another mech story: chap 1

"JUMP!"

He sighed, wondering why he was called up for this training. Hadn't he passed it months ago already?

Hotshot: that was what they call him. The fastest ever. The fastest to past all tests and training. And the best of it all: he's human. Not like..they-know-who of whom they wished not to speak.

Shamless bunch of -

"Yo, hotshot!" A huge slap from behind almost knocked him off his feet. "How was maintenance?"

Ben Killen, one of the rookies who rose fast to leadership. A gunner by post which set tongues wagging: someone in his team was holding a smiliar weapon which was bigger than his. "I know, I know, you shouldn't be here, " he apologised, seeing his hotshot's glare, "but think of it, you can get to handpick-"

"Not interested." Came the all usual deadpan voice. "I'm going to the arcade."

"Hold on-" Ben clamped his hand on his subordinate's shoulder. "Come with me."

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"Here you are."

After a looooong walk, countless hologram security passes and dizzy turns he found himself standing at the door, only to stare at some people who were staring back at him.

"Gentlemen, i'd like you to meet our final mate for this mission. On second thought-" Bill paused for an effect (which he got no reaction) -"milady and gentlemen."

"Hardly unimpressed."

He was about to retort when he realised who he would be up against.

Aeily: Alien-Evolutionised Intelligence Loves You. Quite a name to be given to a green semi-transparent alien which spanned almost the height of the room. Its face is to be reckoned with: the usual triangular soul-less black sharp eyes. No one knows where it comes from but it was rumoured to have lived since Time I. It had been light years since Time II..the One to unite between humans and electronics...

"Your thoughts precisely...rookie."

He let that comment passed as he was too tired from boredom to think of any retort. It was rumoured that Aeily could destroy almost anything anytime. His eyes fixed on a -

"Girls," he snorted, "what good could come out of them."

"Why you -!"

"That's enough, Mozzie." Ailey's voice commanded.

"Mozzie?"

Bill laughed, "Keila Stri, 1st Noble of Strikon. Surely you must have listened to some of my briefings."

Strikon: Strike Commanders. The ones who were assigned to kill without hesitation, be it friend or foe. "Ah, i see why. Mozzie..i've never seen such a pink-red-mix of parched hay on someone. 1st Noble you say? Did they make a mistake?"

Bill slapped his head to his face. "Here we go," he groaned, "Ailey, my apologies, really," he tried raising his voice above Mozzie's high-pitched retorts.

A soft chuckle was heard from a corner. He stopped his retorts at the - he snorted - girl and almost - much to Ailey's surprise..and approval - simultaneously turned to the direction.

A bespectacled-youth, almost his age, his face hiding beneath his long light blue hair, realised he had been 'found' looked up in surprise. "Oh hello," he smiled.

"Noi Akirn," Bill addressed the youth by his family name first.

Noi. The generation which was rumoured to be the offsprings of...

"Keilem," Ailey's voice interrupted his thoughts. "I wish to speak with you."

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"I am truly sorry to call you at a time like this. Tea?"

It was strange as to how Ailey would hold a teapot and pour tea into teacups - and drink tea?

Ailey gave a soft lady-like chuckle. "Don't you understand the meaning of the name they gave to me?"

"Yes I do."

"Keilem."

"Yes, Your..ah.." how would one address someone - somebeing - awesome and beyond any logical comprehension?

"Ailey will do," Ailey smiled at the boy who was blushing in embarrassment.

"Keilem. Do you remember?"

He shook his head, refusing to talk about it. "Rumours," he murmured, his voice slowly deepened as he recalled the gossips he had heard. "I cannot be -"

"She is, Keilem. Your cousin."

Keilem shot up from his seat. "I'm leaving."

"Keilem," Ailey's voice commanded.

"You have no -"

A shrill throbbed in his head as he squeezed his palms against his temples, his mind begging it to stop.

"Keilem."

He had no choice but to sit and hear.

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"Allo, hotshot!"

Keilem caught his leader's hand. Ben's eyes widened in shocked silence at a glare so hostile that he had never experienced before. With that, the 'hotshot' left him - in silence.

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"Hi."

He closed his eyes in exasperation. Yet perhaps this voice is the voice he needed to talk to now.

"May I?"

He nodded, eyes still closed.

They sat side by side in silence as they breathed in the fresh wind, soothing them for a while.

"Small world, don't you think?"

"Yeah."

"Who knew we could be - oh..I'm sorry.."

"No, it's fine." He blinked, realising what was said. "Hold on, what -" He froze. He knew. He understood. "So it's true," his voice trailed off in amazement. "You are...my nephew?"

"Please," Akirn waved it off. "I hate generation distinctions."

"I'm sorry. I didn't, really. Look, I don't have much memories of my cousin and how I got to know her -"

"Ailey spoke to you."

He ran his hand through his soft brown hair. "Yeah," he shrugged. "They want me to believe what they want me to believe."

"Quiet!" Akirn's eyes widened.

"So..oh..right..I'm not supposed to..okayokay," he put his palms up at his relative, "I get it, I get it."

Akirn looked intently at him. "You are taking this well."

"Am I?" He snorted. He lifted his gaze to the sky, following a drifting cloud. "Never, Noia," he replied, using the actual family codename. "Never."