I backed up slowly against the wall as I saw the figure's shadow from a distance. It didn't look like a person, but it was a big shadow. I watched it move across the wall until it suddenly stopped, then disappeared.
"Where'd you go, little fella?" I slowly got up and drew my sword, tiptoeing to where I saw the shadow. I peeked around the corner to see something small and black shoot around me. I swiveled to see the figure jump at me. I slashed it to the side, backing up slowly.
Is that... a dog?
The dog growled and shook himself, staring me in the eyes. It growled as it crept to the pod, plopping itself right in front of it.
"Mark must have sent you... along with the girl... to protect it." As soon as it heard the word Mark, it lashed out towards me, pinning me against the wall. I gasped and turned my head to the side.
I looked down to see it sniffing me. I turned my head in surprise to see it scratch at my hand, whimpering. He barked and wagged its tail, leaping on top of me to lick my face clean. I laughed, glad to be out of danger. I noticed that it had tags around its neck. I grabbed at them, reading what was inscribed on them.
"Dexter, huh? I'll give Mark props for being clever." I patted its head before standing up and facing towards the pod. I looked at the dog, who stared back at me with its green eyes.
I walked up to the cacoon, kneeling down to look at it. I pushed a button near the bottom, a keyboard popping out. I rolled my eyes in annoyance.
"Of course you would put a password on it..." I muttered, trying to think of possible answers.
"It's my daughter, of course I would put a password on it." I imagined Mark saying. I sighed, reminiscing about him again.
And remembering what I came down here for. I typed in Louisiana's name, only to be met with a big X wrapped around the pod. I growled and angrily typed in Tris and Mark onto the keyboard, but to no avail. I sat and thought for a moment, thinking.
"If I was an evil genius like Mark, what would I make the password be? It couldn't be too personal... and if that event earlier was only planned for me..." My brain clicked, and I set my fingers on the keys.
"A, V, R, I, L, O, N!" I stabbed the N key as the keyboard suddenly slid back into its hiding place. The pod flashed green, white smoke beginning to appear as I scooped up Dexter from off of the floor. I held my breath, waiting for the fog to clear.
I heard a soft yawn escape the lips of a young girl.
"Louisiana." I said. She looked up at me, shocked at my presence.
"Who... are you?" She stammered, taking a step back. Her nightgown swayed along with her movements.
"Listen. Just... listen to me. Hi, my name is Avrilon. I've come to bring you back to Alversia." Her hands immediately went to her heart, gasping in fear.
"Your father... he unfortunately passed away, along with your mother. I know it's really tough to believe, but you have to, OK?" I stretched out my hand towards her. She touched it softly, then grasped it tightly, running towards me with a hug.
"Are you sure... mommy and daddy are dead?" Louisiana begged. I sighed, nodding my head.
I can't believe it either, kid.
Louisiana noticed Dexter, switching places with me and the dog, cuddling it with her small and thin arms. She rubbed it behind the ears, and she giggled as Dexter rolled around.
"I remember you, Dexter." She smiled. I stood up, putting my hands on my waist.
"You know this dog? I wish Mark would've told me about him... he must have sent him here to protect you." She looked back at me and smiled. I looked out in front of me, sensing something. I shook my head and stretched. Walking up to Louisiana, I put a hand on her shoulder.
"Listen, this isn't playtime. I have to get you back up there. Earth isn't very safe to live on, especially for a long time. We can take Dexter with us, and can talk on the way back to base. Here, you can ride my back. Hop on!" Louisiana smiled as she climbed onto my back, struggling to maintain her balance. I readjusted myself and make my way out of the door. Dagger followed close to my heels, making sure he wouldn't be stepped on.
"Do you know how long you've been in that pod?" I groaned, even though she wasn't that heavy.
"For years, I guess... That learning program was going for quite some time..." Louisiana shook her head, looking down at the scrap metal that scraped against my feet.
"Avrilon? To be honest, I'm really scared to see what's up there..." The girl admitted, sliding off of my back. "I really wanted to see Daddy... and to ask him why he sent me down here..." She looked to the side, nervous and sad. I smiled, kneeling down in front of her.
"It was for your own good. He did something that he wasn't supposed to do... and he's just trying to keep you safe." I fixed her nightgown, tugging on the bottom of it so that it would fit her a little more.
"Now come on. We better hurry before it gets dark." I put Louisiana on my back once again and started to run, the camp coming into view after a couple of steps.
-~-
The two men and single women stood there shocked as Dagger and Louisiana met their eyes. Diana ran and grabbed Louisiana, pulling her into a tight embrace. Meanwhile, Jeffery and Frank stared at the dog, who was on them like a stain was to a counter.
"So this is what you came down here for? A dog and a girl? How did you even know they were down here? Is she OK? What's her name? And-" Louisiana giggled at Diana's constant chatter. I shook my head and looked at the two boys. They seemed content, better than how they were acting earlier.
"Listen, thank you for the info. And not killing me, that part was important." I smirked, pulling Diana off of Louisiana. "I can send a ship to get you guys off of Earth, and maybe help clear your names?"
Diana looked at the men nervously. They nodded in agreement. "That would be great... thank you so much..." She smiled, hugging me as well.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dexter's ears perk up. He started to bark loudly, skipping over to push me with his head.
"What is it, boy? Hun-" A steel girder gouged its way through the concrete building, separating us from the three. I held my arm over my eyes to cover them, as well as holding Louisiana close to me so she wouldn't be hurt. Dust covered me and the air around us. I looked up, my eyes widening with fear of what might have happened.
"Oh my gosh... HEY, ARE YOU GUYS OK?" I yelled over the divide. I heard coughing, then heard Jeffery scream back that everyone was fine.
"Alright Louisiana, it's time to go. Now." I picked her up in my arms, running outside of the building, and focused on what was above.
It looked like a dream. A nightmare.
Or both at the same time.
An Alversia ship was crashing down. A mass exodus of people, cars, and buildings could be seen tumbling and tearing through the blackened clouds. I turned my head, having it be too much for my heart to handle.
Louisiana tugged on my finger. "What's happening...?" She questioned, clutching onto my shoulders.
I sighed, looking up again.
"Your dad told me I had to come and get you. But now I know that I'm obviously going to have to do more than that." I peeked at Louisiana, who was shivering in my arms. I huffed and kneeled down, having the little girl slide out of my grasp.
It's time to save the future again.
-/-
~SkittlesBeats
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