Hi guys! Just finished Chapter 1 and decided to stop there to see if anyone is even interested in the story. Currently working on Chapter 2 and will post it if you guys are interested. Stay tuned! PROLOGUE It was perhaps the happiest day of his life. It was also the beginning of his end. Michas Damengar stood proudly and fully erect in front of his Commanding Officer, Major Laazus. He scanned the crowd, knowing he would not find that which he seeks; nonetheless, he searched until he confirmed what he knew to be true. His father was not in the crowd, for he had been killed during an ambush on Venus. Yet Michas looked for him anyway, hoping that he would somehow appear to support his som on Graduation Day. For Michas had just graduated, top of his class, from Titan Battle School. It had been a grueling and exhausting time of his life, and he almost quit. Twice. But each time he grit his teeth so hard they almost snapped and fought through it. His comrades had watched him pull himself through, and they too found deep reserves of strength and determination, and they all looked to him as a result. Of course, it probably helped that Michas was from a long-lasting Titan family, with family Titans going back all the way to Twilight Gap and the building of the Wall. Indeed, it seemed that Michas already had a grand pedestal of fame set up for him; all he needed to do was step on it. However, Michas had a secret. One that would shake the Vanguard and their sacred values to the very core. One that would rival the accomplishments of his ancestors before him. After his graduation, Michas decided he deserved a break from the boisterous crowd and set off to find some peace and quiet. He headed to one of his favorite spots just outside the City where the trees were grand and the scenery was picturesque. It was the same place that his father took him every weekend and would tell him his war stories. However, his father would not be accompanying him this time. Along the way, Michas saw Zavala headed toward the Tower. It was a rare sight to see, as the Vanguard are rarely seen outside the Tower. Usually they are swamped with tireless work. It struck Michas as odd, but given the situation between him and the Vanguard leader, he decided not to pursue him and ask about it. You see, Zavala used to be close friends with Michas' father, Alrahn. Both trained under Lord Saladin, along with Lord Shaxx. However, Alrahn put himself under severe pressure to keep up with Zavala and Shaxx and to be as Titan-esque as they were. He wished to prove himself under his master, and in the end he did. But in the end, this also killed him. This is a story for later. Michas kept going along the streets to his hidden paradise, until the streets turned to dirt roads and the dirt roads turned to worn forest trails. After about a quarter mile of walking, he felt a tingle on his neck. Suddenly, he stopped. Something didn't feel right. One of the factors that led to Michas' excellence in Titan school was his ability to determine if someone was watching him. Some would call it a "sixth sense". That sense was on fire now. But by the time he realized he wasn't alone, a figure jumped down from an overhanging tree and landed on top of him, pinning him on his stomach. Oh no, he thought. It's a Fallen. And I'm unarmed. His training kicked in, and he went into defensive mode. He arched his back and pushed off the ground with all fours, throwing his assailant, who was not expecting this, through the air. Michas was a large boy, with very defined mucles and veins; this action came to him easily. Instantly, he pivoted around toward his attacker and leaped at it. Prepared to smash it into the ground like all Titans do, he bunched up his muscles, ready to pulverize his foe. But at the last second, as he landed on his opponent, he stopped himself. The look of cold anger on his face turned into a look of exasperation. "Are you stupid? I almost beat your brains into the dirt!" he said. Laughter. "Almost had you, bro. Didn't expect that from you. Laazus taught you well." It was no Fallen. It was one of his comrades from Titan school, Falkus. Falkus had been one of the soldiers to witness Michas' near failure in training, and was the one to rally everyone else when he saw Michas pull through. Michas' determination had been contagious, and Falkus had caught it the worst. He had become Michas' close friend. He was also a bit bothersome. "I almost killed you, loser," said Michas. "But you didn't. Where ya headed, anyway? I see you leave the City to come here all the time." A sigh from Michas. "Don't worry about it." "But I wanna know! Besides, if the officials saw you out here, you'd be in a lot of trouble," stated Falkus. "I am aware. What, are you gonna tell them I'm out here?" "Maybe. Depends. Are you gonna take me to this secret place?" Falkus raised one eyebrow indicating he would tell them if Michas didn't show him. Michas sighed again. "Fine. Let's go." So they walked along the path toward this "secret place" in silence. Not surprisingly, it wasn't long before Falkus broke that silence. "Why are you out here?" "I need a break before the Test. That's all I will tell you." The Test was a psychological examination of a soldier before he was assigned his gear and more importantly his Ghost. It was designed to determine if the soldier was too damaged from training to proceed into actual battle. Those who were were assigned to office positions. But that answer wasn't enough to keep Falkus quiet. "Hey, Michas. I have a serious question. Everyone has been talking about your father lately and I have heard a lot of rumors. I heard he was some big-time Titan. What exactly happened to him?" His tone softened a bit as he said that. Michas, who had been enjoying the view of the forest around him, snapped his head around to Falkus. "What does it matter?" he asked with a hint of acidity in his voice. "Nothing. I was just curious." Michas sighed yet again. He decided he had to tell someone. Maybe that would help ease his pain. "Well, I guess I can tell you. But do not tell anyone else, understand?" "Yessir!" Michas took a deep breath and launched into it. Once he started he could not stop. It just...flowed from him. His mother had told him the story, when the only surviving comrade of Alrahn's fireteam had shakily told her the story of what happened. (Read Chapter 2 to find out what happened to Alrahn Damengar, the father of Michas, on his ill-fated expedition to Venus!) (Chapter 2 will also begin to reveal what Michas' big secret is-the one that will turn his world upside down!)