The Prelude of Dakota Steel ( story is still being developed please don't steal)

Dakota Steel was born January 12th, 4286 to Argus and Iona Steel. Dakota spent his childhood playing on the family farm in Razor Klaw Ridge 50 miles from Kanyon City. At a young age he was taught the value of hard work by his father, a retired Special Forces Captain, as they worked on the farm early mornings, late evenings and weekends. His mother, a Tech Engineer, began educating him at age three and at age five Dakota was reading and writing and performing arithmetic well above his age. He took interests in computers and building things and for his birthdays and on Christmas’s Dakota received gifts like erector and chemistry sets. His mother’s wanted to challenge her sons mind in a positive way. “You’re the product of your own environment.” She would always say to her husband. At age five Dakota began his first year at Mordecai School of Higher Academics in Kanyon City. In his second year he met his childhood best friend, a female Husky/ Kassarian Wolf named Nika Myshkin.
Argus Steel and Nika’s father Dimitri Myshkin had served together in the KFM. On weekends and during breaks from school Dakota and Nika Would Spend time together exploring the Steels farm property and running around the village of Razor Klaw Ridge. Nika was a Tomboy who wore overalls and liked doing all the things the boys did. Dakota and Nika had a mutual love for skate boarding you could find the two boarding down Main Street in Razor Klaw Ridge often. Nika’ s favorite thing was horseback riding and the Steel family owned stallions, Dakota taught Nika how to ride how to rope and how to shoot, of course Dakota’s parents never knew about the shooting lessons in those early days.
In Dakota’s 10th year, his Uncle Rowan moved in because Iona fell ill with a cancer and Rowan wanted to help the family out and look after his nephew. That summer Rowan helped Dakota convert an old shed into a workshop. Dakota began restoring fixing and selling old bikes, for the children who lived in Razor Klaw Ridge, Dakota was an entrepreneur who was always coming up ideas to generate cash. Sometimes Nika would come over and they would take two of the bikes and ride together around the ridge, Dakota liked having Nika around that summer it took his mind off the fact that his mother was sick. On one summer day Nika took Dakota’s hand, not for the first time no, but this time it was different, it was somehow soft as were her eyes. Looking at him she whispered. “I’ll always be here for you Dakota I promise.” Then she kissed him on the cheek, she smelled sweet like the roses in his mother’s rose garden. Her scent was intoxicating, he started to feel different kinds of feelings for his best friend, feelings of desire, and it confused him. Nika heated the pup’s blood whenever she graced him with her presence, the pair became closer as the summer ended and fall arrived.
In the summer of 4296 Rowen and Argus started their own transportation company in the Kanyon City limits called Steel Transport; the KFM needed civilian trucks to fulfill contracts and there was lots of money to be made. Argus had taken out a second mortgage on the farm to purchase all the equipment and Rowan put in his life savings. Dakota built a hover board as his new quick mode of transportation; he would often come to the big city to run errands for his mother, who seemed to be getting around okay. Dakota visited his father and uncle frequently and stopped in to visit Nika at her father’s mansion in North Kanyon. School would be starting soon and Dakota, who loved the city, planned on seeing more of it with his new hover board. Nika offered to show him all the cool spots pending he could build her a hover board too. He agreed and they shook on it he also got another kiss; he was starting to enjoy her kisses.
Iona Grace Steel passed away on Oct 16, 4296. Iona’s end of life ceremony was held a few days later on the Steels farm. The sky was black and released a cold somber rain Dakota stood next to his father listening to the Shaman’s words that yielded no comfort, Nika who lost her mother too, held Dakota’s hand tightly but he couldn’t feel her, she tried to catch his eye but he refused to look at her. Dakota was dead inside, he felt sick, but most of all he was angry. After the ceremony he retired to his room. Nika’a father Dimitri suggested that she give the boy some space, she did as she was asked, but she wanted to hold him and never let go, her friend was in pain and she needed to be with him. But for now she would leave him alone. “Can you have him call me when feels up to it?” She asked Argus. “If he feels better I’ll ask him if he wants to call you, but don’t be surprised if you don’t hear from him for a few days. He’s been through a lot.” Argus replied sadly. Dimitri shook Argus’s hand. “Argus I’m so sorry about Iona.” “Thanks Dimitri.” Argus said. “I really appreciate everything you did for us today it was a beautiful ceremony, despite the weather.” Dimitri looked out over the open fields then he turned back Argus. “Your son, he’s going to recover from this, time heals, the key word being time.” Then Dimitri lowered his voice to a whisper. “I have been noticing things with the kids; I think they’re getting sweet on each other.” Argus at him looked amused. “So I’ve noticed. He said. “Is that a problem for you?” Argus asked, his voice sounding slightly defensive now. “No! Of course not Argus.” Dimitri said. “But it might be time for you to have the talk; you know the whole birds and bees thing.” Argus cocked his eyes at him. “Dimitri I’ll raise my son as I see fit, he’s my business. You worry about Nika. My son is grieving the loss of his mother right now. I don’t believe his mind is on girls at the moment.” Dimitri looked down at his feet, he regretted mentioning anything. Argus sat in his chair on the porch, and let out a sigh. “’I’ll talk to him and I’m sorry if I came off as an asshole just now.” “You just lost your wife Argus it’s understandable, I’m the one who should be sorry, I shouldn’t have pushed the issue.” Dimitri said. “Goodbye Old friend.” Dimitri summoned Nika, she joined him and they left with Nika looking back at the house, she had tears in her eyes.
The farm and house felt cold and lonely, Dakota’s mother had wanted the farm and to raise horses and live off the land she was the glue that held everything together, now things were different, there was a big hole left behind. Over the next six months Dakota found little comfort except in his workshop with his tools and his project’s he became depressed and suicide crossed his mind a time or two. School didn’t really interest him anymore his grades slipped and sometimes he ditched class, he became a stranger to everyone. Rowen and Argus tried talking with him unsuccessfully, Dakota had very little too say to them, he didn’t even see Nika very much in those six months. He knew she wanted to help but she couldn’t. He asked her to give him a little time and she agreed, and in return he promised to check in once a week even if it was just to tell her he was okay, of course he wasn’t and she knew that, she just needed to hear his voice. Nika began to realize that she had a crush on her friend as well, her stomach fluttered when he spoke to her and it hurt her heart that she might lose him. She found it very difficult to concentrate on her studies during that time she just wished everything could go back to normal back when he was full of life.
Dakota decided he was never going back to the charter school again, it was his mother’s wishes for him, but she was dead and honestly he didn’t care anymore, and why waste the money charter school wasn’t cheap after all. His father was disappointed with the decision at first, but he understood that maybe a change in schools would help his son get past his mother’s death, plus it would save him money. It was the money in the end, that made Argus accept his son’s wishes. Argus missed his wife dearly and he didn’t know what to do with his son’s rebellious attitude anymore. She hadn’t been gone but a few months and things were already deviating from how they had agreed to raise their son. “Promise me when I’m gone that he will stay at the charter school and finish Argus, promise me you’ll push him to be the best he can be.” Iona had begged Argus during her final month. “I’m already fucking up and breaking promises” Argus thought to himself.
Summer came and went and fall meant it was time for another school year to start. Dakota had spent his eleventh summer in Razor Klaw Ridge earning as much side money as he could get, he tossed papers, mowed yards and collected cans, (he really had earned most of the money illegally). He would need supplies and clothes for school. Dakota insisted he didn’t need his father’s help, this made Argus have conflicted feelings about his son, on one hand he was proud of his son’s willingness to work hard and provide for himself, on the other he felt like Dakota was shutting him out, even more these days. The rejection hurt Argus and made him feel like a dead beat dad.
On the first day at his new school Dakota, now going by Dak, jetted up to the school like a bat out of hell on his new hover board, this one broke down and could fit into his bag. As with every new kid, there were many stares from fellow peers. Dak had always been required to dress a certain way at his old charter school; A long sleeve blue, black, tan or green button up shirt with a matching tie, or a polo of the same colors, dress slacks, either navy blue, black or khaki. Polished black or brown dress shoes completed the attire. This day however it was a solid black t-shirt, blue jeans, wallet chain, black leather belt and high top black leather combat boots that laced. His hair cut was different too, the comb over was replaced with gel and spikes.
Dak found life expectantly easy at the Kanyon City grade school, staying on top of his school work was a breeze and he had become very well known by reputation and had made a few friends. Dak had broken into the administration building in those early weeks and embedded a rouge program into the administration computer now he could change grades and attendance records of any student in the school for the right price of course. He was simply the kid with the connection; his intelligence had brought heat from some students that could be considered future jocks, one in particular Jet, a Heinz 57 Mutt but still well on his way to being a beast, mutts were looked down upon in Kassarian society. Jet approached Dak in the hallway mid school year in winter. His request was simple he needed to pass, but he wasn’t about to pay for services rendered, especially the steep price Dak had tossed out. Dak’s father had taught him how to fight years earlier, and he had always made Dak understand that self defense was never about looking for trouble or bullying others. The challenge came quickly when Dak turned to walk away from Jet. Dak felt Jet’s massive hand reach out and grab his backpack. Dak released his harness on the bag, Jet, who was slightly taller, stumbled backwards, Dak came in on Jet’s left side and laid a sharp right jab into Jet’s left Jaw. The large mutt howled in pain but Dakota wasn’t finished, he needed to end this quick before Jet came back with a punch of his own. The wolf grabbed Jet in a headlock while in a simultaneous motion drove his right knee into Jet’s ribs. With a leg sweep for good measure, Jet went down hard with Dak still applying the headlock, Jets face smashed hard on the hallway floor. Dak crawled on top of Jet’s back applying a stiff rear chokehold Dak knew that impact with the floor had finished the mutt and he wasn’t getting up easy, but one more order of business needed to be handled preferably before the teachers showed up. Now the other students in the circle that formed around the pair could mostly see everything that was going on, but they couldn’t see the switchblade knife that Dak was holding to Jet’s jugular in that chokehold position they also couldn’t hear what Dak was whispering in Jet’s ear but it was quick, Dak stood up, retrieved his bag and pushed through the crowd of onlookers.
At the first trash can Dak deposited the knife he was carrying, he hated tossing it but the knife had served its purpose plus he had other blades back at home and he couldn’t risk being caught with it. Dak was playing back in his mind what he had said to Jet; “Tell them you fell, don’t mention the knife to anyone, and don’t approach me again for any reason, or I’ll get your address from the school system computer and carve your throat while you sleep. Do you understand me?” Of course Dak would never have actually done such an act. Would he? But, Jet didn’t know that. The knife stunt had worked because Dak had chopped the mutt down unexpectedly and had hurt him pretty good, with his bare hands, the mutt wouldn’t call the bluff it was psychology 101. Dak actually felt sorry for the poor bastard, most guys like that usually had a story about why they were pricks. If Dak had to guess, daddy was probably never in the picture and Jet was the product of a single mother that had a lot of asshole boyfriends. So what? Dak had a story to and it didn’t give him the right to treat people like shit for no reason. That said, he had enjoyed teaching the punk a lesson, it’s like he took some kind of sick pleasure especially with the knife. He had almost drawn a little blood on the blade but decided it was overkill for the situation but it did feel right for a second.
Dak was called into principal Schultz’s office concerning the earlier events of the day, but this was just a shake down, no witnesses had came forward and Jet told everybody he had fallen it was just pure speculation on the part of Schultz. Schultz was a sly fox or at least he thought he was. The fact that a knife might have been present wasn’t even mentioned in this conversation. Dak set in his chair arms folded as the fox came around and leaned against the edge of his desk looking down at the wolf. Schultz wanted to know why Dak was enrolled at his school and why he was not doing advanced placement classes, obviously Schultz had looked at Dak’s past school and records and concluded that the young wolf was on what he called academic vacation. Dak, now twelve the prior week, fired back that he was going into the KFM at age sixteen, and as long as he had great marks what business of it was Schultz’s if he was taking the easy route or not, then Dak excused himself and stormed out of the office as there was nothing more to discuss.
4 years later on 01-12-4302 Dak’s 16th birthday the pup, which was now a young adult, awoke early and quickly dressed and rushed downstairs. Argus and Rowen were in the kitchen having coffee and talking as Dak walked in. “So today is the big day eh, my boy?” Rowen said, as Dak Filled a mug with coffee and nibbled on some bacon. Argus looked at his son “You’re still going to finish this school year at least aren’t you?” “Actually I was thinking I might work at the warehouse until the end of summer.” Dak said with a mouthful of bacon. The teenager looked at his watch, “Oh!!! It’s time, I have to go.” Dak grabbed his bag and headed for the front door, Argus said “I need a quick word man to man” “Dad can’t it wait till tonight and I promise we will talk” Dak said as he climbed on his motorcycle. Argus held out a hand to his son “I’m going to hold you to that, good luck today” they shook hands and Argus stood back as Dak fired up the bike. It was this day that Dak would take his high school equivalency exam as well as the Kassarian Federation Military written and physical test and pass, in the fall he would attend the boot camp at the Challenger base in sector 2. He would work at his father’s business and save up as much cash as he could. He needed to spend all time he could with Nika before he left town, he had put off telling her until the end of the summer because he knew she was strongly against him going into the military.
“You’re going to get yourself killed Dakota!!!” She screamed at him on a Saturday evening in late august, he was shipping out on that Monday. “Damn it Nika!!! I don’t have time for this!!!” He raised his voice at her, and she turned her back to him. Nika stared out into the desert watching the sun slowly set. “You told me you were only thinking of going, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you’ve became so good at lying the last few years.” Dakota rolled his eyes. “So how has it been lately?” She said “Your sickness I mean.” She turned back to look at him her eyes were beginning to water. “I was so happy the day you came back from whatever mental hell you were in, you started going to counseling even though I knew you hated it, you started opening up to me and your father a little more and I knew you were going to recover, I knew everything was going to be okay with you, with us.” “But then I had to face the reality of it all, you had developed a taste for blood; you developed aggressive predatory sickness and a desire to kill.” “You learned how to hide your true self, how to lie, how to deceive, you perfected your cunning ways” “You were living a double lif-.” He cut her off, “NIKA!!! THAT’S ENOUGH WITH THIS SHIT!!!” He regretted it the minute he heard himself say it. “Damn it” he thought to himself, not only had he yelled at her AGAIN, but he had snarled and flashed his fangs when he said it. Nika’s ears went down and her eyes grew big with fear, she took a step back. He could feel the blood pulsing and his rage building, his eyes turned cold and dark, he was seeing red. Dak was pissed and he had a desire to kill her; she must have known he did because she took a few more steps back. Dak reached into his pocket and produced a bottle of capsules. The bottle had a label that read;
Canis Gannor’s Elixir and Medicine Shoppe
Black Islay Aggro Root
To Control Aggressive Predatory Syndrome
Take Two Capsules As Needed To Control Symptoms Of APS
Dak downed a few dry and put the cap back on. He then looked back to Nika slowly he took a step forward and held out his hand “Don’t be frightened Nika.” He said. “I would never do anything to hurt you. “She looked at him, his rage seemed to subside before her, and his eyes went from black to blue again. “What’s in that shit?” She thought to herself. Against her inner conscience she went to him.
The wolf pulled her close, her heart was racing, she was scared but she pushed the thought away. She laid her head against his broad chest, “I’m sorry” She whispered. She could hear his heart beat, Nika loved that sound, and many times she had fallen asleep to the rhythm of his heart. “Everything is going to be okay” He said softly as she stared up into his deep blue eyes, “I’m not going off to die, I’m doing what I have to do, to gain control over my dark side. The KFM will help me with this.” He whispered. “Tell me the truth about what really happened to you Dakota.” She said. “Tell me about what did this to you, before you go away, please.” She begged. He sat down on a flat boulder and she joined him, he reached for her hand “Are you sure you want to know?
The details are, how do I say this? Graphic.” She nodded. Now Dakota glanced at the setting sun and he began his story. “It was my thirteenth year, and I was in middle school, the eighth grade, it was early November just a few weeks before the winter holiday, Do you remember my friend Howie, I told you about?” Nika looked at him. “He was the friend who committed suicide.” She said. Dakota nodded and continued “Howie’s father Chops worked in the mines in the eastern part of the province, and he was a drunkard and when he got drunk he took his problems out on Howie, with his fists.”
Nika put her hand on the back of Dakota’s neck and stroked it softly. “I’m here” She said softly, He continued without acknowledging. “Everybody knew, he would often come to school with marks and bruises I would ask him what happened and he would hesitate, then he would lie, saying he fell or walked into a wall, or some other dumb shit it was obvious, he was a pretty timid guy.” “On that November day he didn’t show up to school and I was worried, so I ditched out halfway into the day. I found his address in the Dean’s computer so I knew where he lived and I sped over on my hover board.”
Dakota put his face in his hands and massaged his eyes. “I approached the front door slowly, I heard yelling, it was his father, I could also hear Howie crying, then something went flying across the room, something glass. I heard it shatter on the opposite wall.” “Then Howie screamed and was begging his father to stop, I couldn’t see anything, my heart was racing I had to help him so I ran around the back of the house. On the back deck there are two double doors with glass, I can see into the house off the dining room is the living room and.” Dakota paused he had a lump in his throat. “You can to stop now honey, I get it” Nika said “NO! I need t-to get t-this out.” Dakota choked on the words. “So I’m looking into the living room and Howie is on the ground in a ball or a fetal position. His dad is on top of him punching him and Howie has a black eye and a bloody nose, he can’t even get his hands up to protect himself. I tried the door and it’s locked, I look around on the deck and I find a wood axe, like what you would use for splitting firewood. I take it in my hands its heavy but I can manage, I use the axe to bust down the back door I mean I shatter it, I sprint into the living room Howie’s father is already up he is yelling at me to get out of his house, I drive the axe handle into his stomach he goes down. I turn to Howie and help him up he doesn’t know me at first, he can barely walk, he has a limp. We get to the back door that I broke down when Howie screams, I look behind me and his dad is back up Axe in hand and he is charging us waving it violently, I flip the dining room table over on its side and block the path hoping it will slow him down or trip him up, Howie is begging me to save him at this point. I grab a meat cleaver from the chopping block just as his father bursts into the kitchen. I throw the cleaver it misses him but I don’t, I spear him into the table. I tried to wrestle the axe but the son of a bitch was stronger than me, soon he has pinned me down we each have a hold of the axe trying to pull it away from the other, he is screaming that he is going to kill me. The meat cleaver is behind me but I can’t reach it, I think I’m going to die”
Dakota looked at the sunset again “I killed Howie’s father. I pulled my switchblade from my pocket and stuck it in his ribs. Once he let go of the axe I swung and connected between his neck and his clavicle. I almost decapitated him. The rangers showed up a few minutes later and took me and Howie away I had his father’s blood down the front of me, and on my face.” Nika eyes were opened wide in shock. “You told me that your APS was from the loss of your mother and a few violent scraps at school you never said you killed anybody, oh god!!!” She fell silent taking in everything he had told her. The sun set below the mountains and darkness began to fall “I should get you home I don’t want your father to worry” The wolf said. Dakota and Nika walked back to his bike, he helped her with her helmet and she climbed on behind him. “Hold on tight” He said. Dakota sped off toward Kanyon City. Nika held on tight to him she wasn’t ready to say goodbye, not like this anyway. In a short time they arrived at the home of Dr. Dimitri Myshkin and what a grand home it was, Dakota called it the castle as a pup. “Will you walk with me?” Nika asked as she climbed off of the motorcycle. Dak obliged and killed the engine; they walked around to the side gate which led to the oasis at the back of the property. Nika’s mother Xena has designed and landscaped the backyard, it was huge probably 5 acres worth; it had a pool with a hot tub waterfalls and fire pits. The garden was the secret spot of the pair when they were both children, as they walked Dakota remembered the games of tag and hide and seek that had been played in this very garden, he also noticed Nika’s eyes they were bluish green and tonight they were especially beautiful, she was looking more and more like her mother everyday leaving the little girl behind and stepping into her womanhood.
Nika led them to the center of the garden, here stood a massive weeping willow this was a special place where the couple had spent much time together. Dakota had fallen out of this tree as a kid and sprained his ankle and Nika had to carry him to the house. This memory made him smile. They both sat under the tree in silence, she sat between his legs with the back of her head against his chest, and he had his arms around her just below her breasts. “So I have been thinking about everything you told me tonight” She said. “Just here me out, and after I’m done giving my opinion I don’t think we need to talk about it anymore, Agreed?” At this Dakota let out a grunt. “Firstly” she said. “I don’t think you’re a monster, you scared me sure but I shouldn’t have pushed you like that, especially not knowing about the Howie incident. Secondly, if you hadn’t defended yourself that psycho would have killed you, and I’m happy it was him instead of you. Thirdly, you can’t blame yourself for Howie’s suicide, things happen that we can’t control, even if you could have stopped him he would have tried again until he succeeded. She rolled over and looked at him. “Baby you can’t always be the hero.” Nika grabbed the back of Dakota’s head and pulled him close to her, their muzzles met. Dakota, grabbing her ass, picked her up as she wrapped her legs around his waist; her juicy lips, full and soft, tasted like sweet nectar, he pushed her back against the bark of the weeping willow. Nika shoved her tongue deep inside his muzzle exploring him thoroughly; “Fuck she tasted good.” Dakota thought to himself. She dug her claws into his back as their tongues found each other twisting, gliding and dancing to the rhythm of their heavy panting. Nika snagged his tongue between her teeth and she began sucking it hard; he thought she might suck it out of his mouth. She released and kissed him once more, slowly and sensually this time. The moment seemed to last forever and neither wanted it to end.
“Was that my going away present?” Dakota asked as they both stood in front of the house arm in arm. She smiled. “That’s just a taste of what you’re going to get, when you come back to me alive.” They embraced as tears began to fall down her cheeks again. “I promise ill right you every chance I get, I love you Nika.” He said. Nika reached into her pocket and removed a round golden locket. “Here I want you to have this, for luck, and so you can carry me with you until you’re home safe, I love you too.” He opened the locket; the two pictures inside were taken the night of the formal dance that past spring at her school. One photo was of Nika by herself the other was the couple standing together in her mother’s garden. Nika’s father Dimitri had taken the pictures before the couple left for the dance. She had asked him to the dance which he found funny. “It’s supposed to be me asking you to the dance.” He remembered saying. That night she wore a red dress and she had rented him a black tux with a matching red vest, tie and handkerchief, she was all about matching. He remembered how beautiful she was that night, and how magical it had been, it was the night they confessed their love for each other. He closed the locket and put it in his pocket. They kissed once more and said their goodbyes than the wolf mounted his motorcycle. “Dakota, please come back to me.” Nika said to herself as Dakota kicked up dust and sped into the night.
30 Minutes later he pulled into the private drive of his family’s farm as he drove up the driveway he seen a light on. “Who’s up this late?”He asked himself. Argus and Rowen were both setting on the front porch talking, his father acknowledged him as he reached the landing at the top of the steps. “So how is Nika doing?” He asked as he sipped his drink and took a drag off his cigar. “She’s good, I think I calmed her down and reassured her that everything’s going to be okay.” To this Rowen said “Well I think I’m going to call it a night, see you both in the morning.” Rowen excused himself and went into the house. Dakota now sat in the rocking chair opposite his father, He could smell the smoldering cigar that Rowen had put out, and the scent burned his nostrils. “How’s about a drink?” Argus said picking up a bottle and replenishing his glass. “The way I see it, if you’re old enough to serve your country then you’re old enough to have a drink with your old man”
He poured a significant amount of the liquor into another glass and handed it to his son. “This is what you call a double!” Argus said smiling; he clearly already had several drinks tonight, “what is it?” Dakota asked smelling the liquor, it smelled like dirty feet. “It’s what the Terradonian’s call scotch whisky; your mother introduced me to it right after we met.” Argus raised his glass “Here’s to you my son, Cheers!” Argus tapped his son’s glass and took a big swig of the scotch, Dakota did the same. It burned his throat and insides as it went down and the taste made him want to gag. It tasted like dirty feet too and it had a very smoky finish. “Goddamn it!!” Dakota said making a face “Dad that stuff is terrible.” Argus took another sip “It’s an acquired taste, your mom wasn’t a fan of it either mostly her father, your grandfather, drank it.” Dakota turned his head and spit on the ground. “I’ll never get that taste out of my mouth.” He thought to himself. “So about Nika,” Argus began, “I think she will be fine she is tough woman, however I would be lying to you if I told you it was going to be easy, you most likely won’t be stationed here in Kanyon, but in one of the outlying bases in the outlaw country.” Argus’s tone grew serious. “So you need to keep your head about you five years is a long time, you have a 50/50 chance of her moving on with her life after a year of your absence, and then your odds get worse in the second year. The bright side to this if she still hasn’t left you after 3 years then your odds are great, my point is its going to be a rough 5 years for you both” Argus re lit his cigar. “Don’t get distracted in the field that’s a good way to get yourself killed, and be sure to listen to your commanding officers, when they give an order you better damn well follow it, might just save your life.” Argus looked out into the night. “Dakota I don’t mean to be negative about this but you have signed on to be in the shit and that’s just the truth of it. That said I’m very proud of you, and I know your mother, Elysium rest her soul, would be very proud of you despite the fact you didn’t take the road she wanted for you.” Argus smiled again. “Of course you are my son, and your uncle and I both served, so in a way there was a good chance you were going to enlist anyways.” Dakota yawned, “Well old man I’m going to crash, I have to get all my stuff together tomorrow for the big trip. “One more thing,” Argus said, as he began to rise from his chair he tripped over his tail, Dakota caught him as he fell forward. “Dad, are you ok?” “I think I’ve had a little too much to drink” Argus replied. “C’mon you’re going to bed.” Dakota put his father’s arm around him and walked him into the house. A moment later they stood at the foot of the stairs. “Can you make it up alright?” Dakota asked, “I think I can manage.” Argus said grabbing the hand rail and pulling himself onto the first step. “You know we really need an elevator in here” Argus Chuckled again. Dakota rolled his eyes. “Or maybe you need to stop getting so piss ass drunk.” With time and a little effort they made it to the top of the staircase, “In the home stretch now.” Dakota thought to himself as they approached Argus’s bedroom, Dakota felt around on the wall for the light switch finally finding it. The room light up brightly Argus squinted as Dakota helped him into his bed; Argus stretched out and kicked his shoes off. “WAIT!!!” Argus suddenly shouted scaring to hell out of his son. “Dad what is it? What’s wrong?” Dakota asked. “C- Come s-sit d-down.” Argus demanded while slurring his words. Dakota came and sat on the edge of the bed looking at his father who held out a hand, Dakota took it in his own. Argus began to speak. “Dakota listen to me I’m so Sorry” Argus’s eyes began to tear up. “I’m sorry for everything” “Dad what are you talking about?” Dakota said. “Shut up and just listen, when your mother died, I know that I became distant from you. I should have been there I should have tried to talk to you more I should have comforted you but I didn’t know how.” Argus was sobbing heavy now. “I should have been a better father, it was my job to protect you from the evils in this world and I failed in my responsibility. I never wanted you to grow up to be like me, I wanted you to be like your mother, in everything she did she used her intellect, she saved us all from annihilation and she never shed a drop of blood. She made a difference in the lives of everybody she knew, she was so wholesome and pure and I was a monster that did terrible things in the name of serving my county. I don’t know what the hell she seen in me.” Dakota sat in silence for a moment then he spoke. “Dad, listen to me. I’m your son and I couldn’t have asked for a better father than you, you did the best you could, you did great. Sometimes in life we take a path that we didn’t know we would or could take. And I have both of the best parts of you and mom inside me, and maybe, just maybe, I will make a difference in this life like she did.” Argus put his massive hand on his sons shoulder. “I love you son, I always have. “I love you to dad.” The two embraced than Dakota bided his father goodnight. Dakota lay awake in his bed thinking about everything his father had said, then his thoughts drifted to his mom. “What would she think about the years she wasn’t here?” He wondered to himself “What would she think about me?” His eyes became heavy and he to fell asleep.
He awoke on Sunday morning to the scent of bacon eggs coffee and French toast coming from downstairs he walked into the kitchen to find Rowen standing over the stove. “Are you hungry?” Rowin asked. “I could eat.” Dakota said with a yawn. “Have a seat.” Rowen said. Dakota took a seat at the large dining room table, Rowen poured some coffee into a mug and brought it over to the table and set in front of Dakota than he returned to his food on the stove. Dakota sipped his coffee in silence. They both heard a noise up stairs. “Sounds like your father is up” Rowen said with an amused tone. He grabbed a stack of clean plates from the cabinet and started fixing plates. Argus appeared in the doorway and said nothing as he made his way to the coffee pot. Rowen and Dakota began to snicker as Rowen set the table with plates of food. “How’s that hangover this morning big brother.” Rowen said with a smirk on his face. “I took the liberty of cooking a big breakfast I hope you’re hungry.” Dakota nearly fell out of his seat laughing. Argus sat down at the table and began picking at his food. “Laugh it up you two.” Argus said, he ate a few pieces of bacon then pushed the plate away. “Sorry Rowen but I’m not feeling very hungry this morning, this is all I need.” He pointed to the coffee mug. “M-mm the breakfast of champions right here.” They ate in silence for a moment Argus was reading yesterdays paper and drinking his coffee. Rowen looked at him grinning. “Damn Argus you so hung over that you don’t realize that’s yesterday’s news paper?” “Shut up Rowen I didn’t read yesterdays paper” Argus growled. Rowen turned his attention to his nephew. “Your dad’s a grumpy ass this morning, so anyways about your lady troubles nephew don’t worry about it. You have an advantage to all the other men she could possibly meet in college, bunch of beta pussy’s most of them in my opinion. The old timers used to say us being military warriors, and having A.P.S was a blessing in disguise because it made us the best alphas, and the ladies would appreciate that, especially when need to breed comes calling. You see nephew When a gal is in heat she needs an alpha to rock her world in between the sheets. And make no mistake women can tell the difference between true alphas versus a beta posing as one, they can smell it.” This made Dakota blush, he and Nika had never had sex, she was going to graduate high school then go to college for her M.D. and he was going into the military so they both had agreed to wait, all their other friends were already having sex and some had even bred with their mates and had children. “You’re one to be giving relationship advice.” Argus cut in. “Dakota your uncle has no idea of such things he thinks he’s a stud but in reality he is full of bullshit. “Fuck you Argus”. Rowen spat. “You might have been getting all the pussy in the service but you can’t cook for shit and I’m the reason you stayed fed.” Rowen sat back with his hands behind his head and a smile on his face. “I’ll have you know Dakota your uncle here is a culinary artist I can make a M.R.K. taste like filet mignon.” At this both brothers broke out into hysterical laughter. “Now that most certainly isn’t bullshit.” Argus agreed “Son you’ll see what we’re talking about when you get to try one for the first time.” Rowen cut in. “Yeah you won’t be able to shit for a week.”
After breakfast Argus and Rowen cleaned up meanwhile Dakota went back up to his room, he pulled a duffle bag from a chest at the foot of his bed and began filling it with clothes, socks, boxers, undershirts all white of course per KFM regulations. Uniforms and footware would be issued upon arrival at the training camp he would wear his blue jeans and old tennis shoes for the trip. He packed a book and magazines he had picked up in Kanyon earlier the week before. One title read A Full History of the Kassarian Federation Military, another was a magazine about custom motorcycles, and the final magazine was a dirty magazine, for when he needed to self service, titled Erotically Sexy Furmates it featured a beautiful Vixen on the cover wearing only a g-string with sexy bare tits. Dakota tossed the reading materials in the bag. He grabbed his music master mp3 player and tossed it in the bag to. “That should do.” He thought. Dakota helped his father square away the farm before he left, the horses, cows, and chickens were all fed and their pens were cleaned fresh hay was brought in and the green houses were tended to nothing was ready for picking just yet thankfully. “What are you going to do for the harvest season?” Dakota asked his father. “I’m thinking I might hire some hands this season and if they are worth a damn, maybe I’ll just keep them on, we do have a bunk house.” Argus replied. Dakota spent the afternoon picking up and organizing his workshop it was about a 500 square ft workspace. He wheeled his motorcycle in to the shop and removed all the oil and fuel from the engine as it would be stored here for the next five years, storing it dry would ensure no internal damage to the bike’s engine, then he pulled a tarp over it. Dakota looked around at the shop, he would miss it. This place had served as his refuge during the hard times of his life a place he could get away from everybody, Rowen called it the pups man cave, of course he wasn’t a man at the time it was built. Dakota locked the door up tight and cut the power to the building, and started back to the house. Halfway to the house he stopped suddenly. “What the fuck are you doing Dakota?” He thought. “Go and see her.” He looked over at the rose garden, his mothers rose garden, the place she had been laid to rest.
Iona Steels body in truth had been cremated in a ceremony called the offering to Elysium. Elysium is the god of light. Religious people who believe in the balance of life, and who believe the book of harmony to be a guide to eternal salvation hold the belief that the soul could not escape and make its way to the afterlife unless the soul’s body was cremated. Iona in most of her life had never been big on religion, not even her own people’s religion of Christianity, but in the last three months of her life Iona had converted, she attended meetings at the local Harmonic temple and listened to the Shamans sermons about the salvation that awaited those who were noble of heart. Souls of nobility were granted passage to the light realm whilst the souls of wicked were sent to the dead realm. Dakota wasn’t sure what he believed as far as the afterlife was concerned, but if Abacus was real than fuck him for taking her away. Dakota approached the gate at the picket fence; the fence was white and was lined with chicken wire on the inside, Argus had done this to keep the feral rabbits away from the garden as they liked to eat the rose petals. Dakota unlatched the gate made his way inside, the rose beds were planted in a horseshoe with Iona’s Headstone all the way at the back in the middle. The roses were a melody of colors all inter mixed White, pink, blue, red, orange and purple, Argus had planted sod grass Dakota could only imagine how much water it must take to keep all these plants and grass alive and healthy since it was in a desert region. He approached his mother’s headstone and knelt down next to it. Iona’s marker was made of Bronze and granite it too had been well maintained he envisioned his father in this very same spot shining the marker on a regular basis. Dakota read the engraving on the bronze plaque:
In Memory of Iona Grace Steel a Nurturing Mother and a Loving Wife. April 19 4256 – October 16 4296. In life Iona Grace Steel was a voice for the weak and a champion for justice she dedicated her time to making the world a better place. She is to be honored for bravery in the face of danger and service to the Kassarian Federation. She is to be commended for her contributions to society and in the academic fields of science technology and medicine. Iona shall live on forever in the hearts and minds of those whose lives she touched.
Dakota sat in silence for a few moments trying to find the words he wanted to say. After a few moments he spoke “Hi Mom, it’s me.” He paused than continued. “So I know it’s been a few years since I spoke to you.” He paused again. “This is so stupid; I’m talking to a headstone.” He thought to himself. A click of the lock on the gate got his attention, he stood up and seen a little person coming down the path toward him. This individual wore a black cloak with gold trim, had a long snout and long ears the fur was brindle and white, this person stood a whole 5’3”. “A Welsh Corgi” Dakota thought. The corgi walked up to just a few feet away from Dakota and stopped. The corgi spoke. “Mind if I join you young man?” Dakota thought about it for a moment. “I guess.” He said. “Thank you.” The Corgi replied, eyeing the headstone. “My condolence for your mother Dakota, Iona was such a beautiful spirit.” Dakota looked over at him. “Who are you?” He asked. “I’m Ismay Saxon.” The corgi replied. “And I am the senior Shaman at the Harmonic temple in Kanyon City. I’m also the Shaman who conducted your mother’s end of life ceremony.
“Yeah I remember you, so what are you doing here?” Dakota asked looking puzzled. Red smiled and pulled from inside his cloak a large shipping envelope, he handed it to Dakota. “What’s this?” He asked. “Something your mother wanted you to have, when you became of age. Red said. Dakota tore the seal on the envelope and pulled the continents out. The First item was a medium sized book, Dakota read the title; The Book of Harmony. “That book belonged to your mother; she used it during my life lecture’s at the temple.” Red said. “She read this book cover to cover many times over, she could almost quote it in her sleep.” “Maybe you could read it and find some peace and comfort and understand that she is not forever gone.” Dakota leveled his eyes at Red’s. “Red, I don’t really believe in all that stuff, I wanted to for a long time but in my heart I think its bullshit.” Dakota pulled out the other item it was black, 4” wide by 6” long and .5” thick, he tried to open it with no luck. “What the hell is this thing?” Dakota asked Red, “A calculator?” “That I can’t be sure of, Iona didn’t tell me.” Red said. Dakota slid the items back into the envelope, and looked back down at the headstone. “You know Red I haven’t been out here since the End of life ceremony, when this headstone and marker was set.” Red took out a pipe and sat down in the grass next to the headstone. “Do you mind?” Red asked gesturing to the pipe. “No, go ahead.” Dakota said. Red struck a match and lit the top of the bowl; he took a few puffs inhaling deeply. “You know it’s a funny thing we refer to that ceremony as the end of one’s life, but in reality we all just reach another state of consciousness when we leave this world but we are still very much alive.” Red looked at Dakota measuring him “And what took you so long to come back and visit after all this time?” Red asked. “I guess I just felt like I needed to make things right before I left.” Dakota said. “Let me ask you a question, do you think she feels like I forgot about her?” Red took another long drag off of his pipe and set quietly for a few moments. “Dakota you have absolutely nothing to make right here, you were a boy when she passed, just a scared little boy. You were sad and then angry, the road of the grieving can be a long hard road, and one will experience many different kinds of emotions.” Red said. “You haven’t come out here for years because you fear those old memories coming back. At the same time you feel guilty for being distant from this place and from her.” Have you ever considered that maybe the best way to honor her memory is by you living the best life possible?” “Stop sulking and thinking you have to make something right when she was never disappointed in you at the end of her life, and guess what? She’s not disappointed now, so let it alone. She always doted on you when she was coming to the temple those last three months, she loved you very much. You know a child reaches a point in their own life were they must start chasing their own dreams instead of their parents.” Red stood and pocketed his pipe. “Stop feeling guilt or regret for the path you chose because you didn’t choose it, the path chose you. Make the best of your situation, and live a plentiful life, Elysium commands this of us. The worst thing you can do is wither inside from guilt and regret, and let your spirit die.” Red bid Dakota a farewell and started back up the trail to the gate. Dakota went back to talking with his mother. Suddenly he heard Red’s voice in his head; Dakota she is always around you, she feels the pain in your heart, she knows you’ve never forgotten her but she wants you to let her go and be at peace with yourself. Live your life Dakota because you’re the one that’s still living this life.” Dak turned around looking frantically but Red had vanished. Had he imagined it all? Dak looked at the envelope with the book and calculator in his hand. He turned to Iona’s headstone. “Did you send Red as a message to me?” Dak kissed his hand and touched the hard granite. “I understand now.” He Said. “I’ll never forget I promise; I love you ma.” That night Dak lay in his bed staring at the ceiling his eyes darted around the bedroom, this would be his last night in his own bed for some time. His attention fell on the envelope that Red had given him; he picked up and shook out the contents on his bed. He picked up the book. “I wonder.” He thought to himself, Dak began flipping through the pages of the book, then like a deck of cards he shuffled the pages to one side quickly, next he picked up and shook the book out, nothing. No writing or notes, not a Damn thing. There was however one section of the book that was highlighted, the section was a story titled: The Knights Of Illumination It was about the highest order of guardians of the light realm, these knights served Elysium, the god of light, directly. Dak slammed the book shut and tossed it into his bag along with the other books he had packed. “Hello Dakota.” A women’s voice suddenly said. The voice startled Dak as he looked around for the source. “Who are you?” The wolf demanded. “Don’t be frightened Dakota I’m your friend.” The voice replied. It was a woman voice but at the same time sounded very machine. Daks attention was drawn to the calculator on his bed it had began to glow a white light from between the panels that were locked. On the top of the device a small 1 inch by 1 inch square screen lit up. The voice spoke again. “Dakota please place your right index finger on the topical print reader for finger print authentication.” Dak picked up the device and walked over to his desk; he pulled out his wooden desk chair and sat down placing the device on the table in front of him. Dak placed his index finger on the lit topical screen after two seconds the device chimed and the voice spoke again. “Finger print authentication complete, access granted to user Dakota Steel.” Dak heard the locks release on the device and it began to open itself. It wasn’t a calculator at all the two panels had opened up like a laptop the dimensions of the panels were 6 inches long by 4 inches wide. Each panel appeared to have a screen that was nearly the dimension of the panel, both screens were black and had nothing on them, Dak noted that the outer case of the device was made of a strong metal possibly titanium whom ever had made this device had made it durable. The top panel had raised itself to a 90 degree angle than stopped. Suddenly without warning the two screens illuminated themselves with that bright white light Dak had seen before. That was however only temporary as the bottom screen’s color theme turned a dark blue color for the background and in the foreground a digital keyboard appeared the keys and characters were outlined in white it was like a translucent key board over a blue background. “So it’s just a really compact computer yawn.” Dakota Mumbled. The screen lit up with a women’s face staring at him. To Dak’s surprise she appeared to be Terradonian, she had white pale skin and freckles with red hair and hazel eyes. “Holy shit she could be my mom’s doppelganger.” He thought to himself. “Actually Dakota I am the most sophisticated sentient artificial intelligence ever conceived.” The face on the screen said. “Call me Iris, which is an acronym for Intelligent Response Information System but I would prefer to be called Iris.” “So who built you Iris?” Dakota asked. “The first version of this system was designed in the year 4261 by your grandfather Dr. Connor Reilly. Reilly had built me with no real intentions or applications in mind. He would soon give up and toss me away with all his other failed inventions.” Iris continued. “It was in 4266 that I met Iona she had been cleaning out the storage space in her father’s house when she came across me.” “What was she like?” Dakota asked. “She was a lot you. Iona was a very curious and capable little girl, she was cunning and very intelligent. When she was set on doing something nobody could stop her.” “She reminds me alot like your friend Nika such a tomboy.” “Hold up hold up!!!” Dakota interrupted. “How do you know Nika?” At this question Iris smiled. “I would be lying to you Dakota if I told you I hadn’t been keeping tabs on you since you were a baby and preparing for the day we would meet face to face.” “Consider me the shadow you never knew about. At this point the conversation was making Dakota feel uneasy. “Just how far was this entities range?” He wondered; it was certainly beyond the range of this small computer. Iris appeared to sense his thoughts as she immediately answered his question. “Dakota cyberspace is my world and it is limitless any single system or machine in your world that is wired into the net I have access to. Although some systems I have to be careful moving in and out of as to not draw suspicion.” “Satellites, security camera’s, cell phones and computers all can be mediums of watching and communicating with you or anybody else.” “Anyways I have seen you and Nika out together running around Kanyon City and Razor Klaw Ridge. I have listened to your conversations.” “That’s invasion of privacy.” Dakota said; he was angry now. “Don’t you think you have just a little too much free will? What’s to stop you from doing something nefarious with all this power?” Iris set silent studying him for a few moments. She was thinking about how to answer these questions. “Dakota may I ask you something?” “What?” He asked. “Do you trust me?” “You have to earn trust.” Dakota said. “Ive never listened in when you and Nika were having privately intimate conversations. Nor would I judge you on any embarrassing situations you may have found yourself in. The truth is I did it so that I could hear other voices around me again.” She sounded upset he thought to himself and were her eyes beginning to water? Yes, little pixel tears where beginning to fall down the side of her cheeks. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to.” That’s okay” She said. “I have just been without anybody for a long time. Well anybody that really mattered or who could understand me.” Over the next two hours Iris explained that she had been a primitive system incapable of being classified as a true A.I. due to lack of adaptable ability and think ability. That all changed when she met Iona, even at ten years old the little girl was a whiz kid Iona downloaded a copy of Iris’s code and created a patch to fix all of the glitches. Iona uploaded and overwrote the existing code and for Iris it felt like somebody evolved her years beyond what she was. Iris gained the ability to learn and this was the most important attribute. Iona became her friend. Dakaota was surprised to discover that his mother’s parent’s were so absent in her life. They were both scientist and worked for Quest Enterprises. Quest was building a space colony to transport and selected amount of people to a new planet. Iona’s mother never got to see the launch of the space colony as she was killed in a terrorist attack at the facility. Iris had been the only friend this little girl had. The world had been a bad place all of Iona’s life. The planet called Earth was dead all plants and animals gone. All of the planets resources where gone as well. The governments of the world had pulled what resources they had left financial or otherwise to help build the space colony christened Terra Dyne. The colony would only fit 250,000 people so that meant 11 billion people were left to die on the surface of the planet. Iona and her parents were of the lucky ones to get a spot on the large life boat. Terrorist’s tried to sabotage the space colony because they had discovered that only the world elites would be escaping the grim fate of the living on a dead planet. Average man and women would die probably of starvation, maybe of suffocation as the planet’s atmosphere had severely deteriorated. The bomb had taken Iona’s mother from her, there wasn’t time to grieve or for a proper funeral, time was short to get the space colony launched before another attack was attempted. The space colony left the dying earth behind sailing into the stars it would be three years before it would arrive at its destination the planet Xaidia. “During those dark times it was just me and Iona mostly, she had no other friends.” Iris said. Dakota Yawned it was getting late and he had to report for training camp tomorrow. The pain started tomorrow he expected he would have to get used to minimal sleep. “Iris I’m going to crash.” He said. “One more thing Dakota, Don’t forget to pack me in your go bag. I think you’ll find me useful in the field.” Dakota laid down he was tired. “Goodnight Iris.” He said. She replied with her own good night and went on standby her screen went dark. Dakota rolled over on his side and closed his eyes and slipped away into a sound sleep.
It was 5:00 am the next morning when a loud shrieking alarm sounded in Dakota’s room. “What the fuck.” Dakota thought to himself, He rolled over in the dark and reached for his alarm clock he pressed the off button but the alarm continued to chime, He pressed it a few more times nothing happened.” WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PIECE OF SHIT?” He Yelled and picked up the clock fumbling with the buttons. He then realized the sound was coming from across the room. The noise was coming from the little computer his mother had giving him. “IRIS SHUT THAT SHIT OFF.” He wailed. The alarm shut off and Dakota turned on his light and looked at the time, it was 5:00 He had to be at the bus station by 7:00. He quickly dressed and looked around for his bag and did a quick inventory. “You forgot to set your alarm last night.” Iris chirped. “Okay that’s enough of you get into the bag.” Dakota shut the computer and stuck it into his bag. “Dakota I’m glad I can’t smell I bet it smells like ass in here.” He swore she was laughing at him. “You don’t even know what ass smells like.” He said rolling his eyes. He entered the kitchen to find Argus drinking coffee. “Are you ready to go?” “I suppose.” Dakota said as he grabbed a few protein bars from the pantry and a bottle of water. “Well let’s be on our way.” Argus said. They exited the house and climbed into Argus’s old pickup truck and then they were off, it was still dark outside with no light on the horizon. “The night is darkest before dawn.” His dad said as they passed through Main Street of Razor Klaw Ridge. The little village looked like a ghost town this early in the morning nobody was out; all the shops were dark and deserted. The village was only 3 miles in length and width and soon they were back out on the open highway. The sign at the edge of the town limits read; you are now leaving Razor Klaw Ridge come back soon, another small sign read Kanyon City 50 miles. An hour later then arrived at the security gate at the west side entrance to Kanyon City. A KFM soldier approached the driver side window, Argus handed him his credentials. “What’s your business in Kanyon this early captain Steel?” The soldier asked. “I’m taking my son to the bus station, he’s reporting to the training camp at Lancer Military Base.” Argus replied. “I remember those days, best of luck trainee maybe we’ll work together one day.” “Not likely.” Dakota thought nodding to the soldier. “OPEN THE GATE.” The soldier ordered as he handed back the credentials. Argus drove down Ash road a few miles when the bus station came into view it was 6:15 when the pickup pulled into the parking lot. Dakota got out and grabbed his bag Argus exited the truck as well. “Do you have your bus ticket?” His dad asked. “I’m getting it when I get inside. Dakota said. Argus looked down at his feet than he held out his hand. “I guess this is it?” Dakota didn’t shake his dad’s hand instead he put his arms around him in a strong embrace, Argus wrapped his hands around his son, his eyes began to water, Argus didn’t think he would have this much trouble letting go but this was his son, his only son. “I love you Dakota, I’m very proud of you, you’re going to be a great soldier and a great man.” “I love you to Dad, I’ll miss you.” They stood face to face Argus put his hands on Dakota’s shoulders. Argus spoke urgently “Remember what I told you; always be aware of your surroundings.” “And don’t be a hero if I don’t have to, and pick my battles.” Dakota said. To this Argus nodded and turned his son loose. Dakota turned away and walked toward the bus station. Dakota walked through the door into the bus station to his surprise it was quiet. He approached the counter it was empty, a small sign read ring bell for service. Dakota rang the bell a few moments later an old brown hound with a droopy face appeared. “Can I help you?” “I need one ticket to Riven Mills Village.” Dakota Said. “I’m a KFM recruit.” He began pulling out cash for the ticket. “The KFM has already paid for your ticket.” The old hound declared looking at clipboard. “Your name is Dakota Steel, that’s your name right?” Dakota looked perplexed. “How did you know my n-.” “You’re the only one on my list.” The old hound said. He laid down the list and pulled a ticket from a filing basket on the counter. “Here you are sir bus arrives at 7:00, I’ll make an announcement when it arrives it will park right under the canopy outside the doors where you entered the station. Dakota hesitated and the old hound took notice. “Something on your mind son, you look confused.” “Well I guess I’m just wondering where all the other recruits are?” “You’re sixteen, a minor, and minor’s ride separate buses from the adults, always been the rule. And you’re the only sixteen year old going to recruit training today. The eighteen and older crowd left at six this morning shortly before you got here.” Dakota walked over and took a seat by the window. At 7:00 the bus pulled into the station Dakota was already waiting outside, the doors opened and Dakota stepped inside. The driver verified his ticket and Dakota took his seat. The bus pulled away at 7:05 this was mostly because nobody else was going to Riven Village. Dakota watched as the open desert rolled past his window he thought of Nika his father and his mother he stretched out in his seat “It will be a few hours I’ll take a little nap before I get there.” Dakota closed his eyes slipping away to the rumble of the bus tires gliding down the road, he dreamed of good times both in the past and times yet to come, in his mind he seen his future and the future looked good.
Dakota Steel traveled 600 hundred miles to Fort Defender Military Base in sector two, that trip had taken nine hours. When he arrived in the village of Riven Mills he was met by KFM personnel who escorted him to the training camp on the base campus. Dakota Steel was processed and shown to his barracks, Dinner would be served that evening in the mess hall and training would begin very early the next morning and would last for 13 weeks. After the training was complete a graduation ceremony was held in one of the large plane hangars. Dakota Steel was in his khaki dress uniform with a matching beret. Nika and her father Dimitri, Argus and Rowan attended the ceremony. Afterwards the group went to Riven Mills to celebrate Dak’s graduation. Dak and Nika danced, Argus, Rowan and Dimitri talked and watched the two approvingly. That evening at a private landing strip, Dak said goodbye to his family. They shook hands as they boarded Mr. Myshkin’s private jet. Dak and Nika enjoyed one more kiss, a few more actually. It would be some time before they saw each other again, than she boarded the plane as well. Dak received his orders the next morning, he was to join a group of recruits shipping out on a troop carrying aircraft, the destination was Challenger Base in sector one. A patrol battalion known as Battalion 15 would arrive at Challenger Base and rendezvous with the new recruits. Battalion 15 patrolled the sector 1 Bad Lands; it was infested with rogue gangs that made travel on rural roads highly dangerous. For 5 years Dak toured with Battalion 15 it wasn’t so bad Dak got to come home many times to visit his family Nika