Ilustración: Hybrid-Kira (2018)

The bunker was deceptively big, appearing to be completely empty with only four gray walls of at least four meters high, more like an old bunker that looked like a hangar. The walls hid secret and unfolding drawers that kept all kinds of things, like medical equipment, supplies, clothing, armor for both humans and hybrids and weapons that could be considered somewhat rudimentary, as there were only spears, bows, crossbows and various types of knives that could be used for close combat or there were also smaller ones capable of being thrown. I never saw any firearm or gun inside the bunker.

After Tori had finished analyzing me medically with a bunch of medical instruments (and she deduced that I was healthy) she kept those things in their respective compartments, while I helped Adara to carry some things for the trip that we still had to do to reach Cilt, although she had told me that it would not be more than an hour before we arrived, it was never too much necessary precautions. We would cross through a place where Vortex attacks are common and we have to be prepared.

I was given the task of carrying a backpack full of some things like dehydrated food, a raincoat and an extra pair of socks... I am afraid that they will leave me in the middle of the forest with those things and put my survival instincts to the test. While Adara is equipped herself with protections for her legs and shoulders because she was already using a lighter armor for her torso. She equipped Tori with a frontal protection attached to her forehead and nose which had prominent blades on the sides and front with which she could easily slice the flesh of anyone who dared to fight against her. It was clear that their work as hunters is very serious for them, especially in matters of security. I try not to get in the way while both are getting ready, and it is not until the preparations end until I am allowed to go out of the bunker once and for all.

Adara is the first to leave, preparing an arrow in her bow ready to be fired if necessary, Tori stays inside the bunker with me, both seemed really intent on protecting me for some reason, I did not know if it really was so dangerous to go outside like this in the forest or simply was their routine to have to take care of someone like me who, with a bit of luck, managed not to trip over every branch or stone that was in the forest. I do not know why, but I felt uncomfortably overprotected by them.

A couple of eternal minutes pass since Adara comes out to inspect the outskirts of the bunker, but I can finally breathe fresh air again after her return. Outside, the weather was quite cold, possibly because of the storm that had hit the city at night and that had spread to this remote area of ​​the forest. It was strange how in spite of always living next to the forest I never felt so insignificant inside it, not like this, kilometers of trees covered land as far as the eye could see, giving me the inevitable feeling that anything could be hovering in the thickness of the vegetation, making me understand now why to take extreme precautions when leaving the bunker. It was necessary if we don't want to end up as some hungry Vortex's dinner, and Adara and Tori seemed to know that perfectly.

Adara seems to inspect the forest for a few more moments while accommodating a small bag at her waist where she carried a few knives of those that can be thrown, as well as inspecting the edge of the spear that seemed to always carry with her, this had a thin structure and it had striking metal tips at its ends, of which only one seemed to have a sharp edge and a pair of extra spikes specially designed to dig into the enemy's flesh and prevent it from being easily removed, the other end had a simple leaf form, not so threatening and dangerous. I was so distracted watching her that I barely noticed that Tori was calling me.

- Come on kid, I want to get to Cilt this year, preferably - Tori opens one of her doors waiting for me to enter, which was famous for not having seats or any interior things that non-hybrid cars have. Hybrids only have a cavity in their body where their spine is the first thing that comes into view, as well as their skinny build of their ribs and shoulders, which are visible from the inside, covered with black skin. I had already seen the inside of the hybrids in photographs, but I have to admit that seeing it in person is not a very pleasant experience, and I do not know why.

- I was just waiting for Adara, she seems very entertained inspecting her weapons, I do not think they fit inside you Tori... - I say somewhat naively as I put my body inside Tori and try to find a position where the bones of her spine were comfortable for me and at the same time I was comfortable to carry for her. Being the first time I was inside of a hybrid, it was a completely new experience for me, and even kinda exciting.

- I know, that's why she will not go in the inside for this occasion.-

Tori lows her body closer to the floor as if she were lying on it, and she stays that way to wait for Adara, who in a strange way climbs Tori's body in a simple jump causing her body to move a bit, but instead of doing through her doors to the same place where I am, she climbs directly to her back, above where I was, I hear a clicking of some kind of strap that possibly would be using to hold correctly to Tori's back (and thus avoid falling) , and as soon as it seems that everything is ready, Tori begins to move fast toward a dirt road that seemed to have been formed by the constant passage of hybrids and humans in this area.

Somewhat impressed by the maneuver that Adara had made, and being somewhat doubtful why she had chosen to ride on the back of her hybrid companion instead of sheltering in her inside as I had done, I stick my head out through the window space and tried to see her even though the outside air made me close my eyes unconsciously.

- Hey! Isn't it too dangerous to mount a hybrid right on its back? That position is very unstable! - Adara kept looking straight ahead even though I was sure she had heard me, and after a few moments she makes me return my head inside of Tori with a successful blow to my head with the flat edge of her spear. Being inside again I understood why she had done it, the path became much narrower and the sharp branches of the trees jutted directly into Tori's body, which could possibly have made some nasty scratches on my face.

- Aghh... it's okay, I understand, no questions until we get to Cilt ... - I rub my head for a few more moments, while little by little I get used to the peculiar movement that Tori makes with her body to run, it was very similar to the gallop of a horse, but without the impact of the wheels on the ground because they never separated from the floor, simply rolling and moving their weight very smoothly, something incredible for a creature of its size.

The road was becoming narrower as we moved forward into the woods, at this time Tori's armor was starting to be useful, the blades on it's sides helped her to cut through the plants that could be dangerous or just because they could be simply dulling her view. The path opens again and now Tori could run with more freedom. Even though it now seemed that the rest of the trip would be just as calm as it is right now, Adara's voice rises amid the noise that was already in the air that brushed Tori's skin.

- ... Tori, stay alert to any sound, my radar indicates movement a few meters away.-

- Will it be squadron 21? They usually hunt in this quadrant.-

- I doubt it, they do not usually separate to hunt... this is a single signal. 230 meters, at your seven o'clock.- I heard a slight beep that increased gradually, it was possibly Adara's radar signaling the proximity of our unexpected companion. - ... Slow down, I'm going to turn around.- Tori reassures her walking a bit, and although this was still a little bit fast it could be safe enough so that Adara could unlock the locks that kept her body attached to Tori's back and thus to be able to turn her body and be able to cover Tori's back much more easily. - ... Hold this Tyler, and tell me if the subject is approaching or keeping it's distance.- Adara lowers her hand towards one of Tori's windows while holding the radar, and I take it quickly trying to find out which of all the numbers was the one that marked the distance that separated us.

- Uhh okay ... it's 200 meters away, it has not moved much. - I constantly check the radar to make sure there were no major changes in the distance, as well as at the same time I keep alert to the surroundings of the forest, making me feel a little nervousness not knowing what we were facing .- ... 190 ... 187 ... 190 again ... - Tori reduces her speed bit by bit and with it also reduces the distance considerably. - 157 ... 142 ... is 136 meters away ... - Adara seemed to have a small problem in reattaching to the safety harness, which makes Tori further reduce her speed, making a bit of noise with the friction of her tire casing made with the gravel of the road. - ... 100 ... 50 ... gi ... girls, this thing is running too fast! 32 meters! –

Before any of them could notice the thing that was lurking around, a shadow followed us closely from the forest, this was large and very fast, and had located us too soon. My muscles were paralyzed because of the panic, and I'm only able to react when I see that thing coming out of the bushes in a big jump and making a horrible roar. It was a Vortex.

The shape of his body structure revealed that he was a huge Lamborghini Veneno of red dark skin, whose gray eyes showed no mercy, because we were his prey. Turning his eyes towards Adara who was still struggling to hang onto the Tori's back when it returned to accelerate. She heard that something had come out of the bushes, it had not been necessary for me to alert them to start a frantic race between the two hybrids, of which Tori was at a disadvantage for having to carry two humans, but that disadvantage would soon become her best defense.

The Lamborghini attacks the side of Tori, although for this occasion she is much faster and manages to move in time before she got a dangerous bite in her right door. The impact of both bodies of the hybrids makes me fall on my back falling directly on the bones of the column of Tori, hurting myself and possibly Tori too, because she lets out a dull groan as soon as all my weight falls on top of her ribs. I moved immediately knowing that this was a particularly sensitive area in the hybrids and that it could hurt her if I kept falling on it.

The strong blow causes Tori to lose speed for a moment and get out of the way, touching the sharp bushes that surround the dirt path, in which the Vortex takes advantage of to get next to us. When regaining strength, Tori pushes with all her body the Vortex to at least thrust him away from the road, but that robust male was much bigger and stronger than her, so that unfortunate attempt only gives the Lamborghini the opportunity to raise his body a little to try to get a bite on Adara's leg, but she was waiting for that. As soon as the Vortex opens his mouth to take her with his sharp teeth, she manages to nail the point of her spear into the hybrid's tongue, making him roar in pain. It had not caused too much damage, but enough to make him bleed profusely from his mouth as he tried to keep going. There are several attempts to attack Adara until one of them manages to hold the spear with his powerful jaws and refuses to let go, trying to disarm her so that it would be easier to attack. Adara struggled against the Lamborghini to prevent him from taking the spear, as it was the only weapon she had at that moment, and not having it could be deadly.

In my desperation to make the Vortex leave Adara once and for all, I take one of the arrows that Tori carried inside with other things and I risk taking my hands by holding the thin arrow as if it were a knife. , decided to nail it in one of his eyes and thus end the dangerous attack ... but then he looks up and sees me directly in the eyes, only realizing I was there at that exact moment.

- Oh my god ... - It's the only thing that manages to get out of my throat to have faced such a beast, and even more so that his eyes showed no anger or an uncontrollable desire to kill. That Lamborghini Veneno seemed baffled by my face, something had made him hesitate for a few seconds.

- ... Hopper ... - His deep voice made my blood run cold when he pronounced my last name, something I never expected him to do, a Vortex like him with clear intentions to kill us.

Moments after the Lamborghini pronounced my surname with difficulty, because of the wound that Adara had done on his tongue, he seems to abandon the attack, slowing down little by little, immediately releasing Adara's spear and stopping completely to prevent him from another attack. He just stood there, still. His silhouette became smaller and smaller as we moved away from him and I still hung half of my body outside Tori, leaving me in shock at what had happened. A strong blow on my forehead makes me return to Tori's interior again and wakes me from my trance, Adara had used her subtle technique again to keep me safe in Tori's insides.

- Aghh, that was not necessary! The Vortex is already half a kilometer behind! - I claim Adara out loud, while she reassures herself on Tori's back.

- If you listened to what I told you from the beginning it would not have been necessary! Since we saw the Vortex I ordered you not to leave Tori, and it seems that you did the opposite... you are lucky to still be alive ... - She was really irritated, but above all worried and terrified at the same time for what it was about to pass moments ago. Possibly the adrenaline of the moment had not let me hear her. Take a few moments to take a breath and calm down before continuing to talk.- ... Are you okay? I saw that the Vortex was especially interested in not releasing the spear, but surrendered when he see you ... what happened there? –

- He ... said my name. Well, actually my last name ... I only understood that he said "Hopper", but that was it. - I rub my forehead with one hand, being the second blow that Adara had given me, right in the same place. - ... I did not know I was famous among the Vortex too.-

- No ... you're not ... you shouldn't be ...- Says Tori with concern and recovering a little breath, panting a little while she was still running . - ... no Vortex should know your name or even your appearance, Tyler ... this is not good...-

- Then who was that Vortex? Why does he know my name? And... how could he recognize me if I had never seen him before? - I ask with a little of fear, not knowing what was happening at that moment.

- ... I don't know Tyler, and even if we knew it, Tori and I are not the most apt to tell you. You will have to talk to the council of Leaders as soon as we arrive, they will tell you everything you need to know. - Adara says in an attempt that, both she and her hybrid companion, could not say something that they would later have to apologize to their leaders.

- The council? Are you talking about... I'll have to speak personally with the president of Cilt? - I say with some nervousness. - Girls... this is too confusing for me, I just want to see my father and know that Iker is fine, just like that I'll be much more calm. Please, there must be something that you can tell me... –

There is a small silence between the two, until Tori's voice is heard again, this time much calmer when finally catching her breath.

- What I can tell you is that Iker is fine, he was treated yesterday night and his injuries were not serious... he will be discharged this afternoon, with a little luck we will arrive just in time so you can pick him up from the medical bay... that's the only thing I can tell you right now, boy... with your father' s case, I can't help you. That's information that the leaders do not give to anyone.-

- That's enough for now... anyway, sooner or later those leaders will have to tell me everything related to my father.- I keep silent for a while while I see the landscape around me through the windows of Tori, questioning myself about the fact I had gotten myself into this mess, when I agreed to be taken to Cilt. - ... I just hope it don't take too long to get there.-

- Well, since you mention it... look to your left.-

I went to the left side of Tori's interior, and in the distance I could see some short towers of concrete guarding a wide entrance between a natural fortress of mountains, their formation revealed that they were points of surveillance. The watchtower buildings made of logs and concrete. I could hear interference on Adara's radio. She gave it a few turns to make the device work and after a few seconds of fighting, we could hear a slightly distorted voice.

- Here Control tower 3 to radio H15A, please identify yourself.-

- Adara and Tori, hunters squadron number 15, we carry a passenger, I request a simple escort for safety reasons.-

- Got it, proceed carefully. Over and out.-

From the surroundings, we could hear the boast of a group of hybrids approaching us, they left the forest along with us. They were all in a "V" formation, Tori slowed down a bit so that the group will protect us more easily.

Five hybrids with their respective human companions were the ones that formed the hunters' squad that would take care of us in the short trip to the city that was already visible from where we were already. In the skin, the hybrids had different symbols tattooed which were repeated among them. The group despite being formed by imposing hybrids, all of them seemed to enjoy running together. The imperfections of the terrain makes them jump from time to time to overcome these obstacles. It was a matter of a few seconds to be surrounded by the squadron.

- Welcome back to Cilt, Captain Adara, did you miss me on your journey to rescue the son of Marcus? - Says a young Bugatti Chiron of gray and dark skin somewhat extroverted towards Adara, getting the mockery of the rest of his companions of the hunters squadron.

- Do not be naive Rod! We all know to whom the captain's heart belongs, and that obviously is not you. He would make you bite the dust of the arena if you could only challenge him in the Zeingen.

- A human girl shouts from the other side of the formation, and although I could not see her I could recognize that she was riding on the back of his hybrid companion.

That hybrid was a robust Porsche of dark blue skin with multiple scars all over his body. It was possible that he was a 911 because of his rounded body. His equally blue eyes look at me with admiration from his position in the formation, and I can not help but look at it equally, intuiting that he wanted to tell me something.

- You must be Tyler! Marcus's boy! Right? - For the Porsche it is necessary to raise enough his voice to be listened, although for me that was not a problem, because he had a especially deep voice that already denoted a little age in the hybrid.

- Yes, I am! - I approach as close as I can to Tori's window without taking my head out, mainly because of the fear that Adara would come back to get me with another blow on the head.

- Welcome to Cilt boy! It's an honor to finally have you among us, you don't know how much hard work you have given us to be able to find you.-

- Heh... I know! I think it was not very helpful to live in the Northeast Neutral Zone.- I say to try to empathize with the Porsche, although he was already a pretty nice guy.

- Well, feel at home! ... Although of course, this has always been your home, hehehe.- The hybrid accelerates to pass, soon we would join a formation by pairs in a perfect row, which was the only way in which the entire squadron could enter through the main access between both concrete towers without interrupting the accelerated pace of the whole group.

We passed right between the control towers which were joined at the top by a sturdy wooden bridge. From that bridge I caught a group of little children who looked curiously to see the whole squad, and some of them carried a small hybrid cub so he could see too. The scene touched me, because never in my life had I seen such young children interacting and playing with hybrid cubs that way, surely Cilt was beginning to be everything I had always heard, a neutral place where humans and hybrids loved each other and protected equally, without distinctions, without any kind of problem between species.

It was just a matter of entering the city for many curious people to look out to see the cause of all the fuss. We continue advancing at low speed between the wide dirt roads of the city, letting me admire the amazing tall wooden constructions that had been made especially for the housing of people.

Little by little, several people follow us from the street, led by curiosity. Apparently they knew why we are here, because I doubt very much that they receive in this way all the squadrons of hunters who return home.

- Look... It's Marcus's son! - Some unknown voices began to say to the air as soon as they saw us pass, generating a small knot in my stomach, but it felt strangely good.

We arrived at what I believe is the center of the city, a circular stone platform large enough for the entire squadron to stop and still have enough space between the hybrids. The great platform was flanked by five pillars, each one with a different symbol, some of those symbols were tattooed in the skin of the hybrids and humans of the squadron. We stopped in that area and the human girls and boys came down carefully from the backs of their hybrid companions.

My heart was strangely accelerated, the emotion could not be contained so easily, I still could not believe that I was in that neutral city of which they talked so much in the Metropolis. Now I could see if the legends were really true, and better yet, knowing that this step had immensely brought me closer to seeing my father again.

Tori opened her doors to let me out, but I stayed inside for a few more moments, still astonished by everything that was happening, there were too many things in my head to be able to think about everything at the same time. Then Adara came down from Tori's back with a jump, she was still a bit tired from the small confrontation with the Vortex when leaving the bunker, but that did not stop her from being relieved to be back on Cilt. She stretches a little to rest from the uncomfortable position she should have when riding on Tori's back, and when she's ready she extends a gentle hand to me, in a gesture to help me out of Tori's interior.

- So... are you ready to meet your new city? - Despite her strong and serious attitude, Adara had an interesting quality, which was radiating undoubted confidence every time she spoke. After all, I could not say no to my kidnapper.

- ... Yes, I'm ready.- I take her hand and she takes mine, helping me out of Tori's interior. I could barely realize how dizzy the short trip had left me when I staggered a bit as soon as I was back on my feet.

The dizziness was temporary, it was replaced by that tingling in my stomach at the moment I realized all the people and hybrids that were gathered around the stone platform. Of all ages and sizes, races and colors, a large crowd had gathered to see us... to see me.

I had barely noticed that I did not let go of Adara's hand at any time, but that did not seem to bother her at all, on the contrary, I felt that she would be there to support me while I tried to assimilate everything that was happening. I take a hand to my head trying to smooth my hair instinctively to be in front of the audience, because I simply did not know what to say. But luckily, Adara came to my aid.

- Brothers and sisters of Cilt... I don't know how long we have had to wait for this family to be finally complete, but I am sure of something... We are here, and Tyler is with us! - Adara raised my hand along with her's, and in that same moment the crowd shouted and applauded with emotion... excitement of finally having me in Cilt.

Everything was too surreal, after a lifetime of constant humiliation and shame towards who I was and what my surname meant, finally, after 19 years, I was receiving a public ovation from people I didn't even know but they seem to know me very well, maybe above all the legacy that my father has left here, they may see in me a reflection of him.

The moment was undoubtedly the best feeling I had ever felt, and I can not help but put on something sentimental, because I had never felt this before.

I had never felt... so loved.

Hybrid-Kira (2018)