Fog poured through the skyscrapers of New York City, hugging their frames tight as a lover. The building’s lights disappeared into nothingness, lost in heavy dew. It was a dismal setting that ate away at hope and valor, leaving a sour taste in the mouth. For some though, it was home. I reflected on how it reminded me of the end of days, the world after the apocalyptic war that I thought inevitable if tonight’s events went south.
Mark stood inches from my side and I could feel his warmth soothing my skin, making my goose bumps subside. I couldn’t tell if it was the heat or the intense focus in his manner but something in him made me feel calm and collected as if nothing could go wrong. He had his left arm extended outwards gripping Bell’s hand.
I was surprised at how much Bell had taken to her savior. She reacted to him like she would a father figure, tugging on him throughout the car ride, desperately needing his attention in any activity she pursued. Mark reacted well to the initial news of my true identity. Shocked initially, but understanding once I filled him in on the corruption within a sect of our own government.
Evo felt distant, looking into the horizon like there was something no one could see except for him; something looming, weighing on his actions. We all stood on the brim of Central Park, awaiting the army of VEGERS. They trickled in at first amassing like rain droplets into pools of water and soon began pouring out of alleyways and streets like a river.
The horde of system administrators were set up in the Great Lawn of Central Park. They had created an overlay for the entire area to look similar to the Zerg’s planet from Starcraft. Starcraft was a real time strategy based game where one was given the choice of three different races to battle each other on distant worlds. Terrans reflected the human race in the future, Protoss were an alien race with advanced technology and warp capability, and Zerg were primal aliens with a hive insect like existence.
The arena that the administrators had chosen looked as if cockroaches had evolved, laying waste to all resources, leaving a barren landscape in their wake. It had the ominous feel of a feeding ground that was moments away from erupting with millions of heartless insects. Patrols of Zerglings and Hydralisks were sporadically stationed throughout its entirety.
Zerglings were alien attack dogs with two extra mammoth scythe-like arms rising from their backs, meant to maim their target. They were highly aggressive, with raptor like speeds. The Hydralisk’s base was that of a snakes rising up to a wide elongated alien head. They also had two scythe-like arms as well but their main attack was shooting venom from their mouths, doing damage over time that eroded your armor. There was no simple way through, and just looking at it made you quiver with the sensation of failure before the fight.