Day Three: Vaanasa Rainforest.

The wind blows the trees, canopy blocking the sunlight, leaves are falling to the jungle soil. At the deepest part of the rainforest, the Batshevas are gathering at their hidden base where the throne of King Kramos sits. The natives are chanting. Jon and Jack, now fully recovered from their injuries, are kneeling next to each other, facing down while their hands are at their back. In front of them, an old-bald batshevan man sitting on his throne. His name is King Kramos, the tribe leader or king of the Batshevas. He wears a necklace that shelters an elgoa gem. Next to him, his daughter, Lucia, stands next to him, holding a spear.

As the natives chants, King Kramos raised his right hand, signaling the natives to stop. "Speak"

"Your Highness.. we are sorry for the trouble that me and my partner, Jon, has caused you... I'm so sorry for the two brave men that you lost yesterday during the fight. It was not our intention to kill.." Jack to the King.

"Then what is your intention, human?" King Kramos to Jack.

Jon took a deep breathe. "That one.. on your necklace, your highness.." as he points at the gem.

King Kramos, baffled by what Jon said, shakes his head slightly. "It's clear to me that you don't know what you are talking about, soldier."

"No.. we really don't know.. that's why we need answers." Jon said. "Which is why we're here too." followed by Jack.

"We're trying our best to not kill your warriors, your highness, it is because we need a vivid answer about what is going on." Jack added as he looks to Jon.

"You can't have these gems. You know nothing about them, soldier." King Kramos said. "The gems hold an energy that can be harnessed to produce a new ability." He added confusing the two soldiers.

"What? A new ability?" Jack to the King.

"Yes. If you were wondering who threw huge trunks and gigantic rocks at you last time, they were the elders, the chosen ones.." Lucia answered.

"So why we can't have them?" Jon to King Kramos and Lucia.

"These gems are entrusted to us a hundred years ago. It is our property and it is my tribe's duty to protect each and every one of them." said the King. King Kramos stood up, walks closely to the soldiers. He points each one of them. "You... your race know nothing but power and greed.. we welcomed your race with open arms and this is what we get in return?!" He added further confusing Jon.

The gem starts to glow, Jon's and Jack's eyes reflected the gem's green light as it glows. Both soldiers are stunned by the gem's glowing characteristic.

"We cannot entrust these ancient powers to a race that lusts in power." said the King as he spreads his arms. "I don't care if my race will die. We will protect the gems no matter what the cost!" He added with his grumpy voice. King Kramos coughs and Lucia tries to calm the King. Taking a deep breath, the King asks the soldiers to help them. "I know some of my men, women, and even children are being held captive by your authorities... they're paying them in exchange for keeping up a lie to other countries.. A lie that there's no war between my race and your country! I am asking you to help us end this war... We can't give the gems to you.. but we're asking you to help us protect these defenseless powers from greed.." King Kramos said as other batshevan natives are weeping.

"Tomorrow's not a clear day. Maybe our race will be gone.. your decision right now will save or kill us.. whatever your descision might be, I understand...." King Kramos to the soldiers.

King Kramos turns his back on the soldiers and continues to cough like a frail man. Lucia looks back at the soldiers before escorting her father back to their royal hut.

Jon stands up, looking at the weeping natives. "My mother always taught me how to use power in a responsible way.."

Jack looks at him and pats his right shoulder. "Yeah. At least we heard the other side. So what's our call?" He said.

Jon turns his head to Jack, his confused expression says everything. "A new ability?"

Jack nods. "Doesn't make any sense right?"

"Yeah.. President Crisanda told us he needs these gems to improve our community.." John said.

"Yep. Look at Eumo. It's almost flawless right? Every countryside at Zenra is doing great. Which is why I doubted the President's claims that these stones will improve our community." Jack said. "I knew something's going on." He added.

"A new ability... what kind of ability does a gem give you." Jon wonders. Suddenly, a tall, muscular batshevan native wearing army camouflage and an improvised helmet steps in. "The ability to lift a thing without even touching it." He said.

Jack and Jon, amazed at how tall and buff the batshevan warrior is, couldn't find a word to say. Their eyes are fixed at the muscular native while their mouth are locked open.

"It's Garzam! Honor to meet you two!" He proudly said to the 2 soldiers.

"you-you ju-just me-ade us fe-el soooo tiny.." Jack said with his trembling voice.

"HAHAHA naaah you guys ain't tiny" Garzam as he pats Jack at his left arm. However, his pats are so strong it sends Jack away immediately causing Jon's whole body to shiver.

Confused, Garzam looks at Jon. "...He okay right?"

Jon nods like a kid.

"I'm okay!" Jack said, raising his right thumb up. Garzam nods and looks at Jon.

Jon asks the huge batshevan warrior. "Ca-can the gems improve our lifestyle or environment?"

Garzam shakes his head. "Look around, boy. If it can improve our environment, our tribe base would look like a lot your country."

"So president's lying..." Jon concludes.

"As always.." followed by an approaching Jack.

"We had it for hundreds of years and we only know one thing about it." Garzam said as he looks over to a stretching Jack.

"What's that?" Both soldiers replied.

"Each gem is sentient. They know who's worthy of its power. However, they can't defend themselves. Which is why we devoted ourselves into protecting it.." Garzam answered. "King Kramos is right. The outcome of the war heavily depends on what's going to be your decision today. " Garzam added.

Jon looks at Jack. "I'm with you pal." Jack said as he taps Jon's right shoulder.

Jon looks at Garzam. "We'll do everything we can." He said, putting a genuine smile on Garzam's face.

As the light of the sun shines the deep rainforest, batshevan children play around the jungle. Families are bonding together around their respective huts. Garzam's talking with his comrades, Jack's playing with the children, and Lucia's observing the whole tribe. It's already three in the afternoon and on a not very far distance, Jon's reflecting. He looks at the blue-orange sky while thinking about his mother.

He looks back at the tribe and observes every single one of them. Jack's genuinely playing with the young ones, Lucia joins Jack, Garzam's contagious laugh, King Kramos at his hut, staring at his tribe. "They still know how to enjoy things.. when tomorrow's not clear for them.." He said while his right eye shed a single tear..

"I don't know what's happening.. Mum.. please, help me to get through this.. I'm about to face my whole country." He added.

Looking at Jon, Lucia asks if he's alright. "Is he okay?" She said to Jack causing the latter to look at his partner. "He is.. He's been having a rough time recently. He lost his mother 2 months ago, then we found out about this huge twist about the president's agenda." Jack replied.

"He'll get through it. He's a strong man." He added. Lucia nods and looks at King Kramos who's watching at his hut. She smiles at her father and the King understands it. Suddenly a young batshevan boy asks Jack if he can play with them. Jack nods and the boy calls his friends who brings toys made of wood. Jack holds one of them and analyzes the details of the toy. "Will ya look at that.. You guys are fine artists too." He said.

"It's made by my papa." The boy said. "I'm not really an artist but I know if one's a great one. Your papa's the best!" Jack to the boy. "Come on. Let's play!" He said.

As Jack plays with the youth, Garzam approaches the two, offering them steamed gheeze's thigh. "Gheezes live around this area. It's our number one source of food. Go ahead and try some." Garzam to Jack. "Hehey! Thanks! It's been awhile since the last time I ate a gheeze. It's meat is so delicious!" Jack as he grabs the gheeze's meat. Garzam proudly nods. Jack looks at the boy. "Want some? This is my favorite!". The boy nods and Jack offered the boy and his friends a piece of the thigh. The soldier and the children sits at the grass and enjoys eating the gheeze's meat.

Within a few minutes, a young short-blonde-haired man approaches the scene. He's wearing a uniform with a NOVA badge. Garzam recognizes the guy. "David!"

"Hey big pal!" David to Garzam.

"Any supplies?" Garzam asks the young man.

"No no no. But a warning." David answered as he looks at Jack. "Where's Randall?" David asks.

Jack points at Jon. "There, minding his own business." He answered. "How'd you find us?" He added.

"NOVA's been helping this tribe ever since the war started. We've been secretly delivering them ammunitions and weapons. Which is why some tribes have guns." David answered. "I love that machine gun you gave to me." followed by Garzam and David nods. "Commander Leo wants me to give this letter to you." David as he hands the letter to Jack. "It's for you and Randall."

"Thank you." Jack to David.

"That's all folks. Gotta go back to the headquarters and tomorrow! War's coming at ya." David said as he walks away from the scene, confusing Jack, Garzam, and Lucia. Jon looks at them and approaches Jack. "A war?" Lucia to Jack as Jack opens the letter.

"Forza and Randall, help the natives to evacuate right now. The President will send armies and Shepard to 'rescue' you. Go pack things now and leave the tribe base with the natives. " Jack as he reads Commander Leo's letter. "I'll send some men to assist you two." Jack, finishing the letter.

"Shepard's coming to us?" Jon to Jack and Jack nods as he looks at Jon.

"Shepard?! The one with the black hair and the green eyes?!" Lucia asks the two. "How'd you know?" Jon to Lucia. Lucia shakes her head. "No no. We better move right now." She answered. "I'll explain once we get out of here." She added. The two soldiers nods at each other and Garzam notified the tribe to pack things up. "WE'RE MOVING GO PACK YOUR THINGS!" Garzam yelled.

"LET'S GO! LET'S GO!" said by the other natives as the tribe's post guard blew his horn, signaling the other tribe base from different parts of the rainforest to move. Jon and Jack help the natives carry important properties such as spears, guns, and ammo. King Kramos got out of his hut and asked Lucia. "Daughter, what's going on?"

"We have to get out of here. Tomorrow, Zenra's military led by Shepard will come here." Lucia replied. The King looks at 2 elder batshevan natives who looks at him in return. He looks back at his daughter, holds her, and he locks his eyes to her eyes. With tears, he smiles. "I'm old.. Lucia. Let me buy you some time.."

Lucia, in disbelief, shakes her head as she weeps. "No no! You must come! The tribe needs you! You're their king!"

King Kramos shakes his head as he comforts his daughter. He hands the gem on his necklace to her daughter. "I have already fulfilled my duty as the tribe's king... let me do it one last time by giving you enough time.."

Garzam, realizing what's happening, approaches Lucia. "Let's go..."

Two batshevan elders approach the king. "We'll be with you.." the king nods and he looks one last time to her daughter.

"I won't forget you.. Father." She said as she wipes her tears.

"Be strong. You are now their leader and I am proud of you." He said as Garzam and Lucia walks away to help the other natives.

The tribe's post guard keeps on blowing his horn and as the natives move, King Kramos' eye shed a tear.

"Let's protect the future.." he said as the two batshevan elders nods.

Meanwhile, at HYPERION Headquarters, Shepard is reading the book that he bought from Pages. His eyes are tearing as he reads each sentence from the book. The famous soldier's sitting on his office chair, alone.

"We must save the planet from doom. No war, no greed, just appreciate everything we have, be it small or big. Humanity should revolve around making peace not war and power." *sniffs*

Suddenly, Shepard looks at the Zenra flag and within seconds, he grabs the telephone and calls the army base. "Good afternoon, this is HYPERION Shepard Kunsel. I would like to ask General Saint to have the 23rd Zenra Army Battalion Group B to join me tomorrow morning at 6 on Vaanasa Rainforest. Main objective is to retrieve Randall and Forza."

"Roger that HYPERION Kunsel."

"Thank you." Shepard as he hangs the call. He looks back at his book. Sadness, frustration, and loss are vivid to his eyes. He bites his lip as tears falls from his eyes. Remembering what his mom said to him earlier. "I'm so sorry.. Lilly." He murmured.

Somewhere at the border of Eumo, a lone building around the forest of Eumo is visible. It is tall and wide. The name "Clostra" is sticking at the front wall and the building is surrounded by Zenra's special forces. Commander Leo Kunsel is visiting his brother who was charged with rape. At the visitor section, He sat down in front of his jailed brother and looks at him in the eye. His brother looks at him in return. "How's my son?"

"Shepard? He's struggling as Anya's struggling to accept him as her son..."

"It's all my fault.." his brother said while shaking his head, facing down.

Commander Leo nods. "I'll arrange a schedule for Shepard to meet you, Greg." putting a genuine smile on Greg's face.

"When? When? Tell me! I want to ask forgiveness to my son!" He said as his eyes sheds tears. "This is all my fault." He added.

Commander Leo is quiet as he observes his brother. "Right after he comes back from his mission tomorrow."

"A mission? What?"

"Your son's a HYPERION, a supersoldier organization created by Professor Kromo and President Crisanda."

"What's that?" confused Greg to Commander Leo.

"It was created five years ago with your son being the first one to be accepted to the program. They said it was created to taunt enemies from different countries but the war today says that it's for different reason. I believe the organization was created to neutralize the batshevas for them to sieze the gems easily."

"There's a war going on right now?"

"Yes.. once they capture all the gems. I believe another world war will soon emerge."

"Please.. protect my son.."

"I'll do everything, Greg.. You'll meet him soon." Commander Leo to Greg as the NOVA Commander nods, giving hope to his brother.

"I have some work to do. You should prepare yourself mentally.. I'm pretty sure the kid has tons of questions for you.." Commander Leo said as he stands up and walks away, leaving Greg weeping out of happiness.