• XenoFantasy

    Prologue: Shield
    Shield, an elite organization of special soldiers who possess supernatural capabilities. For every major city there are from thirty to forty Shield members to be dispatched by the High Officer that is stationed there. Shield members can be at the youngest ten years of age, however there are certain situations in which members are younger. To be a member of Shield you must have the basic ability of being able to “summon” a weapon to your hand, the weapon varies from person to person. Although it is possible to have more abilities, that ability is usable by all members of Shield. The organization Shield is known worldwide, yet it’s members choose to keep a low profile to avoid attention. Shield was formed not only to keep these powerful people on file, but also to fight off an entity known as Darkness. That is the main purpose of its existence.

    Chapter 1:Ryan

    “Today sucks,” I said as I sat down in my friend Ian’s corvette, “There’s no way we’re ready for the game tonight.” Ian looked at me and shrugged.
    “Yeah but we’re still going to win it, right?” he said.
    “I hope, if not my dad’s gonna be pissed.” I said as we pulled out of my driveway and sped off towards school.
    “No sweat for our starting quarterback! Just don’t screw up.” Ian said.
    “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” I said back.
    We arrived at school a little before the bell. As soon as we got there, our usual group of friends soon surrounded us, and we took our seats in the lunchroom to wait for first period to start.
    “Hey Ryan, ready for the game tonight?” Rochelle said to me as she grabbed on to my arm as if to say she owned me, which she didn’t. She had perfectly straight blonde hair with highlights and was tiny next to me at about 5’6”. She had a thing for tank tops and bellbottoms that I’ll never understand.
    “I guess.” I answered back.
    “Did you remember to do that English paper?” she said again.
    “Oh crap, no I didn’t.”
    “That sucks, hey don’t forget that we’re meeting up tonight before you have to play, alright?” she said again.
    “Alright but I have to make sure to do that paper.”
    “But you promised that we would!”
    “I did?”
    “Yes you did! You better not blow me off.” She said quite angrily. My head was beginning to hurt from all the frustration. My homework would be late, I need to spend time with Rochelle, and the team wasn’t ready for the game tonight. Time, I needed more time.
    That’s when it first happened. Everything went quiet; everyone around me stopped moving, as if someone had pressed the pause button on life. I looked around and everything was frozen, everything except one person, a boy I recognized from being in my grade.
    He was in black tight pants with chains on them, and a white collared shirt with a black hooded vest over it. He was leaning against a wall on the far side of the lunchroom all by his self. He was a bit short, about 5’4”, but the most distinguishable feature about him was his neck length, straight, snow-white hair. He was off in his own little world reading a very thick book. Suddenly his piercing blue eyes looked up from his book and looked around, his gaze then caught mine and we locked in a stare. He smiled at me and tilted his head to the side a little.
    As if by clockwork, everything snapped back into its original state. I was so flustered by everything moving again I fell out of my seat at the table. Everyone stared at me and laughed a little.
    “You okay there champ?” Ian said teasingly. I nodded and sat back up, feeling a bit nauseous. I looked around again for the boy from before, but he was no longer there.
    The rest of the day went along smoothly, more encouraging comments by friends and teachers for tonight, and before I knew it, it was game time.

    Chapter 2: Adam

    “Everything stopped?” said the High Officer. I looked around the bathroom again and continued our boring conversation.
    “Yes, that would be what a time stop is, sir.” I remarked back, honestly, I think a High Officer shouldn’t be allowed to ask stupid questions, its just plain stupid.
    “Watch your tone with me, did anything else happen? No Darkness appeared?”
    “Nope none. I would have noticed that, and I’m POSITIVE the other guy would have too.”
    “Other guy? You didn’t mention another guy!”
    “Well you failed to ask if I was the only one unfrozen didn’t you?” I said rather perky.
    “Will you stop giving me attitude, I’m your High Officer damn it!” he said in his serious voice, this guy is way too stiff.
    “Alright fine, yes there was another guy unfrozen, his name is like, Randy or Ryan or something. He’s not exactly my cup of tea.”
    “Hm, then my guess he’s the one who froze time. The ability to stop time is exclusive to one person, you should know who.”
    “Oh really now? I have no idea chief.”
    “Don’t you remember any of your basic training?”
    “Do you think I do? Enlighten me.” I said as a red haired freshman walked into the bathroom. He stared for a minute, watching me talk into my cell phone as if he was going to make a comment about it. I stared at him back with a serious look on my face and made a move as if to punch him and he ran out of the bathroom, it pays off looking scary.
    “The one with the ability to freeze time is known as the Iris. The Iris will have the ability to shift the balance of power to either our side or the Darkness. That’s what the prophecy foretold.”
    “Isn’t that what the researchers at High Command foretold?”
    “It doesn’t matter! They’re very qualified to tell us whatever the hell they want!”
    “That’s a smart idea…” I said as I lit up a cigarette, this man was beginning to annoy me.
    “I want you to monitor this fellow, watch his every move, if he did use his powers there is no way the Darkness didn’t pick up on it. They will probably attack some time soon. You are to protect this boy at all cost do you understand?”
    “Is this an official mission? Or am I just babysitting?” I asked. All I heard on his end was a click signaling he hung up on me. I clicked my phone shut and sensed some one coming so I flicked my cigarette in the last toilet and headed out the door, where one of the more round deans stopped me.
    “Were you smoking in there?” he said in another serious voice, people need to learn to chill.
    “Now why would I do a silly thing like that? I did see a very suspicious freshman in here though, he had red hair if you’re interested.” I said as I walked away not caring about the stupid lard a** anymore.
    The passing period bell rang, indicating that first period had ended. I saw Ryan exit his first class and proceeded to follow the giant.
    He was tall, really tall. Around six foot ten. Star player of the football team in his khaki shorts, flip-flops, and light blue polo, his hair was short blonde and gelled up in this annoying preppy way. I couldn’t believe this guy was supposed to be the Iris, how freaking typical.