This part contains plenty of blood and violence, including the possible death of hundreds of unnamed characters. If you're sensitive about this kind of content, please stop reading now.
Pursuit
Prologue
Seth walked across a high bridge when a taxi parked nearby, windows down. He could hear the radio loudly reporting a piece of breaking news. "The daughter of General Eden barely escaped with her life earlier today, as an unknown assailant assaulted her and used an unknown weapon to turn her date into a pile of gray goo. We previously reported the dramatic fallout between the star crossed lovers, and the drama surrounding the Eden family. This is what General Gregory Eden had to say."
Seth listened more closely, recalling his recent encounter with the general. "We will not accept such terrible deeds on our great nation's soil. We have identified our primary suspect and are taking all measures to take him in!" The radio host came back on, providing a detailed description of the suspect. Seth wasn't listening, because a pair of helicopters rose up from below the bridge, powerful search lights locked on him. "Raise your hands where we can see them!"
He faced the helicopters as a half dozen special forces trucks surrounded him, and he noticed the hundreds of guns pointed straight at him. He smiled, "All this for me? I didn't know you loved me that much!"
The troops closed in on him and he raised his hands, the lights flooding him from every direction. He gritted his teeth, closed his fists, and released a swarm of nanomachines in every direction. Everything containing metals started to melt away, leaving all living beings unharmed. At first the lights flickered then died, then the intimidating guns started to droop and fall apart, as well as the soldiers' armors, vehicles, and helicopters.
During the confusion, Seth blinked out. Moments later, the bridge started to fall apart and collapse.
Chapter 1
Seth arrived in the middle of the city, where search parties were everywhere and a full lockdown was placed, checkpoints on every corner. "There he is!" someone shouted, pointing at him. He groaned, not wishing for a confrontation in a crowded street, and zoomed out, chased by a relentless party of soldiers.
He was boxed in, as soldiers were coming down the opposite side of the street, ready to fire. He ran into an alley, just as they opened fire. He bumped into a girl and, not wanting to risk a second of delay, ran past and went around a corner. He found himself facing a dead end, and behind him he heard someone shout, "Open fire!" and saw the shadow of the girl on the wall as she was filled with bullets.
He ran back and rammed the leader of the squad as hard as he can, sending him back into the rest of them. They fired, but he raised a nano shield that disintegrated the bullets as they came in contact with it. In a moment, it failed and he found himself beside the girl, with some kind of magical shield between them and the soldiers.
He froze up for a moment, then looked at the injured girl. A magic user! He took her arm, and saw she was in pain. He knew she didn't have much time, and he couldn't lose a potential magical ally in this world. "I can't hold on much longer!" she said. He felt trapped, his energy running out, and said, "Hold on!" then blinked out.
Chapter 2
His energies depleted, he stumbled away from the mysterious woman and fell back. He looked at the city he was in, now reduced to a barely visible light on the horizon. He pulled out his backup teleporter and, seconds later, they were both back in the space ship. He sent the woman to the medical bay and walked into the strategic operations room. There he found his highest ranking staff waiting for him. They watched silently as he took his seat.
"I have taken the liberty of going ahead and gathering intel on our future home world. What I have found is that they rely mostly on technology, with small pockets of magic existing, mostly invisible to the public eye."
A deep silence fell on the room, and one general spoke up. "Sir, what about corruption?"
"I encountered a magic user who was caught in the crossfire. She used her magic. I've taken her in for close observation for signs of corruption."
"Commander, if she becomes corrupted, there's no telling what she might end up doing. She could be another Glinda!"
"Which is why we will take all measures to ensure she won't be. We cannot risk having that kind of power exist again."
Chapter 3
Seth appeared back where he left just a little while ago, the city barely a glow of light in the horizon. He immediately sensed a presence, and turned around but couldn't see anything in the darkness. "Who's there?" he demanded, drawing his guns.
"Those won't be necessary. I am not an enemy. Yet."
The sound seemed to come from behind him. He turned around and approached it. "If you're not an enemy, why are you hiding?" he saw a silhouette up ahead, at the edge of a cliff.
"You have made a big mess, and I wonder if you carry good intentions, or bad."
Seth smiled, "I never attacked first. They came asking for trouble, and I usually oblige."
"I see..." said the stranger, approaching Seth. "In that case, I have something you might need."
The first rays of the sun appeared behind Seth, and made visible the man he was talking to. "I'm Phoenix, and this will hurt like hell."
Seth felt a hard object connect to the back of his skull, and before wondering how Phoenix had caught him off guard, the world went black.
Chapter 4
Seth opened his eyes and found himself in a cave, with Phoenix sitting opposite him. A quick tug to the ropes that bound him showed that he was firmly tied down. "Okay, you got me. What do you want?" he asked Phoenix.
Phoenix got up and approached him, "I have a few questions to ask. First, what brings you to this world?"
"Well, you see, the world I come from had been destroyed, and I'm looking for a new home."
Phoenix tilted his head, "So why did you kill so many people?"
"I think you know the answer to that, Phoenix." Seth narrowed his eyes, "They were in my way."
"Tell me about your world," Phoenix said, trying a different approach, and Seth laughed, "It's a shit hole now. Why, wanna visit it?"
"Maybe one day," said Phoenix, the provocation lost on him. "For now, what is your plan?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"It makes the difference between my being an ally or an enemy."
"I want to settle down, start a family and maybe leave a mark on the world while I'm at it."
"Okay, last question: Will you be planning to take over the world?"
Seth grinned, "Only if I don't get what I want through peaceful means."
Phoenix grinned as well, "Good answer. Here, let me untie you."
"No need," Seth stood up, the ropes nothing but dust, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do." he went down on one knee and offered a bit of rope, "Phoenix, will you be my ally now?"
Phoenix burst into laughter, "Get the hell out of here, Seth."
And Seth walked out, his mind deep in thought behind his smug smile.