Phobos Down

They stood on the rooftop facing the cloudy dusk above the fury in the city of Luna. The air was dry and filled with smoke and ashes from the explosion around the city. Battle cries and sirens wailing in the middle of smoke and under the crimson sky. The city that was once filled with enthusiasm and excitement has now turned into chaos.

Dave sat on the edge of the 65-story building with his knees hanging on the edge, thinking about how they were able to beat their enemies and revising a plan to get in touch with the others. He looked at the city with eyes full of exhaustion and his body filled with stress. Ken, on the other hand, looked up feeling the gust of wind on his face from their height, trying to wash away his worries. He's sighing deeply, overcoming himself with the peace he's experiencing. Brent squatted beside Ivan, looking at his friends still in the midst of shock with their previous battle. He's sorting the things they got from the boss battle with Ivan who was overwhelmed with their victory.

"I still can't believe we manage to get here safely." Dave muttered. "We seriously won the battle.."

"I know right…" Ken replied with another sigh. "I never thought we can gain the upper hand." He lifted his hand and looked at it blankly.

"You did great down there, Dave." Ivan said. "the moment we reached our destination after the warp travel, we were welcomed with a rain of bullets. We could have ended up as minced meat.."

"Yeah, if you haven't noticed it, we're all probably dead."

"Like, who the hell will not notice those laser guns pointed at us? I just acted out of instinct."

"Well, if that's the case, then your instincts are quite reliable. Imagine how hard it was to face a tank-sized machine gun with grenade launchers on its sides with infrared and motion detectors with laser beams aimed at moving targets that even a mosquito can be fried?! It was a miracle we manage to find ourselves intact." Ken exclaimed, still looking at the sky, exaggeratingly throwing his hands in the air.

"Calm down, Ken. We're all safe now.." Brent muttered, he almost got to his feet when he saw it was not needed because Ken sat on the floor and gave a deep sigh.

"On top of that, it was Brent's idea to shoot the muzzles directly and made the guns self-destruct. But gladly, that garbage bin happened to be there at some point. At least we have a space to hide."

"Well, I have noticed that since when we're on the ground floor."

"The garbage bin?" Ken asked.

"Of course not!!! I mean the guns, Ken. The Guns!" Brent exclaimed.

"Really?!" Ken asked.

"Yeah, I bet you're just too fixated on how to deal with the Lycans below that you did not notice our bullets were not reaching, not even scratching, the guns. So, it gave me an idea that we cannot destroy it from the outside no matter how we do it.." Brent said.

"Oh… well you have a keen eye, Brent" Ivan commented.

"Thanks… well, it gave me an idea about our materials of ours and their guns differ. I have seen a bullet damaging a gun below just because an Android misfired his gun, that supported my hypothesis."

"I really have not seen that.." Dave said.

"Oh well, I did not expect you to see that.." Brent replied and he saw the frown on Dave's face. "Anyway, with Ivan on our side, we have enough hands to fight against the boss. I guess your cowardice and stupidity saved us for the better, Dave."

"Yeah, thanks for running like an idiot. If not because of Ivan, you might have ended up dead."

"I know you got my back. That's why I ran like there's no tomorrow." Dave said with gratitude but his expression suddenly changed. "But you have insulted me enough back there, huh.."

"Oh sorry,, haha.." Brent laughed and Ken burst into laughter as well. "I thought you haven't noticed."

"You guys are really close to each other, huh..?" Ivan asked with a teasing smile.

"We've just known each other for quite some time…" Ken answered. "But we never decided who's going to be the bait, right?" he added, changing the topic.

"Yeah, this idiot just assumed it was him.." Brent pointed to Dave sarcastically.

"Oh sorry, about that.." Dave grinned. "But, that's what a hero does, right?"

"No, you just want to finish it immediately by running to the treasure room like there's no tomorrow," Ken said. "Don't think highly of yourself, idiot!.." he laughed.

"That's quite rude, huh.." Dave rolled his eyes.

"I mean, we have that chance when Brent shoot the muzzle that made the gun explode, giving an opening to the treasure room," Dave said. "And, I was surprised to see the inside of that room from where we are that is why I ran towards it knowing you'll watch my back. Anyway, when I reached the inside it's like a big compartment where all the money, gold bars, and gems were stored in a bank."

"Like a safe huh?"

"Indeed, and the key was floating in the middle of the room. It was shaped like an egg at first. But when I reached it after climbing the modified ladder, it shined and turned into this key." He showed them the key with a peculiar design on the handle with the number 5 in the middle. The tip was shaped like a corkscrew.

"A unique key with a number 5 on the handle, huh…"

"What could that mean?"

"I dunno. But, I guess there's a code we need to break using these keys. And I guess, literary speaking, it's our only way out. There might be a chance that these keys we gather is the key to opening a way through Stonehenge. The GM said we need to gather all 5 keys, right?" Dave said. "Then, we still need to have the other 4…"

"Oh well, if not because of Ivan here, we won't be able to reach that level. Thanks for the portal, dude." Brent exclaimed.

"It's nothing…On top of that, we got the first key.." Ivan muttered.

"Yeah…Though I really want to know how did you do that.." Brent replied.

"Don't ask further, Brent. I have realized some things have to be left unanswered, right, Ivan?" Dave said.

"I'm sorry about that.."

"It's fine. I understand."

"Anyway.." Brent sighed. "I wonder if the others got the key like us as well.."

"Why did you say that?" Ken asked.

"You haven't noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"The palaces were located on the routes of the participants that went for the field trip expo, right?."

"You're right.. so maybe, the others have gotten the rest of the keys?"

"I doubt that.." Ivan muttered.

"Why?"

"It's not that simple to tackle the game prepared. If I was right, we just happen to face a simple game."

"You're right… we don't know if the other palaces have the same obstacle as ours."

"It can be more dangerous than what we got…"

"Then there's still one thing we have to do in this situation."

"What is it now?"

"I guess you haven't gotten the news.." Ivan swiped his hand in the air and a holographic monitor from his watch appeared, viewing his stats. "They have planned something for the sake of everyone and I guess we need to go there for refuge and seek help." The footage of Jayson speaking appeared in front of Dave and the others.

"Ahh…"Jayson said, looking composed on the webcam of the bus. "This is for all the participants who got this coverage. I, Jayson Smart of GSSTI, with the other participants of our group who were sent to the Northeast part of the city, managed to get away from the pursuers on our route. I know you're having a hard time escaping as well, we all did, but we hope you are safe. We are headed to the port, the first stop of this island. We will gather there as one team and try to solve this death game. Anyway, it's the safest site we can think of so… I hope we'll meet there."

"We might find him there.." Dave's smile reached his ears turning red.

"Who are you talking about since a while ago?" stared at them with confusion.

"A precious friend of ours.." Ken said, nodding his head.

"Let's not waste time, we need to get going.." Dave said, jumping from his seat, filled with excitement.

...…

"So, I will be the leader of this attack," Yuri said while crossing his arms, facing Jayson with a smug look.

"Hey, wait. What are you talking about, huh? Who the hell are you kidding, Yuri?" Alex stoop front and grinned at Yuri with a swollen vein on his head.

"It's like what I've said, Alex," Yuri said. "I will be the leader and you guys will follow my orders."

"That's unfair, Yuri." Sandra crossed her arms and stared at Yuri.

"It's what Sandra said, Yuri.." Tori interrupted. "You can't just say that because of your selfish issues…"

"You can't just base the leadership on who came on the camp first. Even if you're Tori's brother, I cannot tolerate what you've said, Yuri. Jayson is the suited leader for this job, besides, we have first-hand experience on the enemy.." Sandra insisted.

"That doesn't mean you have the upper hand, milady.." Yuri stepped forward and patted Sandra's shoulders. "We can be more cunning than your so-called leader standing there.."

"Shut the hell up, Yuri!" Alex gritted his teeth and raced towards Yuri but Jayson got his arm, bringing him to a full stop.

"It's fine, Yuri. I won't argue with that matter." Jayson said.

"Ohhh.. that's pretty thoughtful of you Jay, why the change of heart?" Yuri said, provokingly.

"I've not accepted defeat nor victory yet, Yuri. We'll decide who gets the position when we get to the field. It's not wise to plan without knowing the situation." Jayson replied.

"I can't believe you're saying that. Well, as long as we can reign, no need for further formalities.." Yuri responded and looked away.

They sat quietly on the seats of the get-away vehicle Jayson and the others used to escape from the cliffside attack of the humongous baboons in the forest they have been. The atmosphere is still at its peak and no one dares to say a word that might cause a commotion.

Sandra knew it was a bad idea to team up with the Qatsu people. When they decided to attack the forest base not knowing what awaits them, Yuri accepted the job without even offering it to him. Of course, his teammates follow their king. They've butt into their conversation and took advantage of the confusion that made Jayson say yes. Well, she thought that might be the wisest way they should do stuff knowing they're underhanded due to the pacing of the game.

As far as they know, or what Yuri and Jayson deduced from all the stuff that happens, the palaces have games they need to conquer and they need numbers to accomplish the task. They don't know what games fell on every palace but they know about the treasures they need to collect. Another thing that Jayson and Yuri thought is that the key may lead them away from Stonehenge and save all the injured people they left at camp.

Sandra rested her back on the seat and looked outside the window seeing the blood-shaking scenes of the city. She then thought of his friend. "Wonder where he is now?" she can't help but worry "Is he safe? Is he on the run?". After all, his life is at stake. Everyone is after her friend's life, all because the hacker spilled every last bit of his secret. She knew all about the name change, but beyond that, she doesn't know him anymore. That is why she thought of reaching out, patching the things they came to fell behind all those times they never had the chance to catch up. She wanted to lend a hand like she always did. She doesn't want to lose him, the way she lost him once. She knew she can do a thing now, that she is not useless. And she wanted to let him know that he can rely on her as he always did before.

All those thoughts flood her memories as they come closer and closer to the road going to the forest. She leaned forward to see the place clearly, and it surprised her for the second time.

"Looks like the kinsmen are expecting our arrival.." Yuri stood from his seat, filled with excitement.