April 22, 2103
Geariic Zserin
In war, the Bruising Brothers, Alabon and Geariic, are freaks of nature on the battlefield, bowling through entire platoons like pins. Though once upon a time, they were different types of freaks altogether; freaks on a completely different medium. Many soldiers never knew that "Bruising Brothers" wasn't a name given to them in war. It was a name that traces much further back, all the way back to a freak show.
The crowds roared at the previous act. Alabon and Geariic jittered behind the curtain. Both of these twins had practiced their act many times over, but this would be the first time they performed in front of a crowd. Geariic had knots twisting inside his stomach. The curtains opened, and he glanced over the sea of nameless faces. He was already beginning to despise this.
"From the back alleys of the Georgia Territory, I welcome the Bruising Brothers, Geariic and Alabon, to the stage!" The announcer waved his hands in the air to generate more buzz and energy from the crowd.
Geariic walked to one side of the stage, while his brother, Alabon, walked to the other side. Alabon picked up the prop flamethrower already placed for them to use.
The announcer said, "Now watch in amazement as Geariic gets set on fire!"
Geariic scanned the room before the hot flames ignited him. "Here I am… lost in the forest of despair without a compass," Geariic mumbled to himself.
Alabon let loose a series of bursts from the prop flamethrower at Geariic. As the streams of fire engulfed him, he held his breath, careful not to breathe in the smoke. He stood still as the fire burned at his metal plated skin. Hotter the fire around him became, almost to the point where his skin hit its melting point. That's when Alabon stopped. They'd rehearsed this act so many times, he knew what Geariic's breaking point was. As Geariic was revealed to the crowd, they cheered.
The announcer thundered, "You haven't seen anything yet! For Geariic and Alabon's next act, they'll lift that five ton tank! A feat that would take three normal maelkii to do. Are you ready?" The crowd howled in enjoyment.
Geariic and Alabon walked over to the prop tank and heaved. Slowly but surely, they prevailed. Alabon's face strained, and Geariic felt his muscles stretch thin. The crowd roared at their accomplishment. He could see Alabon was fueled by the cheers. Alabon began to lift the tank higher. Geariic, despite not wanting to, supported his brother, and they managed to get the tank above their heads before dropping it.
Crash!
The dropped tank set off a miniature earthquake, and the crowd roared louder. Some gave standing ovations. Geariic waved and left his brother. He went back to their tent to get away from the crowd. Alabon joined him a minute later.
"Geariic, what's wrong?" Alabon pulled up a chair beside him.
"You know damn well what. I hate the crowd. I hate their looks. We move from town to town so others can stare at us like freaks! It's no way to live!" Geariic sneered.
"It's a lot better than where we were. Starving, roaming the alleys, scavenging for food… all that stuff. When our orphanage closed, we had nothing. We were lost in the system. This freak show gave us a chance - a paycheck. What more could you want?"
"What more? For starters…how about a life…a purpose…some goal we can strive for? This shivf show has thrown us in a box we can't escape from."
"Hey! The box is there for a reason. I like living inside of it. I feel safe in it."
"The box is hell to me! I want action in my life - glory. I wanna be known, to be great. Inside this box, I'll never get a taste of that."
"Geariic. Why do you wanna be something you aren't? We're just two pieces of trash the system threw out. Nobody wanted us because they knew we would amount to nothing."
"Nobody wanted us because we were different. But someday, somebody will see our differences as qualities to be cherished. I wanna get the hell out of here, not today, but yesterday! I hate it here! It's the only way we'll even have a shot at that somebody finding us. Alabon, I love you to death, but sometimes you have to take chances… have ambition. This crowd doesn't cheer for you because your act is great. They cheer because of how freakish we are. Hell, this is a freak show. It's what they came to see."
"That's not true!"
"It is, and the sooner we leave, the sooner we can find that someone who will celebrate our freakish qualities."
Alabon was about to retort when the showrunner walked in our tent. "I have some man here who would like to meet you."
Geariic grunted, "Who in Sam-Hell would want to see us? Fine, let the person in."
The showrunner left the tent, and in walked someone else. He was a black human male with a tall flat top haircut. He sported a fancy suit and one of the most welcoming smiles Geariic had ever seen. This man was the first person he'd met who didn't immediately look at his metal skin. Instead, he comforted Geariic with a soft sparkle in his brown eyes.
"Greetings, gentlemen. I had the pleasure of observing your show- quite entertaining. My name is Kalvin Keefe, and I am the Director of the Order of Aegis."
"Ooh, that sounds fancy," Alabon shined.
"And what does a suit like you want with us, Kalvin?" Geariic grumbled.
"Actually, I stand here with a proposal for you two gentlemen."
"You had my curiosity, but now you have my courtesy. Go on."
"Perfect! Let me proceed straight to my proposal and follow with both of your responses. Is that reasonable with you gentlemen?
"It's what you are here for, is it not?"
"I suppose it is. Proceeding on, the Order of Aegis has recently renovated one of our projects - Project Ace, to be particular. I stand here with the proposition that you, gentlemen, enlist in the project."
"What is Project Ace?" Alabon questioned.
"Unfortunately, I am unable to converse about the particulars. Nonetheless, I am able to converse this: Project Ace will grant you knowledge on the topic of your abilities and prepare you, gentlemen, for the Wersillian War. We offer food, shelter, and--"
Geariic cut him off, "What in Sam-Hell are you babbling about? Abilities?"
"Interesting. You lack knowledge of what you are."
"What we are?"
"You, gentlemen, are aces; born with extraordinary gifts and abilities, such as your metallic skin."
"Are you saying we aren't alone?" Alabon wondered.
"Precisely."
Geariic said, "I'll tell you what, Kalvin. I'll do anything to get out of this tent of misery. But you have to convince my brother, Alabon. He has a taste for fun and games."
Kalvin smiled with wolfish charm. "Geariic, I accept. So, Alabon, it appears you have an appetite for excitement. Am I correct?"
"Auh-huh."
"Perfect. Would you care to learn the most fun game of all - war games? Moreover, I will even fashion special toys for you gentlemen."
"Do I get to stay with my brother?"
"Absolutely. When all is complete, you both will be mobile tanks. How does that sound, Alabon?"
"Sounds cool. I'll do it!"
"Perfect. If you gentlemen would follow me?"
"Right now?" Geariic asked.
"Absolutely."
Kalvin led them out of their tent to a personal starship. Soon, they were off.