The boy with the reptile eyes salutes the large figure coming towards him and the figure salutes back. The figure was human, some sort of military hotshot that had no idea what was going on. The boy's people were still supposed to treat him with respect, for now. When the Time of Seeing comes, the old order will disappear. No longer would the boy be a slave, but instead, a conqueror.802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclPa3DH2yr
   The boy stares at his fellow black-eyed companions that emptily stare straight ahead at the lines of Inimicus soldiers facing them. The empty armory's walls echo off the sounds of the man's footsteps and the hushed breaths of the Inimicus amplifying them. The soldiers farther down in the line salute the man and stare straight ahead. 802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7C8P6RNZS
   It was the same drill every week. The human would give some sort of pep talk proclaiming that soon the terrorists would die and that they would "make the earth green again", that was a load of crap. First, the Inimicus would make the humans free them from their bondage and then they would make the earth decent enough to live on again. After they killed the Socius, that was. They were the only ones who could stop them from throwing off the chains that held them bound in servitude.802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9lpvuLEaO
   The human hotshot begins his weekly speech. "Brothers, you are considered monsters, evil, and…" 802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYH07Sixr3
   The boy fixes his grip on the semiautomatic riffle in his hands and accidentally cuts his hand deeply on a jagged piece of metal. Back ooze begins to drip down his cut hand and a big glob drops onto his shined black shoes. The liquid burns his skin but he stands still, in fear of attracting attention. The boy grimaces and slowly wipes the dark ooze onto his black uniform. It burns him like an acid; he holds back a grimace.802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPKc2Y5RnV
   Suddenly, the acid blood burns so much that he lets out a yelp and drops his weapon. All eyes turn to him. He wraps his hand in his sleeve and stares back. His heart beats so fast in his ears that he thinks it will burst inside of him. Instantly killing him. It wouldn't be such a bad fate compared to what might happen. His breaths come out as quick and scared.802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyUw4DIfzW
   The human walks over to him and tilts his head like a confused puppy. "Miles," he says using the boy's generic name. "Did you just interrupt?"802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEpoNeUvDe
   "N-no," he stutters, knowing what will come next. Face him, become a hero. "I-I m-mean yes." Then with more resistance and dignity. "Yes I did." The other Inimicus make what sounds like a cross between a saddened sigh and a gasp.802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFKTiwEPxv
   "You know what the penalty is for interruptions." The human jerks him forward by the arm. The boy would run, it wouldn't help him, and he needed to face his consequence like an adult. He was thirteen, an adult by Inimicus standards. And now, if the human wasn't lying, he'd be a martyr by their standards too.802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUewFhgWFa
   The human grabs him by the collar and wrinkles up the starchy fabric under his fingers; he pulls him forward and into the middle of the lines of Inimicus. His shoes were scuffed now, and his uniform was messed up. But it wouldn't matter if the human got his way. Then he'd be-802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRavj6sqgKN
   "Brothers," the hotshot says and makes the boy kneel against the ground with his head slightly lowered. His arms hang limply by his side and the blood that once stung him and smelled acrid stains his hands black. "Brothers." We are not your brother, the boy wants to scream. "We must be unified as one if we are going to win the war against the Socius. Any acts of sedition will be treated as treason, which is punishable by death." So it was true, the boy thinks as the word death lingers in the large armory like an uninvited guest.802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu0pydQbTc
   The human walks away and grabs a man out of the crowd. The man had a strange resemblance to the boy, beyond the hair, skin, and eyes. They had the same facial structure, hollowed cheeks, sunken eyes, and stubby noses. They were almost the same person. It was his father.802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztezfW3l8C
   "Kill him." The human points to the boy and thrusts a pistol into the hands of the boy's father. "Kill him."802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxi9tGRvGnw
   His father's face shows no emotion as all of the other Inimicus, but there's a sadness in his eyes. "Sir, I ca-"802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKKp9GTKuj
   "That was a command."802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJJg6bWuq2
   "Yes sir." His father stares into his eyes and sighs. The boy can practically read his thoughts. I'm sorry, I am so sorry. Forgive me. The boy nods. The father levels the pistol to the boy's head and pulls the hammer back.802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnxT9yWyuN
   He nods and looks down at his bloody hand. He had heard once that humans prayed before they died. That's what he would do.802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6yufxV6Ez
   "Look at him!" The man screams, "look at him!"802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtEHYFluYQ
   The boy looks up and manages to meet his father's eyes. He nods once. His father pulls the trigger. 802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMH9qoHHpQ
   A loud crack fills the armory.802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9ZhhyFnZB
802Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntfUIAp8Hv
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