Page 6 of Twin Warriors

Years passed in hopeless despair for them both as they traveled the darkness of space in the hopes of finding something that would once again give them purpose. A reason to continue living.

When their ship was attacked by a race of beings they had never encountered before, they found that purpose in the slaves they freed from the bowels of the Korok ship. Many of the slaves had been taken from the City of Mura, on a faraway planet. After returning the slaves to their home, a Arusian male approached them.

Commander Iron was an impressive male, with a wide, solid body and wise, dark red eyes. He told them of a place where they could live among their kind. Not Arusians, but enhanced beings. They could have a home, and fight for something good. That they would no longer need to drift alone in space, waiting to die.

Now, they faced yet another threat from the Korok’s. The traken vermin were getting more brazen with their attacks. No one in Mura would ever dare to attack The Iron Compound. Not unless they wished to die quickly. Yet this was the third attack in as many days.

They were up to something; he could feel it.

“How many this time?” Cole asked, coming to stand beside him.

“Thirty. They are all dead.”

“You know what this is, don’t you?”

Cane nodded, “Yes. They are testing our defenses. This is only the beginning.”

“What do they want? Why attack us in our home, where hundreds of soldiers live and train? It makes no sense.”

“Nothing the Koroks do ever makes sense.”

They both turned when they sensed another male approaching. Locking eyes with furious red ones, Cane waited for their leader and friend to approach.

“Any injuries?” Iron asked, taking in the dead bodies littering the large open space of the main garden.

The Iron Compound was a housing, training and headquarters to the enhanced militia forces in Mura. The city didn’t have any official form of authority to keep the peace and protect the innocent, so the Iron Militia took it upon themselves to do what needed to be done to make Mura a safe place for the millions that called it home.

“Six injured, none dead,” Cane spoke, meeting Iron’s eyes. “They attacked with minimal weapons again, the same as yesterday's attack. It’s like they wanted us to kill them. They barely fought back.”

“Are you alright?” Iron asked, gesturing to a long gash in Cane’s chest.

He glanced down at it, shrugging his mechanical shoulder, “It’s fine. My pain inhibitor is blocking the pain and my nano healing is already working on it.”

Iron nodded, turning to Cole, “Any news from Dio and his team?”

Cole shook his head, “No. They are still missing. We have searched all possible locations they could have escaped to... or been taken to if they were captured, but so far, nothing. I have sent another team out to search the Eastern Plains. Perhaps they were taken by the clan there in their ships.”

Iron nodded, letting out a long breath. His two metallic fists uncurled before he placed his hands on his hips.

“I spoke to Lace. He said Grom and the gang are up to something. They have abandoned all locations around the city and are holed up in the factory. Lace thinks they might be working with the Korok. He saw a small Korok ship land behind the factory and stay for over seven hours. When they left, there was a lot of activity inside. Whatever they are up to, we need to find out what it is, and stop them. If they are working with the Korok, it can only be something bad. Something that will cost innocent lives.”

Cane waited, seeing there was more in his commander’s eyes. As the seconds in command to Iron, he and Cole had come to know the male very well.

“What else, Iron?” Cane asked, crossing his arms over his still bloodied chest.

Iron sighed, “It looks like we have a thief on the grounds.”

Cane frowned, “What?”

“How would a thief get into the compound? Or around all the security we have here?” Cole asked, giving him a quick look.

“I do not know, but my staff tell me that over the last three weeks, food, clothes, bedding and other supplies have gone missing from the storeroom. We have searched the grounds and the residential buildings but have found no evidence of anyone stealing.”

“No one here would steal, Iron,” Cane said. “They have everything they need provided for them.”

Iron nodded, “I know, but someone is helping themselves to the storeroom. I have set traps in the hopes of finding who it is, but so far have found nothing. I was hoping…”

When Iron’s voice trailed off, Cane let out a groan.

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