Shattering Humanity-Chapter 57: Squad 32

Both young men get up.

Dom: "How’s it goin’? I’m-"

Katsu walks in and gets a surprised look.

Katsu: "Dom!? Aiden?!"

Aiden: "Katsu!"

Aiden stops after seeing Katsu’s new IceEye.

Dom: "Ayeee, Katsu!(looks shocked)...Bro you got an IceEye too?! And wait, hold on a sec....is that a Lefty?!"

Katsu smiles and holds out his fist but before either can connect, Shelly stops them and grabs Katsu’s hand, making Aiden blush.

Shelly: "Katsu! Don’t you remember when Nephilim was talking to our clones about the link-ups? He said he has access to the watch information and pings. If we link-up with his watch, Dominic and Aiden be labeled as a terrorist with us. I’m sure Nephilim also has someone keeping a lookout on those monitors in case any squads link-up with us. That way they could immediately locate the watch that does, and they can be back on our tracks."

Aiden: "Yea, Katsu, what’s all that about?Terrorists? As soon as they tried framing you as a person who uses violence to get what they want, I knew something was up."

Katsu remembers what his clone told Nephilim and gets a huge smile.

Katsu: "I knew you guys wouldn’t fall for that stupid lie. Thanks Aiden. Thanks Dom."

Dom: "No prob. I really had no choice since Aiden is my promoted Squad leader but if you really are being framed then whose to say Squad 32 wont get framed next?"

Aiden: "Don’t mention it Katsu. It’s gunna take at least some proof to make me believe one of my closest friends is a terrorist."

Katsu gets excited and star-eyed remembering all the new things that have happened since Katsu and Shelly last saw Aiden. He grabs Saku and Itsuka and brings them to the allies. Friend follows.

Saku: "Lemme go spaz."

Katsu: "This is Saku and Itsuka! Saku has a dog...(Friend ’Ruffs’) named Friend.Along with my Big Bro Daisuki, Shelly, Scylia, and myself, we’re part of a bigger and better Squad than any 4 man group that comes out of those mountains!"

Dom crouches down and holds out his hand.

Dom: "Hey buuuud. You’re the coolest lookin’ dog ever!"

Friend approaches Dom without hesitation and the young man scratches under the pups chin.

Saku: "Welp guess that officially means my dog is no longer only friendly towards me."

Itsuka: "Well of course not. He’s a dog. After being around more friendly people, he has naturally gotten more friendly."

Daisuki sits behind his desk and starts to think.

Daisuki: "What happened to your mentor? And how did you two end up 20 miles from Hanabi City?"

Aiden puts his head down and Dom answers for his Captain.

Dom: "Our mentor, Mr.Lillard got snatched up by a giant Iceman and eaten whole, except his head. The whole thing was kinda wild."

Aiden(holding back tears): "He sacrificed himself for me. It was going to grab me but he pushed me out of it’s grasp and we couldn’t do anything to help him."

Dom: "As for your second question, it was that fat idiot Taylor who brought us all the waaay out here. If he hadn’t run off we wouldn’t have gotten split up and our mentor would probably still be alive. When I see him, I’m gunna..."

Saku: "Wait did you say ’fat idiot Taylor’?"

They all look at Saku as he tries fighting back a grin.

Saku: "Is his watch still showing his color?"

Aiden(nods): "All of Squad 32 is still alive except for our mentor. I don’t think we’ve met, nice to meet you Saku. I’m-"

Saku: "Yea, whatever nerd, where is Taytay now?"

Dom(irritated): "Aye don’t talk to my Squad Cap like that. I already told ya he ran off somewhere in this city. We hung on for dear life to that giant but he’s worse than a bull."

Aiden: "I fell off first and Dom had to let go too."

Shelly: "You seem more interested in this Taylor guy than anyone else Saku. Do you know him?"

Saku(nods): "So you know how you and I are considered ’Beasts of HFF’? Well TayTay is also considered one. He’s not fast or smart but if he gets a hold of you, then you might as well start praying to whatever God you believe in."

Dom: "You can say that again. You haven’t seen him with an eye yet have you?"

Saku gets a look of horror.

Saku: "He has an IceEye now? Holy. Shit."

He quickly EyeEngages at Daisuki with a serious expression.

Saku: "D, if we really want to build a strong rebellion against Nephilim and those ’Sisters’, we need to find that incredibly useful big fat idiot at all costs."

Somewhere in the city close to Sanpaku, Taylor is opening pull tab cans of food and pouring the contents in his mouth. He has an orange left eye and IceEye in his right now. He doesn’t have any Sunswords attached to either wide hip. As he tosses an empty can and it makes a clang off the ground, a smaller Iceman investigates the noise and sees Taylor. It charges at the 7 foot 9 inch, 420 pound man.

Tay notices the ’threat’ and with his giant hand he grabs the Iceman’s head and crushes it and the symbiote eyes with ease.The tank of a man finishes the last can and looks around. A giant Iceman shakes the ground close by and easily spots the large ’prey’. The giant Iceman makes its way towards him. Taylor looks upset as the 30 foot tall giant Iceman bends down and reaches out to grab him.

Taylor: "Leave. ALONE!"

Taylor bear hugs the finger of the giant alien that weighs easily over 50 tons, and flips it with ease, onto its back so hard it makes the giant ice creature shatter on top of an abandoned fast food restaurant. Taylor continues walking the streets alone.

Taylor: "Hungry.Aideenie?Domp?SOCK!"

Back in Sanpaku after explaining to Daisuki just how inhumanly strong the lovable idiot actually is.

Daisuki: "You must be exaggerating."

Dom: "Big Bro, guy, man, sir, trust me when I tell you, his strength is ’comical’ after you actually witness it."

Saku looks at Shelly.

Saku: "If it was him you traded punches with, like we did during our first meeting, your dead body would probably still be flying."

Shelly isn’t phased by Saku’s claim and looks at Aiden.

Shelly: "Aiden is that true? I can trust you."

Aiden(blushes): "Sorry Shelly, but they’re both right. Taylor is a kind soul, a valuable soldier, and can be easily persuaded with food. When I first watched him crush an Iceman head with his bare hand, I became terrified of him and began simming fights between you two."

Shelly: "And?"

Aiden: "It’s all based on analytics so I could always be wrong, but out of 100 sims, you both went 1 for 1, 50 wins and 50 losses.The times he won, were all one shots on you or he got a hold of you. After swinging and bashing you around, making it rain your blood, he would crumble the last bit of you that he had in his giant fist, and eats it."