Smog

The night before felt like a dream. Unfortunately it wasn't. Rell's annoying voice, would wake me up from my peaceful sleep.

"Matthew! We've arrived at Irel." He would say joyfully giving me a toothy smile at the end.

"That's wonderful..." I'd respond half-asleep while turning away to face the wall. Not understanding and not interested in what he was talking about.

"While I understand you've had a very traumatic experience. I legally can no longer allow you to stay on this vessel." Rell's normally cheery and happy tone would be replaced with a serious, and cold voice. ''I suppose I'll have to leave, he doesn't seem to be kidding. Well at the very least I won't have to deal with his incoherent ramblings.'' Getting up from the bed I'd hear the sound of the metal door close shut as Rell would leave the room.

*Narrator POV*

Matthew would make his way out the shop through the cargo bay. In front of him would be a city of factories, every building releasing plumes of smoke, and smog. No animal life could be seen the only living creatures being the workers. Each one of them would be covered hesd to toe in soot, dirt, and sweat. Matthew felt exhausted just looking at them, their chains which bound their legs would rattle with every movement. The ones that fell behind would be beaten violently without remorse.

"Awful sight isnt it?" A soldier carrying a small crate would say, "You shouldn't feel bad for them though, they're the enemy." He'd say before counting his tasks. "Enemies?" Matthew would ponder for a moment before feeling someone tap his shoulder. Turning to see Rell.

"From here on you're to address me as, Cruce Eybat al Sixth Fold. This is not a request." Rell would say with the same seriousness he had in the dorm. "I understand, Cruce Eybat al Sixth Fold." Matthew would repeat the sentence word for word. Rell would smile contently walking past Matthew to give orders to the workers and soldiers. Matthew would stay where he was silently seething, ''I can't wait to get off this dust bowl. I can't believe I have to address this fool formally. Why do I even have to say Cruce and Al what do they even mean?!'' Matthew would recollect himself before hesding towards Rell, following him.

''I know they've must've never seen a God like me, but they're staring at me a little too hard.'' Matthew would think as the prisoners would stare daggers into him, "SALUTE FOR, CRUCE EYBAT AL SIXTH FOLD!" A soldiers would shout many prisoners would comply, protesting themselves, and lifting their arm. The older prisoners wouldn't budge, keeping their eyes fixated on Matthew and Rell. About 80 feet away from them would stand a tall broad prisoner standing at 9'10 who would watch carefully, and methodically. His singular blood red eye would be glued to the two. Matthew would be the first to notice him as he would go to ask Rell about him he would be interrupted by said prisoner yelling.

"ATTACK NOW!" The prisoners would stop their prostration and would run at them a few prisoners would stay behind unlocking the leg cuffs of the prisoners as a horde of aliens would rush towards the soldiers. Red lasers would fly towards the prisoners as the soldiers would retaliate. Prisoners would fall after being shot dying on the spot as their comrades would run over their bodies trying to clear the distance. A laser would hit the cyclops on the chest, burning a hole in his jumpsuit, but under his skin would be barely singed. The cyclops would get low as he'd prepare for to jump, his quads and calves would be tensed as he leap from his current position. After lifting off the ground a small crater would reside where he leapt from he'd soar through the battlefield as he'd cover 80 feet in a matter of seconds. Rell would react quickly grabbing a long thin metal staff from his back as electricity would flow through it. The cyclops would slam his fist into the staff as the electricity would travel up and through his fire arm before being stopped.

"You're also an electro driver?" Rell would ask as the cyclops would land on the ground 10 feet in front of him. "Obviously, that's the main reason I waited for your time to take post here. Let me introduce myself, I am Qran Orgi." Qran would say his deep gruff voice his feature would become significantly easier to see as the smog would begin to dissipate around them. He would tower above Rell, coming out of his mouth would be two tusks pointed upwards, his dark green skin would contrast his dull grey prison jumpsuit. On his left cheek would be a fully healed scar.

"Well there's no fun in standing around is there." Rell would say as he gets into a fighting stance, positioning the right side his body towards Qran, while his rod would would be held in his right hand out front. Qran would get my a fighting stance as well holding his arms up to guard his face.

Rell would strike first as he'd rush towards Qran his rod becoming a bright orange from the heat, he would swing it at Qran's legs. Doing a front flip to avoid the strike Qran would follow up with a dropkick. moving his head out the way Rell would flick his finger at Qran as the air force generated would send him flying.

"That's it... SHOW ME A GOOD FIGHT!" Qran would say excitedly as hed rapidly slow down before softly landing on the ground. ''He hasn't been affected by my heat barrier, my electro attacks do nothing. Tht only leaves kinetic and chemical, but he is also a kinetic driver.'' Rell would think to himself before saying "Thermal, electro, and kinetic. Where you a high ranking soldier in the Iron form?" Rell would question as he'd get back into his fighting stance. "Nah, Im not all for the paper work. I was a bounty hunter instead." Qran would explain. "So that's why you're here and not on Inta'sur." Mid way through his sentence he would throw two electrified metal needles at Qran.

*Rell's POV*

''My only hope might be to fill his system with carbon monoxide. He seems to be a Lyphanoid, and they're a species that requires oxygen.'' Rell would think as he would rush towards Qran, who had effortlessly swatted the needles away. "YOUVE BETTER NOT RAN OUT OF IDEAS, RELL-CRUN-EYBAT!" Qran would roar as he would rush toward me, I'd rotate my body for a full body swing only to be sent flying 30 feet in the opposite direction, "So you know how to amplify the air around your first too." Getting up covered in soot I would hear something to my left turning that way I could see a prisoner heading towards me. Before I could act one of my needles would go through his skull killing him on the spot. Turning to the source I'd see Qran holding another needle.

"This is our fight I want you to give me your full attention!" He'd say pridefully as he'd rush towards me.

"Did your parents not give you enough love or something?" Dashing towardd my opponent. Reeling my arm back and throwing my metal staff would be utilized as a javelin as it would go soaring towards him a whistle being created from the speed. Qran would expectantly dodge out of the staffs trejectory before his feet could touch the ground my arms would latch around him and my legs would follow suit. Turning my core energy into bond energy and gravitational energy the carbon monoxide bonds in the smog would be weakened and broken this would be done to make a large amount of carbon monoxide molecules. Afterward using gravitational energy to push them into Qran's body and connect with his blood cells. Blood would ooze out of claw marks on my back as Qran would desperately try to claw me off him, but I wouldn't stop till I can hear sound of Qran's body hitting the soot covered floor.

*Matthew POV*

''Did these guys fall in love? Why is Rell latched onto cyclops like that?'' My thoughts would be broken as Qran's body would fall landing on the soot covered ground, Rell would slowly get off of the giant breathing heavily. His green eyes pointed up at Qran's unmoving body. "THERE WILL NOW BE ORDER!" Rell would be roar as the prisoners would turn to see their leader defeated. They'd stare in disbelief, the oldest prisoners would lay down face first on the soot covered ground hand behind their backs. The newest prisoners would try to keep fighting, but without the planning and organization of the older prisoners they'd soon be suppressed. Hearing foot steeps I would turn in their direction seeing Rell moving towards me, "I thought you had fallen in love for a second, and what where those abilities?" Even if I disliked how he would ramble on and on I had to admit that was interesting to say the least. Rell would turn towards me before saying, "That was Vek arts I'm to exhausted to explain it, but we'll meet someone who can teach you if you're interested." After finishing his statement he would walk towards the main vessel.

Its been two days since the prisoner revolt. Rell hasn't spoken with me about training every time I ask he says the samething "I sent a letter to a teacher, now we wait." His voice serious. ''What if he's just playing with me.'' I'd think as I would see the prisoners counting to toil away in the manufacturies. The sound of the metal door opening would draw my attention in that direction. On the left side was Rell, and on the right was a short man maybe 3'7 with crimson skin, fire for hair and beard, and bright yellow eyes.

"Matthew Aiarc meet Cruce Nebulay zin Kormat, Cruce Nebulay zin Kormat meet Matthew Aiarc." Rell would say his normal happy and cheery tone returning. The newly identified man named Nebulay would approach me, oddly the flames on his body wouldn't produce any heat. "I've been waiting for a student, I've had no one to beat up in the past 400 years!" Nebulay would say giving a hearty laugh at the end of his sentence.

''Does this old man think he's a comedian or something? I do want to learn what those abilities were so I guess I'll play along.'' After considering the best option I would begin to chuckle at his joke, his laughter would stop immediately and his face would become serious.

"Abuse isn't funny, and you shouldn't be laughing at it." Nebulay's voice has no sarcasm, the silence that fell was palpable and a million thoughts rushed through my head ''I have to defuse the situation!'' Quickly thinking of a response, "Oh, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to offend." Trying to save face this would be my only chance to prevent him from not wanting me as his student. Nebulay would stare at me for a second and would continue his laughter, "You should've saw your face you looked like you almost died!" He say laughing the entire time. Id stare blankly at him giving a fake chuckle, ''I can already tell I'm going to hate being his student. Hell Rell's ramblings are better than this!''

Rell would call twice bringing attention to him before caughing into his fist to regain Nebulay's focus, "Apologies I shouldn't waste your time. Let's get straight to the point if you wish to learn Vek Arts you're going to have to put in a lot of work." Nebulay's tone would be logical, and serious. Clearly conveying the seriousness of this conversation, "I'm willing to go the extra mile to achieve those heights." Responding as if I'm being interviewed I'd convey the illusion of preservance, and to an extent I was being truthful about putting in effort.

Nebulay would give me a cold stare, trying to look for any cracks in my statement and confidence. After what felt like an eternity he would give a big toothy smile shouting, "That's the spirit! Your training will begin first thing tomorrow at the Seventh Hour. I don't accept tardiness." Nebulay would leave the room with Rell following behind him. The metal door closing shut.