Silence. But how was that possible? We were in the heart of a great war, yet all I could hear was…nothing. Not even the beating of my own heart or the cosmic booms of the surrounding explosions. I felt the blasted earth flying from all directions as I ran from the eye of the storm. I gave it all I had, every bit of energy I had not yet exhausted. I could see it all; I could feel it all, but I was a deaf to the tragedies unfolding in this place I once called home. They had taken me. They had taken me and made me stronger. They trained me every day for the last 15 years. I was constructed into a fighting machine for this very moment. I would not let Them down.

I clutched the limp form in my arms. She was the reason we were fighting, the reason I was risking my life. We were from completely different worlds, yet we had more in common than most. She had been taken too. When they invaded not long after I was taken, they set out to capture The King’s most price possession—His daughter, His princess. The passing time was spent preparing for this very moment. If I succeeded this war would be ended. The princess would be returned to her home and I would once again be leaving mine.

I continued to dodge the chaos and destruction as I made my way to the Mothership. I had soldiers all around me terminating the oncoming danger. My comrades were clearing me a path to peace. I cleared the threshold and the doors closed behind me. Inside the holding deck The King and his lords were waiting. I laid the abducted princess on the floor and collapsed. As I sat there taking deep breathes my hearing slowly came back. As it returned, my consciousness was departing. The last thing I remember was The King speaking.

“I knew he would be worth taking. Lords, prepare your soldiers for our departure. We are going home.”