Chapter 1

YEAR 2042
WASHINGTON, D.C.
[Tezuka Kejinto – 16 years old]

“Bastard! You owe me money!”

The 16-year-old teenager turns to a gang, about five people. Oh, for pete’s sake, he is trying to get home from the restaurant he works at. “It wasn’t part of the deal. I don’t owe you anything.”

“We agreed to make a few changes for the deal. I mean, you got what you needed, right? But then you sold it to someone else because you did not care about money, yes?” the leader of the gang crosses his arms. He is much older than the lavender-haired teenager. His cold black eyes land on his prey. He puts down his black hood, revealing his brown hair. “After all, you are part of the famous Kejinto family and you must have some wealth in your pocket, eh?”

“I have nothing to do with my family,” the Kejinto teenager’s icy blue eyes narrow at him. “You fucking son of a bitch.”

“Motherfucker!” One of the subordinates quickly takes hold of the sole teenager’s white tank top.

“The deal was done. We are not supposed to see each other again,” the teenager clenches one of his fists. “I gave you my money and you are to leave my family alone. That was the deal.”

“But, we want more. What’s wrong with that?” the leader nods his head at the subordinate, telling him to let the poor boy go. “We need more. Come on.”

The Kejinto teenager punches the leader’s face when he has the perfect chance. He begins running away from the gang who starts chasing after him.

When he gets to the road, he just crosses it without looking for upcoming cars. Honks. Screeches to stop. He hopes that the gang stops there, but they do not.

He keeps running and running. As fast as he can. He refuses to stop for anything. Not even when his body starts to give up on him. At least, until a certain person stops him when he dumps into him.

“Kid? Are you alright?” It's a policeman. He spots the gang who are very familiar. “It’s you again. You’re really getting on my nerves lately.”

“Aw, shit!” the leader mumbles angrily.

“Come with me to the police station. You too, kid,” the policeman says sternly. 

~*~

“Tezuka Kejinto. Explain now,” Starke stresses on the last word. He is not too happy to hear that his only son got in trouble with the local police.

“I don’t do drugs. Besides, it’s not your business,” Tezuka snaps at his father.

“Yes, it becomes my business when the drugs are involved. You are only sixteen years old! If your mother were still alive today, she would whip you into better shape!”

“Stop mentioning her every time I get in trouble!” Tezuka gets up from the chair fast. His face is very close to his father’s. “I hate you so damn much.”

Starke throws a fist to Tezuka’s face cheek, sending him to the floor. “Watch your mouth, brat!”

Tezuka spits out blood on the floor before he gets back up from it. He gives his own father a cold glare before he stomps back to his bedroom.

“Come back here! We are not done talking!” Starke yells, but his son cannot take any of the yelling anymore. He is tired of everything.

Tezuka slams the door shut. He slides down against the door until he is on the floor. Tears cannot stop streaming down his face. Why is this always happening to him?

He recently graduated at his high school, but he just plainly hated it and the whole society. After graduation, he decided to work at the restaurant as a bartender. The restaurant needed more workers so badly, so they hired Tezuka even though they knew it was illegal to hire a minor to work as the bartender.

His mother died of cancer, as of the result of radiation from nuclear wars, when Tezuka was only five years old. His father had been taking care of him since then. Well, it wasn’t the best childhood he had. His father was in the military and was always going away for pointless wars, leaving his son alone at home. Right now, he is home for a while and has been very abusive lately.

That’s correct. They are in the Nuclear War. It started twenty years ago. One single missile was shot at the United States for an unknown reason. California, to be specific. It wiped out the whole state. Only a few survivors escaped. Tezuka’s mother was one of them. The rescue team saved them. Starke was one of the rescuers – that’s how they met. They moved far away from the radiation area to Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, she could not fight back the cancer, which was the result of the massive attack.

When the attack happened, everything was in complete chaos. Nobody knew who started it and why it happened. Different countries started blaming each other without knowing the whole story. They just started attacking each other. The nuclear missiles killed millions of people. It was completely out of control. Because of it, Planet Earth set up its own barrier to prevent the outsiders from other planets, including their own allies, from entering in order to keep them safe.

Tezuka shakes his head when he realizes that it’s the war’s entire fault that happened to his parents. This war needs to be stopped right now. But how?

He wipes tears on his face and gets up in order to get on his old iMac computer. It takes a while for the computer to start completely. Since his father is a Marine, Tezuka decides to search for something different than Marine. He doesn’t want to be in the same group as his father. The U.S. Army is the first thing that comes to his mind, as he types ‘Army’ in a search engine. The first link that comes up is the homepage of Army National Guard. As soon as he finds the contact information, he immediately begins making calls.

~*~

NEW YORK CITY

[Ryu Mitsukai – 16 years old]

The teenager, same as Tezuka’s age, is pouting angrily. He crosses his arms and is staring hard at his history teacher. His stupid teacher has just accused Japan of starting the nuclear war. History is such bullshit.

During the war, the United States’ current enemies are Japan and South Korea. The United States is suspecting that South Korea may have started the nuclear missiles, and Japan is helping them. Especially when South Korea already has hundreds of missiles.

“Ryu Mitsukai, you’ve been quiet for the whole period. Anything to tell the class?” the teacher smirks, knowing that he is pushing Ryu’s buttons.

Ryu shrugs his shoulders. It's true that his features strongly consist of a Japanese person. “Why should I care? I am American, not Japanese. I was born here. My parents were also born here. Hell, even my grandparents were born here.”

The class bursts out into loud laughter. The teacher is not smiling anymore. Instead, he scowls at one of his students.

“Besides… how do we know if it’s Japan who started it? Nobody knew where the nuclear missile came from. It just came downward from the sky.”

“That’s it. Get out. It’s the third time this week that I kicked you out of the classroom!”

The class goes ohhhhh. Ryu rolls his eyes and begins packing his backpack before leaving the classroom. He hates this place anyway. Ever since the radiation from the attack on California had spread out to Washington State, his family had no choice but to move to New York City when he was only four years old. That was when the nightmares began.

During the investigation on the attack, they found out that the missiles may have come from the west… which means one of the countries in Asia may have started it.

Eh, whatever. Ryu decides to leave his school for home. He takes the subway and then takes a short walk to his home, hoping that his mother is not home. 

Sadly, he hears a voice he does not want to hear. “Who is there?”

“It’s me, mom,” Ryu sighs and takes off his shoes at the door. “I got kicked out of history class again.”

“Aw, I’m sorry, sweetheart,” his mother comes to check on Ryu. “Please remember that you are not the only one.”

“Still, those Asians are getting picked on only because of the stupid attack!” Ryu says angrily.

“It’s ok,” his mother smiles warmly, as she gives him a hug. “You know, you still have your family to love you.”

“I know,” Ryu sighs softly. “But… it’s not enough. Not for me. I just can’t sit around and let them insult me over and over. I want to fight for myself… and for the rest of people like me. I think I know why Knapp left us. He couldn’t just live in this miserable world.”

“No… no, please. Your father and I don’t want you to end up like your brother,” his mother says sadly. “We want you to finish high school first and to get a good job.”

Ryu frowns at the last sentence. “That’s your wish, not mine.”

“Then, what do you want?”

“To fight for our country, as well as our planet,” Ryu says firmly. “I will show them that I can fight for the United States, not Japan. I mean, sure, our ancestors came from Japan, but we were born here. We are the civilians of the United States.”

His mother smiles at him. “At least, I’m relieved to know that you are not running away. Your father and I are proud of you.”

Ryu returns his smile. His father is still at war somewhere in South Korea. They have not heard from him for almost three months. But, that’s normal for them. Five years before the incident in California, his father went to the war against Planet Volesmash, who wanted Earth’s expensive oil. He led the troops and conquered over twenty countries. At the end, Volesmash surrendered in order to get their land back.

“Do you want anything for dinner?” Ryu’s mother asks, about to enter the kitchen.

~*~

[Tezuka Kejinto – 16 years old]

He drops his bag on the floor. He is looking at the big sign that says, “Department of Defense.”

He had been making calls, but they refused to accept him to enroll into the U.S. Army because he is under 18 years old. But, he graduated at the age of 16 years old. What is he supposed to do if he cannot join the Army? He does not want to wait for two more years, arguing with his father every single day.

He picks up his bag and enters the tall building. He takes a long look at the area. Large space full of people running around with work papers. Things have been busy ever since the Nuclear War started twenty years ago.

Eventually, he finds an information desk in the middle of the floor. “Excuse me, ma’am? I would like to talk to someone who is in charge of um, this place.”

“May I ask for a reason, sir?” the woman in the middle age at the information desk asks politely.

“I am interested in joining the U.S. Army,” Tezuka says simply, expecting at least laughter from this woman. She never does.

“Sir, may I ask for your name? I will contact Mr. Zack Kyota for you, sir, for an appointment.”

Tezuka frowns at the word ‘appointment.’ Ok, he is relieved to know that he is going to meet someone, but he cannot wait any longer. “Tezuka Kejinto.”

“Thank you, sir,” the woman picks up the phone and begins to dial. It takes two rings before it gets picked up. “Mr. Kyota, there is a boy here named Tezuka Kejinto who would like to see you. He is interested in joining the Army. Would you like me to make an appointment for you?”

Tezuka has an urge to roll his eyes when the woman calls him ‘a boy,’ but he does not. He does not want to risk having to go back to his home.

“Oh, right now?” the woman blinks in surprise and makes a brief glance at the boy. “Are you sure? You are available right now?”

Tezuka makes a soft chuckle when he hears a booming yell, ‘Yes, you idiot! Are you deaf or what?!’

“I apologize, sir. I will send him right away,” the woman hangs up and smiles brightly at Tezuka. “You are lucky today! He is available right now. Please take the elevator to the fifth floor and make two rights until you find a door with his name tag.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Tezuka bows his head a little before hurrying to the elevator. 

After hopping into the elevator, Tezuka cannot stop but to tremble with excitement. This is his chance to make a difference in this miserable world!

His new favorite sound is ‘ding’ made by the elevator. Tezuka nearly jumps out of the elevator and makes his way to Mr. Kyota’s office fast.

The first thing he sees after he opens the door is a gun pointed at him. Panicked, he closes the door slam. A second later, two gunshots can be heard from inside the office.

“Great quick reaction! Please come right in!” the unknown gunner exclaims.

Forget it! Tezuka already makes his way back to the elevator, but quickly stops when he feels the gun on his back.

“Come, my prize,” the gunner laughs heartily and pushes him a little. They walk back to the office.

“Have a seat.”

Tezuka nervously sits down on the chair. Finally, the gunner gets into his sight when he goes to sit at his desk.

“Hello there, Kejinto. My name is Zack Kyota,” the gunner says cheerfully. “I already like you, boy! You know, I already took a look at your records. You are the son of Starke Kejinto, who is serving in the U.S. Marines. You graduated from high school last spring, eh? You are now working at Lovin’ Cup as the bartender, yes?”

Tezuka nods his head nervously. He wonders – Is Mr. Kyota even licensed to own a gun?

“Great! I have been expecting you to join the military, but not at this young age! You know what the law about required age says, right? Can you please tell me what it says?”

“U-um. Adults over 18 years old are permitted to join the military,” Tezuka almost sinks into depression, but it does not last long.

“Let’s just say that we overlook the law, ok? Pretend you are 18 years old.”

Tezuka stares at the crazy gunner in disbelief. “Won’t we get in trouble?”

“You got all the way here, didn’t you? Besides, I can’t let my prize escape from my hands. After all, you are the son of General Starke Kejinto, correct? You must have some skills from him.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

“Hmmm,” Mr. Kyota nods his head, thinking deeply. “I want to ask you first before I enroll you… Why do you want to join the Army so badly? I mean, you obviously ran away from your home.”

The Kejinto teenager blinks at him. He frowns, as he is looking for the right words. Mr. Kyota is waiting patiently with a cheerful face.

Finally, Tezuka decides to choose words, “My mother died from the radiation when I was only five years old. Growing up, I had been watching my father going away to the wars. I didn’t understand why he had to go… not even today. I feel like this planet is locked up in chains. It’s like we are trapped in this pointless war.

“If I join the Army, then I can prove to them that I can defend not only our country, but also our home planet. I have to break off these terrible chains to free our planet… even though I have to break my legs and arms if it means to protect Earth!”

“Interesting words,” Mr. Kyota rubs his chin. “So, you want to join the Army even though you don’t believe in wars?”

“Yes. I want to find out more about the reason why we are at war,” Tezuka answers quickly.

“So young! You’re quite brilliant,” Mr. Kyota smiles at him. He reaches under his desk and then tosses a duffel bag at Tezuka. “Welcome to the U.S. Army!”

“I am in the U.S. Army?” Tezuka blinks in surprise.

“Call me Sergeant Kyota!” The older man winks at him.