“Remember you two, stick close so we can protect you,” Antonio ordered before he strode forward through the grass field.

  You’re a freakin’ weekend warrior paper pusher.

  Captain Jeremy Jackson seethed on the inside, but kept his outward expression neutral as he pushed around a large clump of feathery grass. “Yes, sir.”

  He glanced over to Sergeant Lee and slapped the man across the chest with his spear. “Lee,” he hissed. “Wipe that expression off your face. We’re supposed to act like civvies.”

  “Cap, are we really gonna listen to those bozos?” Jimmy quietly complained as he gripped his own spear tighter.

  “Yes, we are,” Jeremy ordered with a whisper. “And don’t call me Cap. We have to stick to our cover story, or we’ll raise suspicion.”

  Jimmy snorted. “Pretty sure Blake knows we’re spies already.”

  “I don’t think he does,” Jeremy disagreed. “He gave us a list of all his abilities. Zero hesitation. You don’t do that for someone you think is a spy. Hell, you don’t do that for anyone unless you trust them implicitly. I think the kid’s an idiot.”

  “Or, he doesn’t give a shit because he’s invincible,” Jimmy played devil’s advocate as he dodged some large rocks. “When we ambushed him, C4 didn’t do shit to him, and neither did our SAWs. Hell, even Esteves’ Barret barely left a bruise, and he got hit in the face!”

  “Shhh,” Jeremy glanced at the two National Guard officers ten feet ahead to make sure they were not listening. Antonio and Jared held their shields and swords at the ready as they scanned the dark tree-line for threats.

  Idiots! We need to walk through the forest, not the field. If they have any scouts, we’ll be seen immediately.

  Jeremy cleared his throat. “Hey, boss,” he called out for Antonio’s attention. When the major turned his head, Jeremy said, “Wouldn’t it be better to sneak through the trees? We’re kind of out in the open here.”

  Antonio shook his head. “That’s the idea. Out here, they can’t ambush us. See, they don’t have guns. If they attack, they’ll have to charge us, and we’ll see them coming.”

  “They have bows and arrows,” Jeremy pointed out. “Their scouts will see us and set up an ambush.”

  Antonio sighed. “Jeremy, this isn’t Return to Duty. I’ve trained for this. I’ve been in battle. Just keep your eyes peeled for the Tieflings, alright? Let me call out tactics.”

  You’ve been in battle? Seriously? What, did you get a paper cut?

  “Cap,” Jimmy whispered. “This guy’s gonna get us killed. The secret’s not worth it. We can just tell them we did our four years for the GI bill, but we were scared to tell Blake because we thought he hated the military.”

  Jeremy shook his head as he continued to keep watch. “Don’t call me Cap. I told you, Mister Peters explicitly stated not to reveal we’re military. Besides, your little ‘Cap’ slipup kind of screwed that up.”

  Jimmy looked contrite as he scanned the distance for threats. “Sorry, it just kind of slipped out. But seriously, Return to Duty?”

  “You put me on the spot and I had to come up with something,” Jeremy replied. “I’m not cut out for this spying shit.”

  “Did you check in with Mister Peters yet?” Jimmy whispered.

  Antonio turned and gestured. “Come on, guys, catch up. We need to stick together.”

  Jeremy and Jimmy temporarily increased their pace. When their leader finally turned back around, he whispered to Lee, “Yeah, I sent him the list of the spells right after Blake told us. I also told him what we’re up to.”

  “What’d he say?”

  “He said to verify the list’s accuracy, same thing he said about the guide.”

  “I bet it’s accurate.”

  “The guide was wrong,” Jeremy pointed out. “It said you had to physically touch someone to invite them to your contact list. It also didn’t mention the forums at all.”

  “Yeah, that’s kind of weird,” Jimmy admitted. “Why lie about that? What does he get out of it?”

  “You got me,” Jeremy shrugged. “What I really wanna know is what he talked about with the alien AI. He was gone for twenty-four hours and came back with that new title of his. What’s up with that?”

  Jimmy chuckled. “Why don’t you just ask him? He doesn’t seem to have a problem giving away all his secrets.”

  “Like I could trust a word he said,” Jeremy sneered.

  “Well, at least he gave us ten million nano.” Sergeant Lee glanced over to Jeremy. “Did you spend yours yet?”

  “Yeah, I bought Spear Mastery.”

  “Shit. Why’d you go and do that? We already know how to poke things with a spear.”

  “Because that’s what he expects us to do, learn a combat skill. You should buy it too. I actually learned a bit from it, believe it or not, and it’s already at 84% mastery. I think it takes into account how much you already knew before you bought the skill.” Jeremy shook his head. “Yet another thing the guide was wrong about.”

  “Got it, Cap,” Jimmy nodded.

  Jeremy sighed.

  He’s an even worse spy than I am. What the hell is Peters thinking? Maybe he has real spies in Blake’s faction, and we’re just the decoys? Ugh, he’s gonna get me killed.

  Captain Jackson latched onto the idea immediately. If it were true, he could focus on growing stronger and saving people while the real spies ferreted out the truth.

  Yeah, I bet that’s what’s going on. He’s been in the CIA for over a decade. There’s no way they’re just relying on us.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Jeremy almost immediately felt better about his situation, and a bounce returned to his step. Now that his worry was over, he counted all the benefits to his present situation.

  They were given a full set of level one gear, far better than the trash they had before. Besides the bonus defenses it provided them, the jewelry also raised each of his physical attributes by two.

  Additionally, they were gifted ten million nano each, just for offering to help guard civilians, something he was more than happy to do for free.

  This ain’t so bad.

  That was when the Tieflings came charging out of the trees.

  Damnit! I can’t believe that weekend warrior was right.

  He saw Antonio freeze and make a motion with his hand.

  Jeremy was not sure why the line of reddish-purple aliens rushing their way were not using bows from ambush, but he would take all the good luck he could get.

  “Tangos, four-o’clock!” Antonio yelled and readied his shield to accept the enemy’s charge. “Everyone, line up on me!”

  Before Jeremy joined him, he quickly checked the open field and treeline behind them. He needed to ensure the attacking force was not just a distraction. Flank attacks were incredibly effective, especially if you were pinched between two forces.

  Satisfied that it was not a ruse, Jeremy filed into position and eyed the oncoming group. Six tall, horned Tieflings brandished their weapons as they roared. As a special forces veteran, Jeremy was not even remotely fazed by the intimidation tactics, but he could see how a lesser person would piss their pants in fear.

  “Whatever you do,” Antonio warned them. “Don’t run. If you run, we all die.”

  No shit, Sherlock.

  He heard Sergeant Lee softly groan at the advice.

  Suddenly, the line of Tieflings slammed into them. Jeremy braced his back foot and thrust his spear forward. It pierced through the Tiefling’s thin hide, and plunged into its heart.

  Then, before it even collapsed, he raised the butt of his spear and slammed it into the unopposed alien next to it. The Tiefling was surprised by Jeremy’s superhuman strength, and staggered backwards.

  He then ripped the spear away from the corpse and then swung his weapon in an arc. The metal tip drew a deep line down his opponent’s raised forearm, which caused the alien to howl and drop his sword.

  While the Tiefling was distracted, Jeremy followed up the attack with a thrust, which quickly ended his second opponent’s life. He quickly extracted his weapon and searched for the next threat.

  Jimmy, a fellow veteran of primitive combat, had permanently dealt with his first enemy, and was almost finished with his second. Meanwhile, the two National Guard officers were in a desperate battle for their lives against the final two Tieflings.

  Jeremy was about to intervene, when he stopped himself.

  No, they need the experience.

  Jeremy watched as both Antonio and Jared backpedaled. Rather than bash their enemy and advance as they should, they remained on the defensive.

  Lee finished his second opponent and turned to assist their teammates. He was about to attack when Jeremy placed his hand on the man’s shoulder. When Jimmy turned on him in confusion, he shook his head and whispered. “They need to win on their own. Only interfere if they’re about to die.”

  Both Lee and Jackson scanned the horizon for threats, and then watched the two men battle for their lives. Finally, the Tieflings began to tire from their relentless assault. Antonio went on the offensive and slashed open his opponent’s neck.

  It sank to its knees and grasped its throat as it gurgled for air. Meanwhile, Antonio stumbled backward and fell on his ass as he gasped for air. His eyes darted left and right as he observed the chaos of the battlefield.

  When he realized Jeremy and Jimmy had eliminated four Tieflings in less time than it took him to kill one, his eyes widened in disbelief. He immediately pointed to Jared, who still struggled against his opponent and croaked, “Help him!” in between gasps for air.

  “Yes sir,” Jeremy nodded and slowly shuffled over beside Jared. However, rather than immediately exterminate the Tiefling, he waited while Jared continued to defend himself.

  “What… are… you… waiting… for,” Antonio wheezed.

  “Sorry, I don’t see an opening,” Jeremy shrugged.

  Before the major could berate him for his lack of intervention, Jared struck back and landed a fatal blow.

  Finally!

  Before his enemy hit the ground, Jared collapsed, out of breath. Jeremy again checked for additional threats, but the area seemed to be clear. He then opened his interface and checked the progress of their objective.

  Eliminate all Tieflings: 27% complete.

  Looks like three more groups.

  When Antonio finally caught his breath, he rose to his feet and confronted Jeremy. “What the hell was that?!” the major demanded.

  Jeremy played dumb and scratched his head. “What do you mean?”

  “You just sat there and watched us!” Antonio accused as he strode toward them in righteous indignation. The irate officer was about to poke his finger into Jeremy’s chest, when he slapped it away.

  “Please don’t touch me,” Jeremy warned in an even voice.

  Antonio threw up his arms. “We’re supposed to be a team! You don’t just stand by and watch your battle buddy struggle for his life! If you weren’t civvies, you’d be court-martialed for this!”

  No we wouldn’t.

  “How the hell did you even kill those aliens so fast?” the major demanded.

  Jimmy smirked. “Return to Duty.”

  “Don’t give me that shit!” Antonio fumed.

  Jeremy couldn’t resist. He held out his spear and said nonchalantly, “I don’t see what the big deal is, I just poked them with a pointy stick.”

  ***

  President Warner surveyed the men and women who surrounded him at the large conference table. When the Joint Chiefs of Staff failed to obey his emergency orders, he replaced them. The last thing he needed was someone who would only object to his demands.

  This is much better.

  Scott Peters sat beside him, his new right-hand man. The CIA spook had suggested capable people to replace the old guard, and the appointments had already proven their worth. Governors, mayors, and generals had all been contacted and were given new orders. They were to do everything in their power to raise a billion nano and create factions, subordinate to his own.

  “Sir, we’ve scouted out a hundred and thirty new spatial distortions across the country,” a thin man in glasses informed him. “The new infantry teams you had us form have been supplied with primitive equipment and have already begun to assault the alien worlds. That now makes four hundred and thirty-one teams.”

  “A good start,” Warner groused in his southern accent.

  “So far, they have a fifteen percent casualty rate. However, we estimate that will shrink to below three percent as the teams grow more experienced. At the current rate they are acquiring nano, we estimate we will be able to form two new factions each day.”

  “We need more teams,” Warner demanded.

  “Yes sir,” the sharply dressed man nodded. “We are equipping and training additional teams as rapidly as we are able. We hope to reach four billion nano per day by the end of the week. However, we need to reserve some equipment for civilian defense if Mister Summer’s predictions about ‘monsters’ appearing come true.”

  The president shook his head. “No, don’t hold back. We can use guns to defend ourselves here on Earth, but I want nothing but spears and swords out there,” he pointed to the sky. “Those distortions are a moneymaker, and we need all the money we can get.”

  The glasses-clad man nodded.

  President Warner turned to address the woman seated next to the man who had just spoken. She was in her forties, and had a stern expression on her face.

  What was her name again? Whatever, it doesn’t matter.

  “You,” Warner pointed at the woman. “What’s the update on those alien buildings?”

  She cleared her throat. “Sir, three faction halls have been constructed so far, with two more on the way. We are now in the process of constructing quarries, which should be finished tonight. If all continues to go well, we hope to upgrade the first faction hall to level two, two days from now.”

  “Good,” the President growled. “I want my own Dome ASAP.”

  When Warner found out that the Summers kid’s guide explained exactly how to build their own city, he could not believe his luck. The asshole had literally armed his own enemies with the information they needed to eliminate him.

  Unfortunately, they still needed to play catch-up. However, Scott Peters promised him, within two months they would have a force capable of eliminating that pest of a child, once and for all. Meanwhile, the entire country would be united once again. They would join under his leadership. Together, they would dominate the alien threat while protecting his faction’s citizens. The faction named ‘United States of America’.

  Exactly as it should be.