War's End, Homeward Bound

Chapter 21: War's End, Homeward Bound

There was something strange about the quiet on this battlefield. Smokes still curled through the wrecks, the smell of char and burned earth clung to everything, but the fight was done.

Caden stood amidst the ruins lost. The war had been unlike anything he could have imagined it was merciless and chaotic. And yet, they had won.

A sudden movement caught his eye, and he turned in time to see six figures emerging from the distance. His eyes widened in surprise as he recognized them.

Ava, Liam, Ryan, Selena, Mira, and Darius.

They were alive.

Relief surged through him. Without thinking, he started walking toward them, quickening his pace as they got closer.

Ava was the first to react, marching right up to him. She didn't hesitate and just shoved him, hard, right in the chest. "You reckless idiot," she muttered, voice tight. "Did you really have to make us think you were dead?"

Caden smirked, brushing off the shove. "Thought you guys wouldn't survive without me."

Ryan snorted, crossing his arms. "You're acting like you carried this war by yourself. If anything, you should be thanking us for keeping things under control while you got blasted across the battlefield."

Liam chuckled. "He's got a point, Caden. You didn't exactly fly gracefully."

"At least I was in the Frontline losee," Caden replied with a tone as arrogant as Ryan's. "Meanwhile, you were probably behind cover."

Ryan's eyes glinted. "Says the guy who got blown across the room in the middle of the fight."

"Battlefield, not room. Maybe your room looks like this" Caden said and Caden gritted his teeth in anger. Tension crackled between them, but before it could escalate, Mira stepped forward.

"You're really okay?" she asked, quieter than the others, but there was something in her voice that made Caden pause.

Their eyes met, and he saw the emotion beneath her usual composed exterior. She had been worried genuinely, deeply worried.

"Yeah," he said, softer now. "I'm fine."

She glared into his eyes, her gaze searching almost as if trying to find out if he was lying . Then she leaned forward, flicking him on the forehead before he had time to flinch.

"Don't do that to us again, We were all worried" she muttered, taking a step backward, crossing her arms.

Caden blinked, taken aback. Of all things, he hadn't expected that. But when he looked at her again, a small smile crept to his face.

A strange warmth settled in his chest.

Before he could dwell on it, the commander's voice cut through the moment.

"Alright, reunion's over," she called out, approaching with her usual commanding presence. "We're moving out. There's a transport waiting to take us to Mars."

The team straightened, any lingering banter fading as they shifted back into soldier mode. They had won the war, but their journey wasn't over yet. They just became Cadets.

Caden exhaled, casting a final glance at his team as he followed the commander toward the waiting ship.

Before them, the transport ship hovered, its sleek metallic hull gleaming in the remnants of the smoke stained sky above the battlefield. As they approached, the loading ramp extended with a hiss, revealing rows of seats and the faint hum of the ship's systems going through pre-launch.

He stepped inside, and some part of him relaxed at the mere sight of something any other thing apart from destruction. The interior was Spartan, built for efficiency rather than comfort, but right now, it felt like an indulgence.

His teammates filed in behind him, claimed seats. Mira settled near him in silence, her presence lingering in the corner of his awareness.

The commander strode in last, her imposing figure cutting through the exhausted silence. With a curt nod to the pilot, she signaled for takeoff.

As the engines roared to life and the ship lifted off, Caden felt the weight of gravity shift. Below them, the battlefield shrank, fading into the distance as they ascended toward the atmosphere.

For the first time since he'd arrived in this war, he allowed himself to breathe.

Liam blew a long exhale from the seat across from him. "Damn. Can't believe we actually made it."

"Of course, we did," Ryan scoffed. "We're not exactly easy to kill."

Hitherto silent, Selena leaned her head back now. "Speak for yourself. Some of us weren't lucky enough to make it." There was no noise in her voice, but something weighted it.

A short silence fell among them.

Then Darius stretched, breaking the moment with a lazy grin. "Well, since we're all still breathing, I'd say we deserve a drink when we get back."

Caden grinned. "Not a bad idea. First round's on Ryan."

Ryan shot him a glare. "Like hell it is."

A chuckle rippled through the group, easing the tension. The war was over, but they were still themselves.

Caden leaned back against his seat, mental exhaustion finally catching up to him.

Caden sat with his arms crossed, gazing out the small window. Stars stretched endlessly beyond, distant and indifferent to the battles waged below.

Mira stirred beside him, drawing his gaze. She seemed lost in her thoughts as a delicate flight of her fingers tapped against her knee.

"What's on your mind?" he asked.

She was silent for a moment, then spoke. "Everything just. ended so suddenly." Her voice came quietly and sort of uncertain. "One moment, we're fighting for our lives. The next, it's over. Feels. strange."

Caden understood. The war had consumed them, dictated every thought and action. Now that it was over, the silence felt unnatural.

"Yeah," he admitted. "Guess we're supposed to figure out what comes next."

Mira gave him a sidelong glance. "And what is next for you?"

Caden smirked. "Hopefully, not getting blown across another battlefield."

She gave a low, explosive laugh. "That'd be nice, wouldn't it?"

Their conversation was not to go any further.

The voice of the commander cut through the cabin as if on cue.

"We'll be reaching Mars soon. Rest while you can."

Glances were exchanged among the team, none stirring.

"Sleep?" Liam belittled. "After what we just went through? Fat chance".

"Yeah," Darius added, yawning. "I think we're past the point of normal sleep cycles."

Ryan leaned back, arms behind his head. "Fine by me. More time to enjoy the ride while Caden sulks over his dramatic entrance."

Caden rolled his eyes. "Jealous I got the best view of the battlefield?"

Ryan smirked. "Jealous you got launched across it."

Ava let out a sigh. "You two are exhausting."

Selena just shook her head, the tiniest of smirks dancing on her lips. "At least they're consistent."

Mira, who had still sat near him, cast another glance at Caden before turning away. He could almost feel the lingering weight of whatever she had wanted to say.

What the future held on Mars, he wasn't sure, but one thing was for certain this wasn't the end. It was just the beginning of something more.

And for the first time in a long while, he was curious to see where it led.

The quiet was filled by the hum of the ship. Despite their banter, exhaustion clung to the air like an unseen weight. One by one, the team settled into silence.

Caden let his head fall against the seat and watched the infinite stretch of the stars. Time blurred. He wasn't sure when his eyes drifted shut, but the sharp chime of the ship's systems jolted him back. A soft shift in gravity signaled their descent.

"We're entering Mars' atmosphere," the pilot announced. "ETA: three minutes."

The deep void of space outside gave way to the crimson curve of the planet. Dust storms swirled in the distance, and the sleek domes of the military outpost cut through the rust-colored expanse.

The commander rose, grasping onto a support rail as the ship adjusted course. "Welcome to Mars," she said.

The ship came down without any hiccups, but the change in gravitational pull leaned onto Caden's chest. He looked out through the viewport, where the planet was growing beneath them was an expanse of bright red. The tall structures of the cities shone, glimmering at transport hubs-humanity held firm to Mars.

As they pierced through the upper atmosphere, the sprawling cityscape unfurled before them: vast domes, high-rise structures interconnected by skybridges bustled with movements; hovercrafts zipped through designated air lanes, with neon signs lightening up rows of commercial quarters. Mars was not some frigid military outpost but alive, pulsing, and throbbing.

A sharp contrast awaited as the ship veered to its final destination. The closer they were to the military base, the quieter it got. The bright advertisements and endless chatter of civilians was gone. The military zone was a world of rigid order: tall structures, neatly arranged barracks, and soldiers marching in precise formations.

The hum of engines died as the transport ship came down onto the landing pad, and the team exchanged a glancing blow, preparing themselves for what was next.

The ramp went down with a hiss, showing them a reception squad waiting in good order outside in crisp uniforms, their movements were synchronized, a reminder that the military's grip on Mars was absolute.

First, the commander rose, her presence commanding attention. "Let's move," she ordered, stepping off the ship.

Caden and his team followed. The moment their boots hit the ground, the atmosphere changed. No cheers, no immediate celebrations just the disciplined gaze of those who had seen war before. It was humbling in a way.

A high-ranking officer approached. Unlike the others, his uniform showed gold insignias, and by his bearing, he was someone important. A Zone Commander. He nodded without a word to the commander, then turned to them.

"You fought well," he said in a crisp, formal and robotic voice. "Rest is granted. You are to recover and prepare for the next phase."

There was no room for argument.

The team saluted in acknowledgment before they were ushered toward the barracks.

The barracks were a haven. Spartan, clean, and more importantly quiet. Caden let himself sink onto the provided cot, arms resting behind his head.

"Feels weird, doesn't it?" Liam mused from the bed across from him. "Not hearing explosions every few minutes."

Darius plopped onto his bed. "Yeah, but I'll take this over dodging plasma fire any day."

Selena stretched, the tone lighter. "We actually get to rest. I almost forgot what that felt like."

Ryan snorted. "Bet you'll be bored in a day."

Selena smirked. "Maybe. But today? I'm sleeping.

Nobody disagreed with that. One by one, they fell asleep, and silence set in.

The next morning, the commander called them together again.

"You've earned a day to explore the city," she said, arms crossed. "Use it wisely. Bond, recover, do whatever you need. But remember you're soldiers now. Don't do anything reckless.

They exchanged a look; Liam grinned. "So we actually get to have some fun?"

The commander didn't smile, but her tone was softer. "Consider it a reward before your formal recognition."

With that, they were dismissed.

Caden stretched as they hit open city streets. The contrast was jarring-after the discipline of the military base, the noise and energy of the Martian metropolis were almost overwhelming. Vehicles whizzed overhead, holographic advertisements flickered in swathes of colour, and crowds bustled in every direction.

Ava whistled. "Well, this is different."

Ryan clapped his hands together. "Alright, where to first?"

Mira watched a floating guideboard that listed some of the more popular attractions around them. "There's an observation tower, market district, some combat arenas, and" she squinted, "a zero-gravity lounge?"

Darius grinned. "That sounds fun."

Ava elbowed him. "We're not wasting this day floating around."

"Why not?" Darius protested. "It's a bonding exercise."

Selena chuckled. "How about we just split up? Do whatever we want and meet back later.

They all agreed, and in no time, the team was sprinkled throughout town, looking forward to that normal moment.

Deep in the uncharted space, where even the stars themselves dare not shine, there drifted an ancient warship. Its hull was an abyss of black metal, lined with veins of glowing violet, pulsating like the lifeblood of something long forgotten. Inside, at the heart of the vessel, a gathering of towering figures stood before a crystalline monolith.

It crackled, showing the final moments of one of their own: an intelligent humanoid Proximar, with violet eyes burning with purpose, being crushed under an unseen force. The vision blurred, crackling with distortion, then faded. And the chamber was silent.

A figure stepped forward, much taller than the rest. His skin was a void-like black, streaked with veins of eerie crimson light. A radiant gemstone pulsed on his forehead, mirroring his slow, deliberate breathing. When he spoke, his voice was deep and unyielding.

**"The anomaly is dead."**

The other warrior crossed his arms, head cocked. **"Impossible. None were capable of challenging it, not in this sector."**

The leader's eyes narrowed as he considered the fragmented vision. **"And yet, something did."**

A third figure, his voice laced with curiosity, stepped closer. **"Do we know the source?"**

The leader breathed slowly, his gaze fixed on the dark space beyond the chamber. **"Not yet. The ripples of its power remain. We will track it."** His gemstone began to pulse brighter. **"And we will know who… or what… did this."**

The others looked at each other, their faces unreadable. Then one smiled wryly. **"And supposing this 'anomaly' was killed by something bigger?"**

The veins on the leader flared for a moment, then settled into a steady hum. **"Then we will determine its purpose. Its allegiance. And if it stands in our way…"**

His eyes burned with quiet intensity as he turned toward his warriors.

**"Prepare a team. We move immediately."**

One by one, the black-skinned beings moved into the darkness and disappeared, as if the void itself had swallowed them whole.

Far away, on Mars, Caden and his team had yet to learn that something was even now hunting for answers.

And soon, those answers would lead directly to them.