//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - Welcome To The Resistance Pt. 2 // Story: Dawn of the Lost Wolves // by MaxTV1234 //------------------------------// Previously on Dawn of The Lost Wolves... “Come on Max, it might be fun.” AJ shrugged. “I mean, you saved her life when she was bleeding and plus, it might relinquish your anger after hearing reciting that summary about…the war.” “….Fine.” Max groaned. “But don’t say that I warn you.” “That’s great!” Takehiko screamed. “It might even give you two some good exercises! In the meantime, I’m gonna go and find a suitable home for you Kanoe!” “O-Oh, thank you.” Kanoe thanked. “Your voice is too soft! Do it louder!” Takehiko sternly scolded. “Thank you!” Kanoe yelled. “LOUDER!” “THANK YOU!!!!” Kanoe shouted, earning blank looks from some of the others while Shepherd shook his head in amusement. “So…embarrassing…” Kanoe thought, sweat-dropping a little before smiling a bit. And now back to the Resistance! "Whoa..." Kanoe was exploring around the resistance as much as she can, seeing so many different human and Kanisars walking around the base, chatting with each other, and some open shops like hospital wings, food market, and a weapons storage. "Yeah, it's a lot to take care of...This base was made a week after the war began." Max explained, crossing his arms before looking around the place. "It's not much, but this base is our home and we can't do anything without it." "Yeah...I see..." Kanoe nodded in agreement. "But...is this place a secret?" "Well duh." Max snorted. "The other Resistance bases know of this place, but those Human assholes." "But...isn't it out in the open right here?" Kanoe asked in worried. "Nah, not so." Max scratched the back of his head before looking over at the skies. "This place is hidden somewhere deep in the outer plains in the forest here." "Really?" Kanoe asked in surprise. "Yeah...and whether you want to believe it or not, we have another base down below in the underground, but it's for soldiers like me to enter." "Soldiers like you? Oh right...I kept hearing those guys calling you 'Private Kyochi'..." Kanoe frowned. "So you are a part of the Resistance?" "Duh. What did you take me for toots?" Max snorted. "I have a name you know." I pouted before bitterly adding, "It's not that hard you know to say my name." "Yeah, don't care." Max rolled his eyes, much to Kanoe's annoyance. "Okay okay, I get it! You're supposed to be a soldier, right!" Kanoe groaned before huffing, "So this secret underground facility is under this base and only people who joined the Resistance can get in?" "Exactly, not that some girl like you can enter." Max rolled his eyes, earning an annoyed look from Kanoe. "For a guy like you, you have zero respect to girls I bet." Kanoe huffed. "Good answer." Max snorted before he continued to move on. "Now come on, let's keep going and see the rest of the place." "Alright alright..." Kanoe muttered, rolling her eyes as the two continued on walking across the place. They soon stopped right in front of what appears to be a Blacksmith shop. "Is this some sort of shop?" Kanoe asked in confusion. "Yeah, a Blacksmith shop." Max answered. "It's a thing where we make weapons." "I know what a blacksmith shop is." Kanoe stated with a pout. "So this is where they make the stuff here?" "Yeah, 'course he has to be the one working here..." Max grunted. "Huh? Who?" Kanoe asked in confusion. "Just don't think about it...Unless you want to go in and grab a weapon, that is." Max joked. "W-What?! No way! I don't even know how to wield a weapon!" Kanoe exclaimed. "I'm just a girl!" "Yet there are some girls, both human and Kanisars, who can wield weapons while you just like to whine a lot." Max snorted before showing her his sword, which was still in his sheath. "My sword right here is special, made by me when I started my training at a young age. If you don't know how to wield one, then you're practically suckish at first sight." "Hey!" Kanoe yelled out, glaring at him. "You don't know that!" "I do." Max scoffed. "You don't look tough compared to any girl I've encountered here." "Of course you would..." Kanoe grunted. "Whatever...you're as weak as that scrawny brat inside here." Max scoffed. "Scrawny brat...?" Kanoe asked in confusion. "That you don't need to know. Just stay away from him." Max grunted before taking his leave. "Now come on, if you aren't interested in something like getting a weapon, let's just go." Kanoe looks back at him with a pout before looking back at the blacksmith shop. "Scrawny brat...I wonder who he's talking about." Kanoe thought. "HEY! GET OVER HERE!" Kanoe winced at the loud shout before looking over to see Max giving her an annoyed glare. She lets out a huff before saying, "I'm coming..." Kanoe begins heading out and following after the half-Kanisar boy, unaware that she was being watched by inside someone that was inside of the Forge. "Huh..." The boy muttered, looking over at the window. "That girl is the one I saw from the window..." He leans against the window with a frown, watching everyone from outside walking by and minding their own business. "I wished I could be out there...in battle..." The Kanisar boy muttered, leaning against the window. "Hiroto!" The light auburn Kanisar known as Hiroto, looks over to see a large man walking into the shop. "Oh, hey Ronin." Hiroto greeted, seeing his boss entered the blacksmith shop. "You back already from your break?" "I was gonna ask the same thing." Ronin joked. Hiroto rolled his eyes before putting his messy brown apron on. Hiroto wore an opened sleeveless black sweater with Kanisar ear hoodies on them to fit his ears and underneath them was a long sleeved V-neck red and white striped shirt. His hair was light auburn and he appeared to really scrawny compared to other Kanisars around. Hiroto had light gray eyes and his face consisted with freckles above his nose. His light auburn hair seemed to possess a thin ahoge on it. Rinono was a human man, but he was pretty large, muscular, and had straight hair back with a centre across his face and held a bearded mustache style on his face. His right arm was nearly covered in armor with a gauntlet connected to it, but he seemed to be wearing what a blacksmith would wear. "So kid, you hear about how the half-breed vigilante saved a human girl? Pretty lucky eh, lad?" Rinono joked, handing him a piece of metal as Hiroto grabbed a hammer and began mashing it. "Yeah, I totally did..." Hiroto grunted, banging onto the metal piece. "You know, I have to say...it's pretty cool...Makes me wonder if I could enter into battle." "Oh not this again, Hiroto..." Ronin groaned, glancing over at the lad. "Alright, what did your old man say to you this time?" "I-It's nothing, no need to worry Ronin." Hiroto smiled sheepishly at him before looking down at the metal piece. "I just...really wished I could be in battle, but you know, I'm...different from the others. Compared to that guy, I...I'm just scrawny..." Hiroto glances down sadly before a soft smile formed around his face and said, "But even so, at least I get used to being a blacksmith after all..." "Hm...Yeah, sure lad." Ronin shrugged. "But don't let your father's words get to ya. So what if he is the commander? I mean, you're a lot more than him..." "This is war we're talking here, Ronin." Hiroto rolled his eyes. "Everyone works out to find it out, that I can understand, and I need to be a part of this battle too...somehow...so this is my only shot. Making weapons..." "Aye, I gotcha." Ronin nodded. "But you know lad, you don't have to take it serious. It's not that everyone hates ya for your little accidents with your 'inventions', it's inside that he can't seem to stand." Hiroto stares at him for a while before sighing, "That's really helpful Ronin...Thanks, I guess..." "Sorry kid, just stating what's true." Ronin shrugged. "But you'll give it your all, just keep waiting. I mean, don't you want to go out there and be amazing to impress your peers, even old Stephen?" Hiroto glances down before muttering something. "I don't know...I can't...just look inside...I don't know, sorry." Ronin sighed, seeing how indecisive Hiroto was being. Hiroto was known for being unsure with his future, but he wanted to prove to others that he is really someone. Maybe he wasn't the strongest as the rest of the Kanisars due to his weak build and being possibly the worst fighter in the Resistance, but he made up for his smarts, and was quite good with his blacksmith skills, but too bad nobody ever complimented him for it. But very soon, Hiroto will prove them wrong. Hiroto gazes down at his hammer before looking over at the door, seeing the blue skies. "One day...I'll get out there...I'll find my way..." Hiroto thought, gazing at his hammer with a serious look. "And to do that, I'll be able to get strong...but at the same time, I want to prove to everyone that I can do it." "Hey! Hiro!" Hiroto shook his head, snapping out of his thoughts before seeing Ronin giving him a stern look. "We've got a customer! Hurry up lad!" Ronin called. "O-Oh! So sorry!" Hiroto smiled nervously before sighing, "Well...guess I got a lot on my hand..." "Excuse me? Can I get this sharpen?" Hiroto widened his eyes upon hearing that voice of his, quickly glancing over at the sight of that girly voice. "Please don't tell me that she's...." Hiroto gulped, wincing upon realizing who said that. He slowly glanced to his right, and groaned upon seeing a female Kanisar standing by the doorway. The teenage girl Kanisar had short blonde colored hair with aqua-themed highlights running down towards the edges of her hair. Her hair is stylized in a braid-like ponytail and it ran down directly down her back, with bangs are side-swept. She seems to look innocent, and cute and beautiful. She has pink eyes, and wore a tight sleeveless brown shirt, and also a top black skirt, and dark blue leggings. She wears brown training boots fit for her size, and as obvious, has ears on the top of her hair and a tail right through her skirt. The girl's face looked stone-cold of seriousness, not showing a bit of emotion and seemed to hold what appear to be two red dagger-like sword with a circular outline around the handle inside of it. "Oh...Hey there Maiko." Hiroto greeted, trying to remain calm at the sight of her. "It's good to see ya..." Maiko doesn't respond back and throws her daggers over near him. "Make it quick, please." Maiko stated. "I need to hurry in order to get back to training with the others." "Oh right right...My bad." Hiroto grinned nervously before he gotten to work. "So, um, Ronin, if you would...?" "Yeah, you're on your own kid...Not getting involved..." Ronin winked before he began taking his leave. "Ronin...!" Hiroto blinked in shock before sighing and smiled nervously at Maiko, "Um, anyway, Maiko, I'll get to work on those daggers of yours." "...Okay." Maiko said before watching the scrawny Kanisar grabbing ahold of the weapons with all his might and began to work on them by warming them near the fire. "And be careful, those are my mothers'." "Right, got it!" Hiroto nodded before he waited for them to be fully heated up, and five minutes later, he placed the two daggers into the bucket to let them cool down. "So...how's training Maiko?" Hiroto asked, smiling softly at her. He may be acting nonchalantly and calm, but inside, he was feeling pretty worried due to knowing Maiko's reputation. Maiko was known as the toughest Kanisar girl on the Resistance's Training Squad, and she was a prodigy in it. However, she tends to take her training serious and has zero time to hangout with anyone. Hiroto would know that for a fact...personally. "It's going great...Been doing well with those daggers swords for quite a while. Then I fought off some of the trainees, though I really wish I gotten a scar or a wound from those attacks they dished out for me. Not even a Ki Blast was enough to do that when I blocked it with my arms." Maiko explained, earning a sweat-drop from the scrawny Kanisar. "R-Right..." Hiroto chuckled nervously. "Well...I see...Um, so...heard the news about the new girl that showed up here?" "That human girl? Of course I do." Maiko nodded. "But I hope she does fare well if she ever gets into training." "Yeah, because training is always a good opportunity...Which I understand." Hiroto sighs, couldn't help but agree there. "Well of course, because this is a Kill or Be Killed situation." Maiko stated coldly. "Slacking off and doing nothing won't mark you as a good soldier in battle. You should know that at least, Hiroto..." "I know that..." Hiroto sighed. "But...I'm willing to one day become a soldier..." "Have you started your training?" Maiko questioned, earning a frown from Hiroto. "Well..." "Like master your Ki? Learn the basics of using it? Hold a weapon, at least? Or even start growing some muscles...?" Maiko raised a brow. Hiroto started to slowly grow frustrated with those conversations, but held that all back with an exasperated sigh before shaking his head in response. "Figured..." Maiko sighed before gazing at Hiroto, who took out her dagger swords from the cold wet bucket and began shining them on the stone spinning wheel. Hiroto wasn't in the mood of this conversation, but he decided to keep focusing on shining her daggers while Maiko kept talking. "Look, Hiroto...If you really want to be strong, just do what normal Kanisars here do." Maiko stated. "What...normal Kanisars do?" Hiroto asked, feeling down upon hearing that. "Normal Kanisars? Well maybe I'm scrawny and was born a lot prematurely as my dad told me...but...still, I can do it..." "Yes, you may be a Kanisar, but you're different and what you do, is what everyone is sick of." Maiko said. "If you want others to at least respect you, you need to learn how to fight and be a Kanisar." "...Right." Hiroto nodded, looking down sadly. "I'm sorry..." "..." Maiko stares at him with her stone-cold face before sighing, "No, I'm sorry for just being hard on you...Look, you need to stop trying hard to just prove on something." "That's the thing...I don't know what I'm proving..." Hiroto sighed before finishing off the dagger swords. "I'm just...trying to fit in like the rest of you and become something bigger, but...I just don't know how..." Maiko looks down and sighs, her eyes half-lid with a glint of disappointment. "I see how it is..." Maiko thought, narrowing her eyes a bit at Hiroto's disappointment face. "But...I'm okay if I can't be strong like you or other Kanisars, I'll...find a way to fight in the war. I mean, I'm really enjoying my time here in crafting these awesome weapons and making many models of them." Hiroto smiled softly. "O-Other than that, I think these dagger swords really fit your personality." "Yeah...Sure." Maiko glanced away, not showing the tiniest bit complimented by it. "Right..." Hiroto sighed before handing her dagger swords back to her. "Well here you are, and take care of these Maiko." "Mm...They feel like they were made yesterday." Maiko hummed, swinging them around and testing them out. "Wow, you really outdid it today, Hiroto." "Oh, well it's nothing really. Just thought...I could make them really shine and make them a little more fitting to your speed." Hiroto explained with a soft smile. "I think they really fit ya, Maiko...Who knows? Perhaps you can even outrank your peers?" "Mm..." That's when Hiroto saw the small smile on Maiko, seeing how happy she was when she heard him that. "Well I guess I got her smiling even by a bit." Hiroto softly smiled, thinking about her smile. "Right..." Maiko cleared her throat before making her stone-cold look. "But anyway, you should at least try and train to control your Ki, or else you're in some deep shit with everyone...again." "Yeah...I'll try. Thank you Maiko." Hiroto nodded. "Alright...see ya." Maiko nodded before she began taking her leave. "Thanks again Hiroto...!" "My pleasure...!" Hiroto waved at her happily before returning back to his gloomy self, sighing in the process. "Man...maybe she's right...If I'm ever gonna prove to my dad and everyone else here, then I need to step up and fight." "AHEM!" Hiroto flinched at the sound of that ruff and grouchy voice before he turned to see Ronin leaning against the back door of the shop, making a smirk at the scrawny Kanisar. "So...?" "So what...?" Hiroto raised a brow. "How did it go with the little lady?" Ronin wiggled his brows before smirking at the sight of how the kid started blushing. "W-What?! R-Ronin...! That's not even funny...!" Hiroto exclaimed before sighing, "Besides, I think she rather goes out with anyone that isn't a screw-up like me..." "Come on, don't take what those clowns out there says. Soldiers these days are just a bunch of stubborn assholes who thinks highly of themselves just like that damn Human King." Ronin scoffed, feeling upset at the mention of that name. "But let me tell you something kid, you won't know that she likes you unless you try..." "But-" "No 'buts' Hiro!" Ronin crossed his arms. "Unless you want me to give you another all-nighter here again...!" Hiroto frowned at the punishment Ronin was gonna give out to him. "...Right..." Hiroto sighed. "Look kid, just go out and take a break. Maybe you need it...and try at least to train. I know that you can do it." Ronin softly smiled at the young boy. "Just because of what people say bugs you, doesn't mean that you should let them bug you more. You need to believe in yourself, after all, you take a bit after your father." "What's that?" Hiroto asked with a raised brow. "You two are more stubborn than any Kanisar I've ever met here." Ronin joked, earning a sweat-drop from Hiroto. "Right..." Hiroto nervously grinned at that joke before sighing, "But I guess you're right...and I'll get training..." "Hm..." Ronin grinned. "Alright then, take the rest of the afternoon off. I'll fill in your shift." "Thanks Ronin." Hiroto nodded before he took off his smog apron and began taking his leave. "No problem kid, just don't get into any trouble than you normally do!" Ronin shouted, his voice echoing across the Blacksmith shop. "Oh well...I mean, how can I possibly get into any trouble...?" Hiroto wondered aloud, placing his hands in his blue jeans pocket. He continued to walk, ignoring some looks he was getting from some people, either human and/or Kanisar. He knew why because he was pretty much the bad luck charm here in this group, and all because of his ways to try and help, but he always find a screw it up and get that look from his dad, embarrassing him... "Maybe...I'm not cut out to be a fighter...I honestly don't know what I can do to help..." Hiroto sighed, looking down sadly. "Maybe Maiko's right...but what can I do...?" Dawn of The Lost Wolves "I gotta say, this base is pretty...big..." Kanoe was starting to admire the places she visited across the Resistance's base. "Like I said, it's not much but it's still home." Max snorted. "So you better make used to this..." "Yeah..." Kanoe nodded as they continued to walk across the outer fields of the base, seeing nothing but the plain grass and some trees around the area. "So...what's the deal with you? What's your story?" Kanoe turns to Max, who narrowed his eyes of suspicion at her. "Huh? My...story?" Kanoe asked in confusion. "Why were you being harassed and nearly made those humans' capture?" Max questioned. "Um...Well...they thought I was a spy..." Kanoe admitted, rubbing her arm sheepishly. "I just...I don't know...I was pretty lost..." "Okay, but why the hell were you in that city? What? You lost or something?" Max asked rudely, picking his ear. "N-No...Well, yes...But...Um..." Kanoe looks down and frowns, unable to say anything. "What can I tell him? This guy is practically stubborn, no way he would believe me..." Kanoe thought. "Well...Maybe it's worth a shot." "Well...It's just-" Before she could finish up, she heard loud screaming before looking behind Max and saw multiple people fighting each other. "Huh? What's going on over there?" Kanoe asked in confusion. "Huh?" Max looked back and saw the group of people that were fighting each other. However, his reaction... "Oh...looks like they're training again." Max muttered, much to Kanoe's disbelief and confusion. "Wait, training?!" Kanoe exclaimed. "Yeah, this is called a 'Resistance', you know. Fucking smart-ass." Max rolled his eyes. "Well I didn't know that!" Kanoe huffed. "Yeah, sure you did..." Max rolled his eyes before something caught his eye. He saw the instructor that were training the group of girls that were training in both weaponry and combat. He narrowed his eyes at the sight of the male Kanisar that were training the new recruits. The man had slick back hair with big ears, and a smoothed tail, but other than that, his face looked like he was pretty handsome to any women of his age. "Good! Good job ladies! Keep it at them! Same goes for you sweetheart!" The Kanisar instructor shouted, tapping his foot. He soon caught eye of his one of his recruits, mainly a familiar blonde-blue haired Kanisar that was doing quite incredible in her training. "YAH!" She continues to fight off another recruit till she slices off her sword and then gives a hard kick to the face, sending her flying across the ground. The recruit slowly gets up, a large wound appearing on her left cheek and was bleeding really bad. "Hmm...Well done Maiko. Very well done." The man clapped, impressed by the teenage female Kanisar's performance against one the new recruits in training. "With that kind of talent, you might become a new and talented soldier in battle against our enemies." "Thank you, Captain Caldwell." Maiko bowed. "Ngh..." The girl recruit winced at the pain before some of the other trainees helped her up and began taking her towards the infirmary. Maiko glanced over at the girl she injured and saw the glare the girl gave her. Maiko lets out a huff before placing her dagger swords away into her sheaths. "See ladies? This here is a real soldier, ready for combat." Captain Caldwell nodded in improvement. The other girl recruits looked at each other, stopping their combat training the process. "You see, you ladies need to know about how it's not gonna be too easy! This isn't some kiddy thing where you all need to just act and look cute! This is war we're talking here! A place where we need to become the strongest and you all better act well! Do you copy?!" Captain Caldwell gave them all stern looks, but the recruits each nod to him while Maiko stood there with her serious face. "Good." Captain Caldwell nodded before smiling softly at the teenage girl Kanisar. "As always Maiko, you did great. I can see my star pupil in this class can be possibly ready for battle." "I appreciate your compliments sir...but I would be excused and train alone..." Maiko demanded. "I wish to train alone for a while...that last battle worn me out." "You sure?" Captain Caldwell questioned. "Who knows? You could train more, but if not, I supposed...you don't want to regain what you lost because of your aunt." Maiko stops in her tracks before glaring hard at the man while the other trainees kept silent, not wanting to speak up against either of them. "Well...? Wanna keep training under my influence?" He asked, seemingly making a mocking smirk at him. "Or do you wanna fail her?" "...Alright fine..." Maiko huffed. "I'll keep training...asshole." "That's good, that's good." Captain Caldwell smiled softly. "Besides, you can always train with me privately. I do teach you ladies anytime, anywhere." All the girls looked at each other in worried about that, feeling worried and scared upon hearing that proposal. Maiko on the other hand lets out an annoyed huff and turned her head away in disgust. "I rather someone other than you be my instructor..." Maiko muttered, glancing away annoyingly. "Well get used to it..." Captain Caldwell chuckled. "Trust me, I've been in this base for as long as you ladies can think, and I'm the well-known captain on the force. So you trainees better be ready do some crap, or else I'm afraid that I'm gonna have to punish you...like kick any of you off the training regimen and you ladies will have no choice but to go scrub some dishes." All the girls all whispered to each other, feeling afraid at that little threat they made. However, Maiko kept her glare at the captain before huffing, not wanting to further argue with the man. "Now...Get back to training, you lazy bitches!" Captain Caldwell demanded before raising his hand in the air. "Or else I'll just fight each of you in order to get the training started." "...Hmph." Maiko scoffed before addressing the girls to keep on training, which they reluctantly did before they started back their training. "Good, good...Glad you sluts get the gist of it and if you tell anyone, forget about losing those official documents to let you be a part of this war." Captain Caldwell folded his arms, watching each of the girls training each other. Maxwell and Kanoe watches this all from afar, wondering what is going on before seeing much of the training. "Whoa...are they training or something?" Kanoe thought aloud, staying off at the distance as she watches this more and more of the recruits fight off against each other, blocking their moves while their instructor continues to watch their fight. However, one of them as Kanoe notices was quite good with those swords of hers, or even in combat without them. Kanoe watches the turquoise colored Kanisar girl slicing off her opponent's sword, before delivering a powerful kick to the gut, sending her flying across the place while the other trainees didn't bother to see what's up and continued the fight. "They all look so...tough..." Kanoe muttered, placing a hand onto her chest. "I guess they're all training for the war, huh?" Kanoe expected Maxwell to answer her back, however, all she received was silence. She turned to Max, who saw him scowling at the sight towards where the girls were training. She grew concerned for him and wonder what's up before hearing him muttered something... "Tch...King Douchebag...Look at him just sitting his ass watching others fight..." Max grumbled in anger. "Huh?" Kanoe blinked in confusion. "What was that...? About King...Douchebag? Do you mean the instructor?" "It's none of your fucking business." Max scoffed. "Look, do you want that tour to be done or not?" "Well I was just asking." Kanoe frowned. "Well don't ask questions that's none of your business about what I think." Max crossed his arms and looked away in annoyance. Kanoe raised a brow at him and said "Oh, so you do have some problem with that instructor, do ya?" Realizing his mistake, he grew annoyed at her before getting up to her face. "I told ya to shut your damn mouth, bitch!" Max exclaimed, much to Kanoe's shock before she slowly felt her blood rushing in. "Annoying witch?!" Kanoe exclaimed angrily, stomping her foot at him. "I'm not an annoying witch! If anyone, you're just a pain in the ass, you mutt!" "Mutt?! Who you calling a mutt?!" Max yelled, gritting his fangs in anger. While the two kept arguing, they didn't knot that they were drawing attention to the captain and the rest of the trainees. Maiko stops herself before putting her daggers down upon seeing the two arguing over each other, head-to-head. "Hmm...What is this?" Captain Caldwell muttered, noticing the two. However, he took a notice of Max before smirking at him and began walking over to them. "Captain?" Maiko called. "What are you...?" "Get back to training. I'll see what's up. Now do it or else." Captain Caldwell stated. "You girls could do those dishes for the next six months." Maiko flinched a bit before glaring hard at him, but she let out a sigh and muttered, "Yes sir..." "Good...Get back to training, you bitches." Captain Caldwell ordered before making his way over to the two figures that were arguing among each other. "Ugh! Why am I even trying arguing with you?!" Kanoe huffed. "For some wolf guy, you don't seem to treat me with no respect or even anyone at all!" "I don't treat anyone here respect unless they earned it from me!" Max exclaimed angrily. "Ugh! That barely makes any sense!" "You don't make sense, you annoying bitch!" "Same goes for you, wolf idiot!" "Wolf idiot?! Is that so?!" "Yeah!" Both Kanoe and Max gotten closer, face-to-face and growled angrily at each other, getting real tired of arguing one another till... "AHEM!" The two froze before glancing over to see the black haired Kanisar captain giving them each a stern look. "Tch...Afternoon Caldwell." Max scoffed, looking away in annoyance. "Fancy meeting you here, asshole." "Good afternoon, Private Kyochi. It's been a while since I last saw you trained with the other recruits back then." "Tch...I rather train with my recruits than with an perverted asshole like you." Max glanced away, feeling more irritated just being around his presence. "Is that how you're gonna treat your former instructor like that? Heh, I see your rep still succeeds for being such a bother here." Captain Caldwell smiled. Kanoe stares at him, seeing how his smile was forced. "That smile...It gives me the creeps." Kanoe thought with a frown. "Oh? And who is this beautiful young lady?" Captain Caldwell asked curiously. "She looks like a beaut..." "T-Thank you..." Kanoe backed away a bit, having the feeling of not trusting him. However, she cleared her throat before smiling softly at him. "I-It's nice to meet you sir, I'm Kanoe Fey." "Kanoe Fey, what a pretty little name for a girl. A human, no less." Captain Caldwell chuckled before giving her a friendly smile. "So, you into some training of mine?" "Huh?" Kanoe blinked in confusion. "You know, train for the war? I think you got what it takes." Captain Caldwell smiled softly. "You look like your good looks could win the enemy's hearts." Kanoe made a slight frown, looking away in disgust. "Oh boy...Don't tell me that he's one of those types of guys..." Kanoe thought in disgust. "She's new around here, a survivor no less." Max scoffed, grabbing Kanoe by the arm. "We were just leaving." "Leaving already? Ahh, that's such a shame." Captain Caldwell sighed. "Come on, it's no big deal. I was just interested onto finding out much about her...You know, she looks pretty skilled." "Yeah, sure she is." Max glared. "Don't you have to be an perverted asshole somewhere else?" "Really? Me? A pervert? I am the tenth captain of this resistance and I want you to give me some respect." Captain Caldwell smiled happily towards Max. "So I'm going to tell you this like I've told to my other recruits! You need to learn how to act yourself as a good Kanisar. What are you? A lazy mutt?" "I'm not, and I have no room to talk to some fucking sociopath like you...!" Max scoffed. "Hmph...I see how it is." Captain Caldwell hummed before looking over at Kanoe, who blinked in confusion upon seeing him staring right at her. "Why is he staring at me like that? Wait...is he...?" Kanoe thought, gasping a bit. "Well...Care to ask what she/s doing with someone like you?" Captain Caldwell asked. "I never expected some wolf mutt like you would even have her with you." "Shut the hell up!" Max growled, clenching his fists. "Now look here, I'm not interested in some asshole of a captain to even talk to me! Just leave me alone and let me mind my own business while you do yours...!" "Really?" Captain Caldwell rubbed his chin in thought before a smirk appeared. "Tell me, how you do well in combat? Still sluggish as always?" That seemed to earn a tick mark on Max's forehead as he looks away in frustration. Kanoe simply stared at them with a frown, feeling like she shouldn't interfere...at least, not yet. "My fighting is not sluggish..." Max grumbled. "Really? Well...Maybe you should take me down." The Kanisar captain / instructor smirked cockily at the boy. Max widened his eyes a bit before looking away in annoyance. "Come on, I can take a punch to the face. That is, if you can, Trainee Traitor." Max growled upon hearing that nickname, clenching his fists. "Trainee Traitor...It wasn't my fault...For him to bring that up." Max narrowed his eyes, almost ready to beat the living shit out of him. "Yes, that's right...Come at me." Captain Caldwell hid a small smirk. "That way you can embarrass yourself like before when you started training with me...Ha ha ha..." "...That was in the past and it wasn't my fault." Max huffed. "Heh, look at you...trying to act all smug and like nothing went wrong..." Captain Caldwell scoffed. "You know, you're kinda lucky that you at least gotten to pass the test to even join the army or else you would just been left behind." "Why you...!" Max hissed. "I don't need to hear it from you! It's your damn fault and people don't even try to stand up against you because of your fucking damn attitude...!" "Well maybe you would like it if you just did what I asked you to do, troublemaker. Just as troublemaking as the Heartless Wolf. Makes me wonder why no one can compare you two..." Captain Caldwell smugly grinned. "There's that name again...The Heartless Wolf..." Kanoe thought before glancing at Max, who was clenching his fists. "...I'm not like him...Now shut up and maybe fuck off before I stick my foot into your ass." Max threatened. "Heh, like you could and if you do, I wouldn't mind you getting expelled out of the army and go into dishwashing duty. That sounds more suitable to your role." Captain Caldwell smirked. "Shut up...!" Max hissed, raising a fist in front of him till Kanoe grabbed his arm. "What the?! What the fuck?!" "Max, hold it! It's no use fighting him...!" Kanoe exclaimed before glaring back at the captain. "But...I can start seeing much about him...." "Come on, it's my job. I need to be hard on you all in order to increase your confidence for the war." Captain Caldwell smiled. Kanoe narrowed her eyes, staring straight at the man. "Is what he's saying the truth? I mean, I never know that much about the military and such, but...is that even true?" Kanoe thought. "Hmph...!" Max snorted, getting Kanoe to let go of him. "I didn't ask for your help! I can take him down easily!" "Watch it boy, your little confidence will only lead you to being a loser. Remember that." Captain Caldwell before turning his back on them. "Anyway, I got no time with you chumps. I need to head back to teach those girls about their combat skills. Go do whatever you want. You aren't my problem anymore...Trainee traitor." Captain Caldwell began taking his leave, walking off while Max stood there with an angry look as Kanoe looked at him with a concern look. "Hey...you okay?" Kanoe asked in concern. "What the hell was your problem?!" Max exclaimed in anger. "I could've taken him!" "Well I tried to make you not fight him for your own cause!" Kanoe stated bitterly. "I didn't want you to at least try and start a fight with him." "So what? I could've teach him a lesson about his way of his fucking teaching methods." Max growled, confusing Kanoe. "Wait...are you saying that his way of teaching is...wrong?" Kanoe frowned before glancing over at where Captain Caldwell last stood. "Yeah...what you think?" Max growled. "W-Well I...I didn't know that." Kanoe frowned. "I was just-" "Just what?! Interfere with how I was gonna deal with him?!" Max exclaimed angrily. "I could have taken him down! I could have beaten him! But you just have to get in my way...!" "Because it wouldn't exactly solve any of your problems! Look, I don't know much about you but I know one thing; You have an attitude problem?!" Kanoe exclaimed. "Whatever! Just shut up and listen!" Max gritted his teeth. "Why not you stop your constant whining and let's just keep going...!" "...Fine." Kanoe huffed. "Makes me wonder why again do I have to deal with you." "Shut up." Max scoffed before he begins taking his leave. "Come on...you better come, toots." "Ugh, my name is Kanoe...!" Kanoe reminded. "Don't care." Max rolled his eyes. "I can call you whatever you want...Now come on." Kanoe frowned, crossing her arms in anger. "This guy..." Kanoe thought bitterly before racing over to them. While the two left, Maiko watches this from afar after taking down her opponent while their instructor came back and yelled out, "Alright you lazy bitches, hurry this up and you'll get your damn break!" "Hmm..." Maiko narrowed her eyes. "Just what was he talking about to those two?" Later "And...that should be the last of it..." Somewhere else, the young boy engineer prodigy, AJ Cykes, was busy working on a small device. He put down his wrench and wiped a brow, satisfied with finishing up for today with his latest invention. "Ha! Now this Hyper Exo Shotgun is finally ready!" AJ smiled happily, lifting up a thing green bazooka that was right for his size. "With this, I think I might be able to defend myself. Now for the perfect test..." AJ looks around before noticing an empty glass bottle on the window of his shop. "Hmm...Perfect. Glad that I forgotten to throw that in the recycle bin." AJ smiled before lifting the gun straight at it before pulling the trigger, shooting straight and breaking the bottle into pieces. However, before that could happen, a familiar scrawny teenage Kanisar came into the shop... "Hey AJ, I was wondering-AHH!" Before he could finish, he quickly ducked upon hearing the glass breaking into many broken shards. "Yes! It worked! It really worked!" AJ grinned happily, looking at his new weapon in awe. "Yeah...thanks for not blasting me." AJ looked over and saw Hiroto getting back up, dusting himself off. "Seriously though, you could have nearly blast me to pieces or worse." "Oh hi Hiro! Nice to see ya here!" AJ greeted happily, putting his new invention down. "What brings you here to my shop?" "Mm...Nothing much. I've been wondering if you have anything I can borrow?" Hiroto asked curiously. "You mean for..?" AJ raised a brow, which Hiroto nodded. "Yeah, just thought I could borrow some tools to fix up an old camera..." Hiroto softly smiled. "An old camera...? That's it...?" AJ raised a brow. "Why something like that?" "Well...I thought of record my progress like a video diary but my dad accidentally broke it..." Hiroto rubbed the back of his head, remembering how his dad accidentally stepped on his camera and how it gotten broken. "So I was wondering if you have any spare lens and a chip that I could use to fix it up?" "That sounds more like you're gonna use them instead of borrowing. I mean, how are you gonna give it back to me?" Hiroto sighed and shook his head. "Yeah...good point. But either way, could I...?" Hiroto weakly grinned. "I mean, I have some cash that you could have..." "Mm....Actually, it's okay Hiro." AJ raised his hands in surrender, giving the scrawny Kanisar a sheepish smile. "I mean, you don't have to waste money just for something like that." "Well...even if the world is on the brink of war, this Resistance base acts like a normal civilization back then..." Hiroto chuckled. "Well...Alright, hang on..." AJ looking through the desk drawer before managing to find what Hiroto was looking. "Oh right...! Here we go...!" AJ picked up some extra camera lenses, an old looking chip, including a small looking part. "Oh, thank you." Hiroto smiled before receiving the items and placing them on his bag. "And this...is this an image sensor?" "Yeah, just to make your camera look better!" AJ nodded. "I don't mean to brag, but I can practically create a high definition camera with 4K resolution!" "Wasn't that already made by the time you humans came?" Hiroto asked in confusion. "Maybe...but not anymore! I can make it into 16K!" AJ laughed, earning a sweat-drop from the skinny Kanisar. "Right..." Hiroto cleared his throat before smiling softly. "I really appreciate it AJ and..." Hiroto places his cash down on the table before turning the young kid and said, "It's my treat..." "But Hiro...I said-" "I know, but I mean it. I want to at least appreciate for what you for me." Hiroto reassured. "Other than that, it's kinda what I'm trying to do. Creating weapons, being a respectful person, and even as an amateur level engineer are just my only hobbies, but I thought I could at least train...well...to myself, that is." "I understand how you feel." AJ shrugged. "I mean, you aren't a bad person for someone who has the worst reputation for being the worst soldier of this Resistance." "Yeah...so I figured...." Hiroto sighed sadly before shaking it off and replaced his sadness with a fake smile. "But...I'm doing hard...Know how it goes on the Forge, and making some new weapons for some of the soldiers...Also, I'm thinking of creating some new weapons that came to my head..." "Mm...That might be a good idea." AJ nodded. "Though, I think it's also a smart idea to not let your dad know about that...considering how you're not as strong-" "Yeah, I know." Hiroto sighed, shaking his head. "I just...I just need to work on it...People here say that I can't even handle Ki, but it's not that..." "Mm..." AJ frowned. "If you want, Max can help you..." However, Hiroto shook his head and gave him a smile. "That would be nice, but...I don't want others involve in my problems...Well if they even care about my problems, that is." Hiroto reassured. "But the main point is that I just need to solve them myself..." "...Alright." AJ sighed. "There's nothing that'll convince you otherwise, Hiro." "Yeah...but I promise that I'll figure out about my...scrawniness." Hiroto weakly grinned. "Trust me, I'll find a way." "Well alright..." AJ shrugged. "Oh, and have you heard about the new girl that came here? Kanoe Fey?" "Yeah...I just saw her enter the shop with Max, but I didn't get the chance to interact with her." Hiroto sighed. "Oh well, I'm sure some people told her about me..." "Come on Hiro, don't act like that." AJ shook his head. "You should be more confidant in yourself like Max." "Yeah...become a brute like him..." Hiroto sighed. "Oh well...It doesn't matter. I just need to work up my strength..." "Well I have confidence that you can do it." AJ reassured. "I really believe in you Hiro..." "You're too kind, AJ." Hiroto smiled in embarrassment. "Well anyway, I better be going before your friend gets here..." "Well in the meantime, it's best that I have to work up on this..." AJ takes out his small bazooka weapon. "Oh yeah...is that something new?" Hiroto asked curiously. "That's right! It's a new weapon I'm developing for myself in case if I ever go into battle..." AJ explained before making a meek smile. "Which is kinda impossible considering that I'm not as strong as Max or the other Kanisars..." "Well...I think it looks nice." Hiroto smiled softly. "Don't beat yourself up, AJ." "Thanks Hiro! Hey, do you wanna try it out?" AJ offered, but Hiroto shook his head. "I appreciate that, but I think I rather not." Hiroto shook his head. "Don't wanna accidentally drop it and break it." "Come on, I know you wouldn't...Give it a try." AJ pleaded. "Well..." "Come on...please." AJ pouted, earning a sigh from him. "This kid is just too much..." Hiroto thought with a blank look before sighing, "Well alright, I'll do it..." AJ hands him his newly made weapon and hands it to him, which Hiroto relunctantly grabs before looking around to test it before seeing an old broken down computer on the ground. "Oh, you can destroy that...I was gonna throw it away since it kinda...uh...blew up on me the last time I used it..." AJ chuckled nervously. "Okay..." Hiroto looked through the visor, readying his aim at it and slowly pressed the trigger. "Yo! AJ!" "AH!" Hiroto shrieked at a loud voice, missing his mark as the laser shot at the mirror, which aimed back at him and AJ. "Watch out!" AJ ducked, along with Hiroto who used the weapon to defend himself, blocking the shot with his gun till it blew up upon making contact with the laser. The two looked at what was left of the new weapon AJ developed. "Damn it..." AJ sighed. "Great...who's the idiot that interrupting our experiment?" The moment AJ turned around, he widened his eyes at the sight of a familiar half-breed giving him a deadpanned glare. "Uh...Hey?" AJ grinned nervously, sweat-dropping a little. "I guess...you were the idiot that interrupting my-" BAM! "OW!" Max slammed his fist onto AJ's head, nearly making him lose consciousness, a small bump formed on top of his head. "Don't ever call me a 'idiot', asshole." Max huffed while Hiroto stood there, sweat-dropping. "Max! Don't be too hard on him! He's just a kid!" Kanoe stepped in, giving him a stern look. "Maybe you should learn to stop whining." Max huffed, crossing his arms. "Oh don't you start there!" Kanoe exclaimed. "God, stop bitching about what I do!" Max glowered at her. Hiroto stared at the two, watching them argue back and forth. "Umm..." Hiroto frowned, feeling quite uncomfortable being around them. "I...think I should go..." Hiroto begins walking out, leaving the two arguing till Max notices him leaving. "HEY!" Hiroto freezes before turning around to see Max glaring at him. Kanoe looks back and sees the skinny Kanisar, who smiles nervously at him. "O-Oh...hey..." Hiroto gulped, sweat-dropping. "Ngh...Max..." AJ shook his head, recovering from the hit. "Just leave Hiroto alone, he's not even bothering you..." "I wasn't gonna bully him! I'm not THAT heartless...!" Max exclaimed. "I beg to differ..." AJ muttered, sweat-dropping before getting hit on the head by Max again. "Shaddup!" Max growled. "Do you treat anyone like that?!" Kanoe tapped her foot with a frustrated look on her face. "Yeah, so?" Max snorted. The two began arguing while AJ let out a sigh, feeling upset about getting hit on the noggin again while Hiroto stood there, sweat-dropping with a blank look. "...What have I gotten myself into?" Hiroto thought. "Because there are so many things wrong with these three together..." To Be Continued