Terran Fight

Chapter 13: Welcome Home

The city of New York had crumbled, buildings big and small were shattered to pieces. Cars were thrown off course, and heavy damaging winds barreled down on the city. It soon proved to be "inhabitable". But there was one good fortune. The people. The civilians of New York were evacuated to leave in advance long before the bomb had breached Earth's atmosphere. They were directed to another city and were being held inside safe zones until further notice. Of all the calamity coming down on Earth, Alex was the most effected by it. While he said he'd join he military to protect the people, he couldn't help but feel sorry for his mother Earth being destroyed little by little. The last major battle within the planet's orbit ended. Back on Earth, Alex and his sister decided to visit the one place a soldier would return to from months of fighting. The one place they were always longing to go back to.  Their home.

"You think she's here?" Alex said as he knocked on the door.

"She's here. She has to be." Rene replied. The door opened.

Standing in door was Alex and Rene's mother, Nicole Cooper, holding a bowl. Her eyes widened as she took in a deep breath and dropped her bowl. A tear rolled down her cheek as she stepped forward and grasped her children. Alex started to cry as well as he embraced his mom. Rene did the same. Alex's heart beat wildly as tears fell to his feet. He hadn't seen his mother in such a long time. Nicole spoke with a happy tone, while still crying.

"Alex......Rene......you're home. Thank god, you kids are home."

"Mom..........." Alex replied.

Alex and Rene stepped inside their house and were soon blasted with a feeling of relief. The home had a welcoming warmth to it as they noticed a few changes in it. Alex hadn't been home for almost half a year, and yet it felt like it was his first time stepping inside. The decorations in the house gave off a shining appearance as they filled the rooms with love and care. Alex walked up to his room and stepped inside. It was still in the condition he left it. Clean and organized. A picture stood at his desk. It was a family picture of him, Rene, his mom and dad. Alex remembered the thought of his dad dying at the hands of the Terran. He returned back to the kitchen, where Nicole made tea.

"It sure has been awhile since i last saw you two." she said. "Especially you Rene. Have you been eating correctly?" Rene blushed.

"Yeah yeah of course i have." she replied as Alex giggled. Nicole turned her head to Alex.

"Alex, how is the Exos Corps treating you?"

"It was hard in the beginning, but it's all good now." he replied bowing his head. "I suppose you heard about what happened to New York."

"Yes. Honestly it broke my heart to hear the city had been blown up. After it's been with us for so long."

Alex sipped his tea, and replied "Listen Mom, i'm sorry. About what i said that day when i wanted to go into the military. Sorry i yelled at you-"

"It's okay." Nicole replied cutting Alex off. "I understand. You really are your father's son. When you first told me you wanted to fight, yes i was upset, but you came through to me."

"I did?"

"Yes. Now listen to this: your father knew about the Rift Gate. He kept the secret from you because he didn't want you to suffer what he did."

"What do you mean?" Rene interrupted.

"15 years ago, your dad participated in the First Human-Terran War, which of course lasted a full year. Your brother was just being born at the time. While doing that, he told me about how he first came into contact with the Rift Gate. Said that after he touched it, he had constant visions of this.......this red explosion-."

Alex dropped his cup to the floor and it shattered into pieces. Rene jolted her head to where he was sitting, asking what was wrong with him. He stood from his seat and walked over to the window, placing his hand over his right eye. The flashback to when he touched the Rift Gate played in his mind. The red explosion did as well. Alex didn't know any answers to anything. Why was the explosion happening? What was the planet it was over? How did it happen? And more importantly, who or what caused it? Alex was still lost in a trance, sweat covered his faced as his eyes weren't looking straight.

"Alex!" Rene yelled slapping him. "Snap out of it!" He came back to his senses.

"Alex are you okay?" He looked at his mother and began to settle down.

"I'm fine." he replied. Alex sat down back at the table. "I've just been through a lot." 

"Oh, Alex I've been meaning to ask you this. How's your girlfriend?"

"G-Girlfriend?!" Alex replied as his cheeks became red. "What do you mean?"

"That red head i use to see you with all the time. She joined the military with you. Chelsea i think her name was." 

"Mom! She's......not my girlfriend! Just a friend.........!"

This made Alex remember the moments her secretly tried to kiss Chelsea, but failed. The blood was boiling in Alex's head as his older sister constantly teased him. Alex was even more embarrassed.

"Ooooooh!" Rene said. "Alex is in love huh?"

"S-Shut up! It's not what you think."

Nicole continued.

"All right that's enough Rene. Keep Alex in check for me. I don't want to have to become a grandmother too soon." Alex fell to his knees, his face as red as an apple.

After catching up Alex went back to his room and plopped onto his bed. The sun was going down as the day ended. He had to get some rest for an assignment tomorrow. As he laid onto the bed he started to feel more comfortable. He hadn't laid in his bed in half a year, but it felt like landing on a mountain of pillows. It was almost as if the weight of the world, and the protection of humanity against the Terrans was lifted from his shoulders. For once, at least until tomorrow, he could rest. Rene walked into his room and laid beside him. Her black hair shined in the moonlight.

"Hey." she said. "What happened earlier?"

"I don't know what you mean." Alex replied.

"You dropped your cup, and acted like you were lost in space."

"Oh....that. Well, about what mom said. How dad saw that red explosion. When i touched the Rift Gate, i saw the same thing."

Rene sat up and felt surprised. "What? Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.

"I didn't want you to worry."

"I'm your big sister! I worry about you constantly!"

Alex sat up as his sister began to softly cry. Ever since he joined the Exos Corps, Rene was scared day and night for Alex. She'd always imagine the worse possible outcome for him. But Alex said otherwise. He placed his hand across her face.

"I'm sorry, if i worry you. But, i promised dad i'd survive this war. I won't go down that easily." Rene leaned in and kissed Alex's forehead. His face was red once again.

"Let's come see Mom again sometime." Rene said falling asleep on Alex's lap. 

Alex looked outside his window at the rising moon. His red eyes glowed in the lit darkness as his gray hair hung over them.

After saying goodbye to their mother, and promising to come back again, Alex and Rene left New Alexandris toward the Exos Corps headquarters. They arrived and made their way inside. Alex was greeted by Chelsea with a hug. Rina and Noah arrived as well.

"Where'd you go yesterday? I didn't see you since we got back on the planet." Chelsea asked.

"I had to see someone i haven't seen in a while." Alex replied. "What about you guys?"

"I went to visit my parents." Noah said.

"I left to see my dad." Rina added.

Alex patted Chelsea's shoulder and left toward the armory. He picked up a helmet and observed it, while remembering the day he joined the military. The alarms went off. An intercom came through.

"Warning! Hunters sighted in the southern part of Axis City!"

Alex ran toward his Mech, gun in hand.