Shattering Humanity-Chapter 380: A Group Of Gallant Guys
"Lord, I appeal to you.
My God, I trust in you.
Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me.
No one who waits for you will be disgraced; those who act treacherously without cause will be disgraced.
Make your ways known to me, Lord; teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; I wait for you all day long.
Remember, Lord, your compassion and your faithful love, for they have existed from antiquity.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my acts of rebellion; in keeping with your faithful love, remember me because of your goodness, Lord.
The Lord is good and upright; therefore he shows sinners the way. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
He leads the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
All the Lord’s ways show faithful love and truth to those who keep his covenant and decrees.
Lord, for the sake of your name, forgive my iniquity, for it is immense.
Who is this person who fears the Lord?
He will show him the way he should choose.
He will live a good life, and his descendants will inherit the land.
The secret counsel of the Lord is for those who fear him,
and he reveals his covenant to them.
My eyes are always on the Lord,for he will pull my feet out of the net.
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am alone and afflicted.
The distresses of my heart increase; bring me out of my sufferings.
Consider my affliction and trouble, and forgive all my sins.
Consider my enemies; they are numerous, and they hate me violently.
Guard me and rescue me; do not let me be disgraced, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and what is right watch over me, for I wait for you.
God, redeem Israel, from all its distresses." -Psalm 25
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Peyton: "hehe, yea. I’m really sorry about that.
I tried to explain myself but, as you can tell, I’m not that well of a de-escalation negotiator."
Tristan puts his arm around his wife to be while playfully waving the guilty response away.
Tristan: "Haha, don’t worry about it.
I think we all learned a valuable lesson or two today."
Stephanie: "Teehaha!
I guess you can say that."
{Two Hours Later}
Sitting in the living room, all three of the men in the house are sitting around a table with a stack of cards in the middle.
Jay is sitting on the couch, Peyton is on the moved love seat, and Tristan has brought in an extra chair. Each man has a hand of cards as they are playing a card game.
Jay looks up from his dealed out hand at his kind, and welcoming home owner friend.
Jay: "Hey Tristan, I just wanna apologize again for the damage. I thought Peyton was part of some group of guys trying to rob your house and kidnap the girls. I didn’t mean to-"
A held up hand stops the young man from continuing his apology. It’s a Tristan’s.
Tristan: "No need Jay. Seriously.
The fact that you would fight for my family’s safety alone, makes up for any damages to any material possessions, man."
Jay smiles and nods at the sincerity of the Squad 1 captain.
Peyton rubs the back of his head nervously, recalling the fight between him and Jay earlier in the day.
Peyton: "Yea, sorry about that.
I used to be a jack of all trades before this apocalypse, so fixing that hole with the right equipment wasn’t a problem..."
The hole in discussion is seen crudely plastered over and painted, but fixed.
Peyton: "...But like I said before, negotiation wasn’t one of those skills, hehe."
Again, Tristan waves off the apology.
Tristan: "Nonsense. The way I see it, I know have a home with a group of gallant guys to protect Stephanie’s little sisters, and for that I thank the both of you."
Both Jay and Peyton nod at each other and then their ever so welcoming friend.
Peyton looks at his cards. He then takes a glance over at his new housemate, Jay.
Peyton: "So, Jay..."
Jay: "Yea?"
Peyton: "You’re saying you don’t remember anything from before your life before the Iceman apocalypse?"
As if seeming used to the question, Jason chuckles and puts his cards down.
Jay: "That is correct. For the past three years, everyday I’ve been trying to recount the memories of my past life.
The only luck I’ve had is my actual name.
I went by Clarence until about a year ago."
Tristan bursts into laughter and almost chokes on his beer.
Both of his new house guests take sips of their own drinks to hide their smiles.
Once the man of the house has calmed down and wipes up his face with a cloth, he releases one more soft laugh before explaining himself.
Tristan: "I actually remember that day..."
{13 Months Earlier}
[HFF Academy Combat Gymnasium]
About 60 students are sparring and practicing for their lives outside the protective mountains. Some are fighting hand to hand combat, while others are using practice swords.
Sitting, scattered throughout the bleachers are about 30 teachers, in addition to future mentors.
At the top, left most bleacher Daisuki sits with his arms folded, watching the groups of students in their own display of being in the fray.
Within earshot, two other scouting adults, one man, the other a woman, talk.
Male Scout: "I hear she’s the strongest of all the students. Male included... we’re doomed if that is the result of our future."
Daisuki stays quiet but listens without drawing any attention to his nosiness.
Female Scout: "Don’t be ignorant, Mitchell.
Just because a young lady has the most expectation of her peers, doesn’t discredit the class itself.
I’m more worried about her situation with that boy she’s constantly with."
The man named Mitchell bites his nails while he talks.
Mitchell: "That’s what I mean, Janette. When it comes to most women, when their is someone they care about more than themselves, they’ll tend to make decisions based more off emotions.
Unfortunately, when the world is at war, there is no room for emotional decisions.
Based off her transcript, she’s also top of her academic classes."
Daisuki starts scanning the crowd of students, trying to identify who they are gossiping about.
Janette: "See!
As far as we know, she’s the ultimate asset to saving humanity at this current moment.
From what the General has told us in our defense and strategic update meetings, there most likely won’t be help from the mainland any time soon.
For all we know, she could be the next Highest Echelon."
The man and woman look over to the front most row. Sitting by themselves, MamMon DæMon’s male form, Ryan Briggs, sits legs crossed, smiling.
Mitchell: "You’re skipping over the main issue here.
That boy she’s obsessed with and gets in fights for outside of class. He’s nothing special in combat. He barely passes his classes, and not to mention, he’s an obnoxious loudmouth.
However, based on what Gray has told all us observers to examine and record, the fact those two are without a doubt inseparable, makes her an instant liability, as much as she is an asset."
Out of the 60 sparring students are Tristan and Stephanie.
Both have practice swords in their grips and the lime green eyes of Steph are filled with tears.
Stephanie: "I’m sorry Tristan!"
There is a tiny cut on the young man’s left cheek and he in confusion puts a hand on it. Confirming the "injury" is a blood mark on his fingertips.
However, a smile grows on his face, pushing a little more blood out of the small wound.
Tristan: "Good job Steph!
You mastered the art of countering!"
Blushing Stephanie grabs a handkerchief from her pocket and rushes over as a whistle echoes throughout the gym and every student stops their match.
General Gray and a teaching assistant walk to the center of the enclosed area. His booming voice echoes to the high ceilings.
General Gray: "Alright!
That’s enough for today’s class! Now as always...
’Queen of the Mountains’, can you please step forward!"
From the crowd of students, a recognizable blonde swoop of hair moves through the people like a shark’s fin in water.
The teachers in the bleachers watch on in anticipation.
Mitchell: "There she is..."
Janette(whispers): "Oh my God!
You’re telling me she’s intelligent, strong, and adorable!
That girl is the triple threat of all triple threats!"
An intimidating Shelly steps out of the crowd. The highly respected, valiant young woman has cuts and bruises on her hands and face.
Ruining her badass moment, Katsu can be heard way off in the distance, his voice to echoes in the silence.
Katsu: "Go get em, Shelly! Woooohooo!"
The alone cheerleader makes the top of the class blush in front of everyone.
The male mentor in front of Daisuki facepalms.
Mitchell: "And there is her Achilles heel."
Janette: "I think it’s sweet.
Don’t underestimate a woman in love."
Somewhere else in the small grouping of students, Zeke and Jeremiah watch on. The red haired antagonizing student sucks his teeth and looks at his wrapped up hand.
Jeremiah: "Don’t sweat it, bro."
With Shelly standing next to the current General, the large man puts a hand on her shoulder and shouts out to his students.
General Gray: "Now, is there anyone left to challenge our champion!?"
In the back, Katsu (with both of his human green eyes) is bobbing up and down, excited to see his purpose prove herself.
With nobody stepping up or saying anything, also within the class, a year younger version of Jay (known as Clarence) is standing next to Tristan.
The young man chuckles and steps through Tristan.
The future Squad 1 leader grabs the challenger’s wrist.
Tristan: "Aye, Clarence. I know we got off to a bad start the other day, but trust me, sheeee isn’t what she seems."
’Clarence’ pulls his hand away and shakes his head.
Jay: "Sorry Bro, but I just can’t give up a good fight.
If she’s actually strong, I’m about to find out, I guess..."
He turns forward and shouts....
Jay: "Shit I’ll take the bait!"
Tristan lets his new pal walk to his doom, and Stephanie softly grabs her love’s hand.
Stephanie: "You tried Tritty."
Everyone looks towards the voice’s location in the group of young adults. Jay steps out into the center with a cocky smile.
{Present Day}
Jay: "5 seconds.
Apparently it only took her five seconds to knock my ass out so badly, when I woke up in the gymnasium I shouted ’My name is Jay’."
Smug Tristan shrugs his shoulders and takes another sip from his beer.
Tristan: "I tried to warn you."
Peyton thinks about the story, then finally reveals the card game the young men are playing.
Peyton: "Do you have any threes, Tristan?"
Tristan: "Go fish."
Jay: "Wait I thought we were playing poker!?"
There is a slight realization and the three new friends laugh out loud and it can be heard from the dining room the women are talking in.
