Last of Earth

"RPG!"

I yelled to Carter. Carter and I ducked as the rocket propelled grenade spiraled past us and the rest of our squad.

We were behind a stone wall facing a hill that held a contingent of wrekers. Ever since the nuclear war that destroyed most of the world two years ago, what was left of humanity was sent into space to find planets that could support life. But some decided to stay. And that's where we came in. I was part of a small army dedicated to protecting the three main cities that were left intact on Earth. Each one had what was left of humanity on Earth. We called ourselves the "T.C.P." Tri-City's Protectors. Most people lived in the cities without complaint, but there where some that just weren't happy with city life. So they abandoned the city to live as scavengers. we called them wrekers because they tore everything apart to try to find something worth salvaging. I joined the TCP soon after my parent's were killed by some wrekers in our home. They had managed to get past the security fence around the city and went straight to the first home they saw.

I saw my dad's head brutally smashed in with a sledge hammer while trying to defend my mom. She was decapitated by a wreker wielding an old katana. I had hidden in my closet while this was happening. I was 14 and I knew how to fight. But I knew the difference between having an actual chance in a fight and complete suicide. So I hid. for two hours I stayed in my closet, not daring to exit for fear that I would end up like my mom or dad. After it had been silent for about two hours I peeked out and saw what was left of my parent's. I vomited at the sight of them. I cried for about fifteen minutes then pulled myself together. I called TCP and told them what happened. It was then that they offered to train me. A fourteen year old boy. They said they didn't care as long as I was willing to give my lfe to protect the citys. I had accepted on one condition, that I got to kill the men responsible for slaughtering my parent's. They agreed and I went with them. But not before I went into my parents bedroom and looked around for anything that might remind me of them. The bedroom had been completely torn apart. there was almost nothing left except for a piece of carpet that had been ripped up in the corner of the room. I looked under it and found a floor safe. The wrekers had tried to bash it open but to no avail. I asked one of the TCP soldiers if he could help. He followed me to the safe and looked at it. He then produced a bobby pin and a screw driver. He showed me how to unlock the safe and I peered inside. I took out the old 50. cal desert eagle that my father had inherited from his father. I also found an experimental silencer for the gigantic pistol. I knew my dad had been working on something for the pistol, I just never knew it would be that. The last thing I pulled out was a picture of my family all together. I shook my head as I returned to the real world. carter nodded towards the RPG man who was just finishing reloading. I took aim with the old M-16 I had gotten from the armory and sent a bullet through his head.

"Good shooting Jones!" Carter yelled over.

I nodded over to him and continued to fire at the wrekers. Two more went down before they started to retreat. Before we could celebrate though, one of the wreker's picked up the R.P.G. and fired the now reloaded grenade. I saw the rocket coming and tried to jump away. I was too late. The rocket struck the wall with a loud explosion. Shrapnel went flying through the air and hit me straight on. I felt white hot pain explode in my chest. I heard someone yell for a medic before passing out.

"Good, your waking up. I have to admit, you're one tough son of a bitch. Although, that could just be the Nano-mites working."

I awoke to find a somewhat large figure looking down on me.

"Nano-mites?" I pondered out loud.

"Yeah, you know. Those little robot's that help repair stuff. Anyway, we got an experimental kit from the last Mars supply drop. I still can't believe we have a colony out on that rock. Though I've heard they are aren't doing so well. Some disease has almost wiped out the entire colony.  Oh, by the way, my name's Durffin. Colonel Frank Durffin. No need to salute. From this point on you have been promoted to Sergeant first class. Congratulations Jones. "

I gave a surprised look at the Colonel.

"You really mean that I'm a Sergeant?" I asked.

"Yes, as long as you decide to help in an experimental project." said the Colonel.

"I knew there was a catch." I said with a sigh.

"Yeah well, it's not all that bad." He said tossing a file at me.

I looked at the cover to the generic red block letters spelling "top secret" on the front. I opened it and pulled out the information inside.

"If you choose to accept the modification's we would do to you, you would become stronger than any other man on Earth. You would be able to destroy everything in your path. If you got shot, the bullet wouldn't even slow you down. You would have power beyond all belief. Or at least thats what I'm told."

I continued reading the information inside the file. Apparently, if I accepted and allowed them to work on me, I would be encased in a suit made almost completely of Nano-mite's. The Nano-tech would allow me to heal faster than a normal man would, as well as create anything I could think of or from a memory bank in the armor.

"I heard you liked revenge. And if you accept, I can give you the location of the men who slaughtered your parent's."

An evil smile covered my face when I heard this.

"Revenge is a dish best served cold, Colonel. Let's do this thing.

Durffin looked at me with a smile. "I knew you couldn't resist." He began to walk out the door.

"Colonel, one last thing. What happened to my squad sir?" I asked.

He turned his head in the doorway and said three letters. "KIA." And walked out.

***

Princess Celestia stood on her balcony overlooking Canterlot. She had felt something shift in the flow of magic. Almost as if the magic in Equestria was getting pulled towards something. She heard hooves behind her and turned to find her sister behind her.

"You felt it too sister?" Celestia asked.

"We did. It is not a good feeling." Luna responded.

"Yes, it is not a good feeling at all. I should write Twilight and ask her to keep an eye on things down in Ponyville. Luna, if you would be so kind as to send extra guard's to the outlying cities, I would appreciate that very much."

Luna nodded and flew off towards the barracks. Celestia sighed and prepared to raise the sun. She felt the magic flow through her. But she felt something else as well, a pull on her magic. She tugged back with all her magic and felt something snap. A great pain exploded in her head as if million's of voices suddenly cried out in pain, and then were silenced.