Our Protectors

Our Protectors

There was a desperate tension in the air as the United Central Command staff rushed about looking for answers to a seriously bad problem that was unfolding before their eyes. 

The entire Battle Complex was on the move and quickly approaching the solar system, call-sign "Hope." The Complex were not just one species, but a group of species, collected over the eons. They held tight to a rigorous and demanding religion that embraced their evil. They saw themselves as the cleaners of the universe. An organization that ensured our reality remained clear of weakness and stupidity. As such, they prized such things as brutal tactics and cruel treatment. Only the succession of a beings dark actions could lift a Complex member to a higher station where he or she could destroy those who tried to hold them down or destroy them. This cleansed the Complex of the weakest minds and physical traits, leaving the cream to rise to the top. 

Centuries ago, almost 12,500, the Battle Complex received word that there existed a creature that possessed both a soul and a physical body. This hybrid did not exist anywhere else in the known universe. All of the beings that the Complex had either destroyed or assimilated had a physical body, but no register of a spirit, which led the Complex to believe this talk about the hybrid was rumor. However, when a scout returned from an unknown and completely unheard of system, they brought with them the evidence that the hybrid did exist. And there, before the Complex' Leadership Council, was physical evidence that this creature had both the body and the soul. Two beings in one. Never ending-unlike them who had to undergo a transformation from physical to spiritual before they could ascend into the next Dimension. These beings were born with this gift and the Complex wanted it for themselves. If they could not reverse engineer it then they didn't want anyone else having the technology either. The Council decided, then and there, that they only needed one of the beings. The remainder should be put to flame and blade. So it was ruled and the Complex was on the hunt. 

There existed an alliance of beings called the "Free Systems." They discovered the hybrids 15,000 years ago when the hybrid was still so young. By accident, they also discovered their unique form and they felt it was their duty to protect the hybrid at all costs. They knew of the Complex, but had not encountered the beings. Not until the Complex started their hunt for the hybrid. 

The Complex invaded a FS world. The battle was so one-sided that other FS members finally dropped a series of fusion weapons into the atmosphere of the planet and destroyed all of the living things. They felt it was more merciful to do that than it was to leave them in the hands of the Complex. However, this friendly fire led the Complex to other FS worlds. Some were more prepared than others. In several cases, the FS managed to turn the Complex back, beating their foe until their forces were scattered amongst the starts. It was one of these worlds that was charged with the protection of the hybrids. 

It was decided, long ago, that the FS would hide the hybrid world in plain sight. Jam all signals and all evidence of life. They would prohibit anyone from making contact with the hybrid planet. "They must believe they are alone," The FS Leadership Cast decided. "If they get the Complex' attention, we may not be able to protect them. Not all of them." 

A hybrid scientist and her team discovered a technology that permitted them faster than light communications. They built dishes and antennas that the FS sabotaged. The FS even put politicians in place to confuse and slow the progress, but the hybrids were driven. They were a child that was getting ready to scream just as a wolf entered the home. Then they did scream. 

On December 12, 2043 at 7:22AM, the communications array called Gabriel broadcast a wide welcome message that covered almost a light year and traveled at 4.5X the speed of light. The Complex intercepted the message on March 1, 2044 at 5:01PM. 

The FS went to work to hide the hybrid planet. They placed transponders on other worlds and replayed the same message. They put the message on drones and sent the drones toward the center of the galaxy. They even put them on their own ships and attempted to lure the Complex away. Nothing worked. The Complex was focused. 

A massive battle took place just outside of the hybrid system. Thousands of ships, millions of beings. Weapons of all sorts and size were fired and so many died that a vast area of space was almost filled with debris and bodies. The FS did their best, but their best failed as the Complex were finally able to find a weak spot in their defensive sphere. 

The Complex entered orbit over Earth on July 1, 2054 at 1:00PM. Drop ships made for city centers where the hybrids were converged. As the command drop ship landed, there were dozens of hybrids gathered about. The alien space craft opened its doors and soldiers with rifles walked out and down the lowering ramps. They instantly fired on the humans, killing dozens of them and leaving many more wounded and dying. 

"Sir," an officer said to the Commander, "it's another human infestation." 

The Commander stepped over a few of the dead and put a boot on the back of the head of a wounded woman. He pulled out his pistol and shot her. "Kill them. End this outbreak now before it spreads. Bring me that hybrid." 

One of the soldiers picked up a dog and brought it to the commander. "We found you." He said, sneering at the animal. "We will unlock your secrets. You will reveal your uniqueness to us." 

The dog snapped at the Commander who dropped him. "Not bloody well likely, Complex." The dog said. "We have been waiting for you for a very long time. It is our turn to clean out the infestation. It's time we ridded ourselves of the Complex." 

The Commander suddenly folded over, his spine splintering through is back as he screamed in terror. The other soldiers were suddenly crushed like cans and dropped to the ground. The drop ship was sent into the sky before it exploded. 

"Good boy," a human man said as he was dying. He reached out with a weak hand and gently stroked the dog's coat. The dog wagged his tail. "We will protect you, hybrid. Sleep now."