in good hands," he assures.
Early morning, the next day, they had geared up, packed with enough ammunition. At around Eight O'clock, "Let's go, let's go!" Mill's voice was a harsh command, pushing his team toward the waiting chopper. They were already in the air, the world shrinking below them, when a figured ran out of a tent, breathing heavily, heavily enough to catch Elaine's eyes, like he had run all through the camp from the gate. "Is that Joe?" she said, really shocked. Then he looked up, only to see her already in a Chopper. She pressed her hand against the cold glass, a frantic need to be certain, the glasses cracked. Yes, her emotions were riled up. His eyes were bloodshot and raw, and the sight of him twisted something inside her. He reached out to her as he fell to his knees, and she felt a powerful, gut-wrenching urge to leap from the aircraft, to run to him and hold him. But the chopper only carried her farther and farther away, leaving them with nothing but the echo of each other's memory.