CHAPTER 1

Ad' Drin, August 22, 3577, 2056 Hours

Hera looked up to the night sky. The lime-greenhaze slowly changed into crimson red, as ithad every night for two years now. The calamitydestroyed the first human empire and brought itto ashes under a shower of Lime-Green Stew. Allthat remained was anarchy: decaying city-statesand occupied bands of survivors, slowly watchingAd' Drin die.

Death came in lime-green clouds that explodedinto life with four small ships on every humanworld, in the confederacy as well as arc worlds.This unique energy fell in tendrils, touching randomspots on the planet. All it touched fell dead, rotted,or in most cases changed life, turning into mutantsor bringing the dead to life.

Hera picked at a small cut on his right forearm.He gazed back at the small city, one of the fewremaining on the south end of the continent. Asmall lime-green cloud sat over the ruined city.Hera could see small lines begin to condense inthe cloud. "Tendrils need to hurry. They don't havemuch time."

Hera was a young man, barely nineteen now.He was six foot two, with skin darkened by thesun, and messy black hair and red highlights.

Hera came up to the gates of the small city,catching his breath. He began to speak. "You needto warn the people of this city. Tendrils are aboutto fall."

One of two guards approached Hera, yelling athim. "Piss off, boy. The city gates are closed. Comeback in the morning."

"Damn it, you, the Lime- Green cloud is goingto fall y'all need to warn someone or people willdie."

"That cloud has been lingering for weeks. If itwas going to fall, it would have by now!"

"Beat it, kid!"

The man raised his weapon to scare Hera awaybut quickly fell to his knees. Hera punched the manin his lower jaw. The second man jumped fromthe barrier. Hera had him on the ground beforethe man realized what happened. The small blacksword opened, exposing a barrel. "Tell whoever incharge they need to release everyone. Tendrils areabout to fall. Do ya get me?"

Hera ran to the city as sirens were being alarmed.He began to make his way to the center of the city.His goal was to help people escape. He would stayto the last minute. Hera stopped at the sound ofsinging. "Fucking Christians, no imaginary beingis going to save you." Hera raced to the music. Alarge church dominated the street.

The secular wars unified humans and gavebirth to Coelum Simia, a new race of man, muchstronger than their predecessors and brought bygenetic tapering and exotic climates. Each wascapable of doing superhuman feats of strength;these humans had more animal-like stances andmovements. Children of the gods waged war withsecular simians to purge them from the planet.They were blamed for the destruction of the Earth'secology, disease, and causing needless deaths. Butseculars outnumbered religious three to one, andthe war was lost.

People's singing in the church turned intoscreams as Hera blasted the doors open. "Everyone,you need to evacuate the city. Tendrils are aboutto fall."

"We know, my dear boy, that's why we arehere. We are ready to return to god."

"You can't believe that, sir."

"How many churches, young man, have youbarged in, asking for people to go with you, andhow many left in your hands?"

"Actually this is my first. I usually let y'all die."

"We are here to give our souls to the savior,son. All we ask for is peace."

"And you shall have it. Sorry for interruptingyour sermon, sir."

"All is forgiven."

"If anyone wants to come with me, you shall,but I'm going to leave now." Hera lowered hisweapon and went for the door.

"Wait." Hera turned to see a young girl, who wasmaybe seventeen, with tears in her eyes. She hadpale skin and orange hair with blue highlights.

"Star, if you go with him, you abandon god."

"No, Mum, I don't. He's not my god. He'syours."

Star took off after Hera, her mother screamingfor her behind her. Hera was waiting for her outsidethe church. "Let's go."

Star had trouble keeping up with Hera's pace,but she did her best. Chaos roamed the street, asit was every man for himself.

"Come on, we are almost to the city gates."Hera grabbed the girl's arm and hauled her throughthe crowd.

Star turned her head to look behind her. Tendrilsbegan to touch down. Long arms of lime-greenexotic radiation wrapped itself around every objectit touched. Then with no effort crushed buildingto their foundations. Blue lighting shot from thearms, striking people in the streets or blanketingthem in lime-green haze. Star and Hera made itout of the doomed city. Hera ran for the crowd ofpeople.

"Hey, can I have everyone's attention? We needto keep moving. The cloud has killed the city, but itwill not remain such for long. There's a safe zoneabout ten miles south of here. I suggest you getmoving or die this night. That is where I'm going.Please, everyone, follow behind me."

Hi' Ko Safe Zone, August 23, 3577, 0410 Hours

Hera was in front of the crowd, leading them tosafety. "What's your name, girl?" Hera asked.

"Star," the girl said, turning her tired eyes tohim. "Star Cassidy."

"Star Cassidy sounds like a cowboy," Herasaid.

"What is your name?" Star asked.

"Hera Kila' Ka."

"Hera, I believe that first I heard that name ona man before."

Hera laughed. "My parents were hippies."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Hera," Star replied.

"Mum's not dead, nor is my father or youngersister. They are all alive in T' ne."

"Okay, sorry, I guess. What is it you exactly doaround here in the wasteland?"

It took some time before Hera answered, "Iroamed the waste to help survivors, tell themwhere they need to go to find T' ne. Food, safety,weapons, rights, and a clean slate are waiting forthem there."

"I take it that's where we are not going, is it?"Star asked Hera.

Hera pulled out a cigarette from an unusedammo pouch. "Nope, we are not. T' ne is over twohundred miles away, and I am no babysitter. I'mtaking everyone to Hi' Ko. There you have a placeto live and work. If not, you'll leave with clotheson your back. Speaking of which, we are here."Hera ran in front of the crowd, stopping them."If everyone would wait here for a minute, thankyou." Hera walked to the gate of Hi' Ko City. Hewas approached by men in hazmat gear.

Star tried to hear what they were talking about.She tried to get closer through the crowd but wasstopped by one of the men in biohazard gear. "Hey,what the hell! Let go of me!"

"Sorry, ma'am, it's protocol."

"Hera, please help me!"

"No, you all are not my problem anymore!"

"Hera!"

Star and other survivors were taken by the menin hazmat, through the city gates. Other men werein civilian attire. They opened a giant hangar door.Star began to cry. She knew what would happennow. "What are y'all doing to me?" The men stayedsilent. "Answer me, damn you!"

Star was thrown into the wall. The men beganto search her for valuables, as they did witheveryone who made their way to Hi' Ko. "No,leave me alone. Stop it, please." Star was on thecold cement, hugging her body. The men beganto throw delousing power and other chemicals onher. "What the fuck! This burns!" Star tried to clearher eyes but was hosed down by water.

She was immediately thrown to her knees. Thewater was colder than she had ever felt before.Gasping for air, she still tried to yell, "Stop."

The water stopped as soon as it had started.Star was then drugged over to a chair in a room.Two female nurses approached her and began toexamine her.

One of the nurses pulled out a tablet and beganto ask Star questions. "What is your name?"

"Star. Star Cassidy."

"Age?"

"Seventeen."

"Any known diseases?"

"None. I was fine until y'all hosed me down withice water."

"Just a precaution, that is all. Here are yourpaperwork, key to your trailer, and directions. Anew life has been set for you."

"Well, it's a good thing I took a bath." Star tookthe envelope from the women, and they walkedaway. Star walked to a small box. Clothes that wereroughly her size were packed inside the box.

Hi' Ko Safe Zone, September 27, 3577, 0934 Hours

Star had a job now with everyone who cameto Hi' Ko. She worked at a small restaurant as awaitress. It was not a life she wanted, but shecouldn't complain. Her boss was an old man,toughened by hard labor but with the heart of asaint. Star took some drinks to some customers.

"Hey there, little girl." One of the men came upto her.

"Excuse me, sir, but I have to get back to workor get fired."

"No, no, I just want to talk, that's all." The mangrabbed Star and threw her on the table.

"Hey, assholes, piss off!"

His friends began to laugh at Star. "Gets themevery time!"

"No, leave me alone." Star looked around foranyone to help, but no one would help her. Theyall went about their own business.

"I would leave her alone, peanut dick, if I wereyou." Hera was standing in the doorway, puffingon a crush cigarette.

"Piss off, boy. This is none of your business!"the man holding Star called out.

Hera looked down at his cigarette. "You knowwhat really pisses me off? When I can't enjoy asmoke. I guess I will have to light another onewhen you're all dead."

"I said fuck off, you—" The man's sentencewas cut off. Hera's sword sliced the top half of hishead.

"You son of bitch!" one of the man's friendscalled out. He drew his weapon, sending orangebolts of plasma toward Hera. Hera spun his sword,parrying the plasma to the other friend and killinghim before he could react.

The man kept firing in vain, as Hera blockedevery blast. "You're dead." Hera parried the manlast bolt of plasma unto his weapon. He was blindedby a flash. When he opened his eyes, Hera wasstanding next to him. He raised his arm only torealize it had been cut off by Hera.

"You—" The man's body fell limp as Heraapparently did more damage the instant the manwas blinded by his own fire.

Hera cleaned his small sword with some papertowels and sat down. He pulled out anothercigarette from his pack and lit it. Hera took a longdrag and looked up at Star. "I'll take a sweet teaand your lunch special."

"It's canned soup," Star replied, staring blanklyat Hera.

"Well, that will be fine. I'll take some crackersto go with it."

Star fainted on the table near him, collapsing.

"Hey, wake up. My soup is getting cold."

1656 Hours

Star's boss came to Star. "You can go homenow. I'll see you at eight in the morning."

"Sir, what do you know about Hera Kila' Ka?"

"You can call me Peter, dear."

"Well, Peter, what do you know?"

"Hera Kila' Ka is in a world of his own. Not muchis known about him. He comes and goes as hepleases. He's rude but kind. He has helped manypeople here and elsewhere. If not for Hera, halfof this city would be dead. Hera's main goal is tofind people in the waste and show them where T'ne is, so they can start a new life."

"Doesn't he escort people there, Peter?"

"No, he just shows them the way to theislands."

"Fuck, I was hoping I could have him take methere. I know I have only been here a month, butit's time for me to leave!"

"Then why don't you ask him yourself, Star.I'm having a get-together tonight, and he will behere."

Star jumped up with excitement. "Yes, I will askhim. Thank you, Peter."

"No problem, dear. Be here at seven."

1910 Hours

Star was one of the first guests to arrive atPeter's house, so she waited for Hera to arrive.Guest after guest came, but no Hera. Damn it,when are you coming? Star looked impatiently ather watch. She quickly looked around to see if hehad come in. Nope, not in that corner, or that one.Fuck.

"Looking for me?"

"Shit!" Star jumped from her seat to find Herastanding behind her. "Hi, I guess."

Hera turned around and sat in a chair in thekitchen. Star pulled out a cigarette and slowly litit. "Never too young to start, huh?"

How am I going to ask him? He just turns awayfrom me. He's a dick. No, I will get him to take meto T' ne.

"Are you done talking in your head and readyto say what you want out loud?"

Star's hair flew as she turned her head to Hera."Yes, I am, Hera. I am ready. I want you to escortme to T' ne!"

The whole room grew quiet and looked atStar.

"No!"

"No? Why not?"

"Because I only show people the way. I don'tescort them there. I won't be responsible for simianor alien life, for that matter."

"Really, you're so willing to save lives but willnot take responsibility for helping them. You'rejust like any other typical asshole that the calamitycreated."

"I brought you here, Star. I saved your life.What more do you want? Shit, girls at least putout before they ask me for something."

The whole room began to laugh at Hera'sremark. "I can't kick you out, since this is not myhouse, but you know where the door is." Hera wentto take another shot from his bottle but crashedthrough the table.

"Holy shit," Peter said. "Those chairs aren'tcheap!"

"Sorry, Peter, but I planned it from the start."

Star reached in her bag for duct tape andproceeded to tape up Hera. "You plan to takeadvantage of him?"

"No, not that. I just want to talk to him whilehe's defenseless. That's all."

Star leaned over Hera, who was tied to a treein Peter's backyard, and poured water on him.

"Fuck no, Mommy, I didn't do it. I swear!"

"I'm not going to hurt you, Jesus fuck tits. I justwant to talk."

Hera tried to wiggle free from the tape butinstantly stopped when he realized it was fruitless."I already said no, Star."

"Can't I just follow you on this journey, and I'lljust jump on a boat to T' ne? I mean, you must gosee your family, right?"

"No, no, I don't. I've been out here for twoyears but not without contact. I can't have thaton my conscience if you get hurt. You're better offhere than out there. Wait, what are you doing?"

Star sat on top of Hera and began to make outwith him. Hera moved himself out of Star kiss."Silly girl, playing with my heart won't make metake you there."

"I'm not fucking you."

"Ah, get your hands off my no, no square!"

"What no no square, Hera are you some kindof wussy, Hera?"

"No, I'm not a little bitch."

Star leaned her head toward Hera. "Well then,Hera?"

Hera looked at all the duct tape around him,and then he looked up at the sky for a moment."We leave in two days!" Hera said to stop her.

Star jumped off Hera in excitement. "Really?You really mean it?"

"Yes, I do, even though it goes against my betterjudgment. I will allow you to come with me. Nowuntie me, woman!" Hera looked around, but Starhad gone inside. "Really, well, at least she left meher beer." Hera tried to free his arm to grab Star'sbeverage, but to no avail. "Damn!"

Hi' Ko Safe Zone, September 29, 3577, 0934 Hours

Hera had his gear ready for his trip, but all heneeded was Star. He gazed at the streets. Nothingbut people with no hope clouded the city streets.Can't save them all. Not my job.

"Hera, right behind you."

"Shit, woman."

"Sorry, but I've been here for some timenow."

"Damn it, you should have said something.Creeping on me—that's scary."

Star smiled. "What?"

"Nothing, I'm ready to go, Hera."

"All right, I got something for you." Hera pulledtwo small pistols out of a brown bag. "They aresemi-auto, but if you fire both in unison, they willfire automatic. You just need to find the rhythm."

"Thank you, Hera. They're new. Did they costyou a lot of money?"

"Yes, they did, but that doesn't matter. Theywill keep you safe."

"Thank you, Hera."

"You're welcome, Star."

CHAPTER 2

Wasteland, October 3, 3577, 0431 Hours

Star pulled off her boots. She and Hera hadstopped for a break, since the smell of rain maskedtheir odor. Star gazed under her big toe. "Ouch! Alarge blister, damn. Should I pop it?"

"If you want to, it will heal faster."

Hera walked over to the body of a zombie theyhad just killed and began to smell it.

"Hurry up. It seems they are all doing it now."

"Doing what now?"

"Mutants or zombies release a pheromone. Itsmells just like they do—a rotting bag of meat—butwomen can't smell it."

"Oh, okay."

"I don't know why women can't smell thepheromone, but now we can't stay here. Soremember that if you kill one, you invite others tothe tea party."

Wasteland, October 7, 3577, 1756 Hours

Hera and Star looked around at the city.Thousands of dead and mutated simians and Kopistood in their path.

"Ready, Star?"

"Is that a question or a statement?"

"Whatever you want!"

Star looked one last time at the city. "Let'sgo."

Hera jumped onto a semitrailer that was turnedover. "Kill the ones only in your path, and jumpfrom car to car."