Ilustración: Hybrid-Kira (2022)

"All Rangers are Hunters, but not all Hunters are Rangers"

—

After scolding us for being late, Adara has spent the rest of the morning doing her best to teach Iker and me the art of being a Ranger... or at least, to pretend to be Rangers. In her opinion, it would take a duet like us several years to learn the true secrets behind the technique required for such a prestigious training.

"Ranger" is not an actual rank, does not have a special tattoo, or official recognition by the Council. It is a special category within the Hunter rank. Rangers are any duet of Hunters, composed by a hybrid and a human, who have completed arduous special training and have become elite elements. Human Rangers are allowed to ride on the backs of their hybrid partners instead of staying inside their cabin, all of this with the purpose of providing extra protection for their hybrid partner.

Adara and Saemus, Ciro and Marione, and most likely General Kassia, are all Rangers, the elite of the Hunters. At first it was easy for me to think that, here on Cilt, seeing a human riding on the back of a hybrid was all too common. I almost forgot that the only squad I've had any real contact with has been squad 15, which is made up entirely of Rangers. It was no surprise why the Leaders consider them the best squad in Cilt.

If I wanted to become a Ranger, even just for this mission, I needed to know the equipment and weapons perfectly, but due to our limited preparation time, Adara decided to explain to me superficially the function of each of the gadgets I had right now in front of me; Harnesses, weapons, individual pieces of armor, survival gear, and a massive saddle. I did my best to memorize the utility and operation of each thing even though Adara didn't expect me to memorize it the first time.

She seemed calm, even after having to deal with Iker by Kassia's decree. Iker and Saemus were talking calmly a few meters behind Adara, just in front of my line of vision, their conversation seemed serene and friendly, and I've even been able to catch my friend smiling from time to time with Saemus's comments. It was evident that the previous tensions between the two of them had subsided since the day Saemus had come to apologize. Seeing that Iker was enjoying the company of Saemus makes me feel calmer towards our imminent mission.

- Tyler, Hey! Are you paying attention?- Adara snaps her fingers right in front of my nose, effectively bringing me back to her lessons-

- Yes, yes, sorry, uhm... You were telling me to be careful when placing the harnesses, because the order in which I secure them to the saddle does matter... -I look down back at the thick harnesses that I hold with my hands, fidgeting nervously with the clips at their extremes-

Adara sighs, relaxing her shoulders for a moment, and smiles sympathetically at me. It was as if she had just realized that there was no point in treating me like one of her students, so she decided to adopt a friendlier profile, being herself again. She glances surreptitiously over her shoulder, realizing that both Saemus and Iker were too distracted to listen to our conversation.

- Hey... I feel like something is bothering you. If you feel this way because you have to learn all this in one day, don't worry, you don't need to memorize it perfectly. -Adara turns back once more, seeing both hybrids talking- Or maybe it's because of what happened in the Dome yesterday... If it's because of that, I can assure you that I won't look for problems with Iker, nor will I let that interfere with the training.

- It's not that... -It was a good surprise to hear Adara's openness to tolerate Iker for now, but that was the least of my worries at the moment-... We'll go deal with the warlord himself. And if I'm honest with you, I don't feel like any of this will be useful to face him...

Adara purses her lips, thoughtful for a few seconds. She puts down the harness that she herself was holding to teach me how to secure them to each other, and she takes my hand until this moment I realized was shaking. I haven't stopped shaking since yesterday's Council meeting ended.

- Tyler, I'll be honest with you... The success of this mission may not depend on us, but if we don't do our part well, things can complicate, quickly. I trust that you and Iker will give everything on your part so that this goes well. And I hope that you, too, can trust my judgment to guide you.

- I trust you... It's just that I don't know what to expect, and I don't know if I'll do my part right out there.

She lifts my chin with her other hand, effectively preventing me from looking back at the ground.

- It's normal to be afraid, Tyler. It's your first mission, and it's a pretty tricky situation. If it's any consolation, I've had students faint from fright on their first hunting mission, and we hadn't even left Cilt's hunting ground yet. You'll do fine, I know it.

Her words are comforting, bringing a small smile back to my face for a moment, and made me relax the muscles of my worried forehead. It was a relief to have someone like her to talk about my worries.

- Well, it looks like you're ready to do it on your own. I'll go with Saemus to get him ready for training. Let me know when you're ready, okay?

Adara gets up off the ground and goes to equip Saemus with the same saddle and harnesses that I will also have to put on Iker. It wasn't until that moment that I realized that Iker's green eyes were fixed like daggers in our direction, but specifically in Adara. Iker watches through narrowed eyes as Adara leaves the area, and makes a subtle pretentious gesture to show his discomfort. Adara, on her side, didn't make a single gesture, although I could bet that she had noticed the way Iker was looking at her.

I didn't want to admit it, but the way Iker has behaved with Adara since the start of training has been childish, and we still had a whole day ahead of us to train, which would be more bearable if it weren't for his tantrum.

Iker approaches me slowly and without saying anything. He pushes the saddle slightly and lifts it a few inches off the ground with the tip of his nose to help me carry it.

- So... What were you two talking about? Does putting on harnesses involve that much physical contact with another human?

- Oh Iker, don't tell me you're jealous.-

- What?! Of course not... -

I reach down to pick up the saddle, and I can't help but give him a serious look with a raised eyebrow. It was more than obvious that neither Iker nor Adara were happy with having to train together, but Iker had no filter, and at times he forgot that Adara is also my friend. That didn't make the situation any less awkward than it already was.

- Well, it seems like it bothers you when I talk to her. I know you and Adara... Well, you don't get along, but she's doing her best to put that aside and help us both fulfill our role in the mission successfully. -I lift the massive leather saddle over my head, which I learned the hard way is much heavier than I expected. Iker rushes to get behind me and prevent me from falling backwards due to inertia. Miraculously, the saddle falls in place right on Iker's back, although in the opposite direction-... She told me that she trusts us, that includes you, Iker. I think it would be a good idea to consider a truce, even temporarily... Don't you think?

No response from him, at least not verbally. Iker sighed dramatically and chuffed out his nostrils rhythmically, a subtle yet clear sign of support for my peace proposal.

It took me a little longer than I expected to get Iker saddled correctly, though to my defense he was a bit picky about letting me know how tight or loose the harnesses should be attached directly to his body. After a lot of effort, trial and error, at last everything seemed to be ready. I put on my harnesses that cover me from chest to legs, and after giving the sign to Adara and Saemus they both came back to us. Adara inspected the placement and fit of the harnesses, and after a few corrections, she has finally given us the green light to proceed.

I had a little trouble figuring out how I could get on Iker's back, but that was something I would have to figure out on my own. Fortunately for me, Iker is not exactly a tall hybrid, and for the first time I had found a virtue in my clumsy and long legs. Iker laid down on his belly to lower his height a bit and thus help me up. I used the rippled folds of the sturdy skin of his doors to step on and propel myself up, climbing directly over his side. I hugged the saddle in a horizontal position until I was finally able to pass the other leg to the opposite side from which I had climbed, and little by little I got up again until I was in the position in which the saddle is designed; Sitting on top of my legs, resting the knees on a pair of special pads to prevent injuries caused by the position and movement.

The saddle is less comfortable than I thought, although compared to having to sit directly on his vertebrae inside his cabin, I'd rather ride like a Ranger, and I think Iker would think the same. I clip my harnesses onto the saddle and put on the helmet that Adara has been so insistent that I wear. She approaches me from one side of Iker, giving some last indications.

- Remember; Riding a hybrid is not like riding a horse. As a Ranger, you have no control over the direction your hybrid will take. Your job is not to be a rider, but to assist your partner in helping him see things he can't, and eliminate any chance of a surprise attack. For his part, Iker will be in charge of making the decisions about where to go and how fast to run. For now I just want you to do a slow speed lap around the training ground so you can get used to the movement a bit, Saemus and I will be ready by the time you get back, and we can continue the training.

Adara takes a couple of steps back to give Iker the freedom to get back on his four wheels. As careful as my friend has been getting up off the ground, the jolt is enough to force me to hold on to the same saddle for fear of falling, even if I had four different straps to keep me on the saddle, and one more safety strap, which is almost impossible to untie.

It is a sensation without any comparison.

Aside from the extra height gained by being mounted on top of a hybrid and having a completely different perspective on my surroundings, it wasn't until this moment that I realized what a biological feat hybrids are; capable of carrying their own weight and size, massive compared to a mere human, and all this with such a natural fluidity that it gives me chills. I can perfectly feel all the small individual movements that Iker has to make to adjust to both my weight and the saddle.

We walked across the vast and completely empty training ground for at least fifteen minutes. It is not easy to find the rhythm at which I have to keep up with Iker, because despite the fact that his movement is based purely on the rotation of his wheels, that does not mean that the movement is as smooth as that of a non-hybrid. Iker seemed to sense it immediately, and as much as he tried to help, his advice didn't do much to prevent the constant tugging I felt every time Iker completed the rotation of just one of his wheels, and he has four.

- Swaying is the most difficult thing to master, don't sweat it, the faster we run, the less swaying... -Iker seems to think about what he had just said for a few seconds, until a crazy idea pops up in his mind- That's right!

- Iker... don't even think about it.- It wasn't necessary for him to tell me, I know him enough to know that he was about to do something stupid, or something that would get us into trouble... or both at the same time-

- We must go faster!

- But Iker, Adara told us to go slow!

- I know, I know, but there won't be time for calm walks out there, Ty, and it's not like we have much time to prepare for this mission.

- But...

- You know what they say; Sometimes you must learn to fly, before learning to walk... Come on, trust me.

His tone, almost pleading, makes me wonder for a moment who I should really obey; Iker, or Adara. After all, Iker is far from a rookie. Quite the contrary, it was actually the generation of Hunters that Iker belonged to who invented and perfected the techniques that the Rangers use today. He and Aaron were among the first Cilt Hunters and Rangers. It wouldn't be such a bad idea to trust his intuition.

- ... Well maybe...

- Alright, hold on tight!

I lose sight of the horizon line. Iker has risen on his rear wheels. The harnesses kept me in place, although just barely, because I could feel how the saddle moved back a few centimeters, something told me that the harness that holds the saddle to Iker's stomach was not well adjusted. But Iker didn't seem to notice, and the moment his front wheels hit the ground again, he began to run around the perimeter of the training ground. I hugged the saddle until I was sure I wasn't going to fall off. I see Adara in the distance, she waves her arms in the air and yells incomprehensibly at us. I couldn't see her face from here, but I was sure of one thing; Adara will be furious by the time Iker is done with his antics.

At least one thing was certain, and that is that the faster we run, the sway becomes almost imperceptible. The trees that border the training ground pass quickly on our left. Iker runs free, like I've never seen him before. He enjoys himself, even knowing that his insubordination would have consequences, he enjoys it all the same.

- Iker, you are crazy! Adara will kill us when we finish the circuit!

- No Ty, she's only going to kill me! So you better enjoy it while it lasts!

Adara has warned me not to let go of the grip attached to the saddle, but the inevitable and contagious urge for idiocy keeps telling me to do it anyway. I respect Adara a lot... but she's not here right now to tell me what to do, and likewise, she would never know that I willfully disobeyed her. Besides, if my best friend said that this was safe, I have no reason to question it.

I keep my back upright, feeling the air hitting me hard on the surface of my entire body, pushing me backwards. I trust my complete safety on Iker and in these harnesses. I extend both arms into the air, giving myself completely to this small moment of freedom.

I feel like I'm flying, I feel like nothing is impossible from here. Without realizing it, we have become a unit. Never in my life did I dream of doing anything even remotely similar to this.

- Everything okay up there?

- This is amazing! -I scream with all my might, and it wasn't just for him to hear me. The moment was a unique opportunity to scream at the top of my lungs for the simple pleasure of doing it. - Faster! Faster!

Iker growls in excitement, and increases the speed of his gallop, forcing me to arch my back and hold on to the saddle with one hand, or else I'll end up sprawled on his back. We break through the cold morning wind with great speed now that we have reduced our wind resistance. I don't know how Iker must feel at this moment, but I felt for the first time that we had a chance to win.

- You are doing it very well! -We quickly approached one of the corners of the training field, but Iker didn't slow down- Alright Ty, it's time to learn to tolerate sharp turns, hold on very tightly to the saddle and don't let go, let yourself go, and try to compensate for the push by moving your body to the opposite side... Ready?

The straight stretch is shortening second by second. If the maneuver went wrong, and I wasn't able to counteract the inertia of the turn, I could easily injure myself with the harnesses themselves. Or in the event that Iker can't slow down fast enough, we'll both crash into the trees in front of us. But there was no time to repent, nor to learn the good way. It must work out, and there is no other option.

May this fear I feel right now help me survive.

- Now!

Iker opens his doors, hugging me in them like two gigantic golden wings. One by one, he lifts and redirects his wheels to brake and turn his body to the right, using his own inertia and weight to veer in the direction he has decided. The doors act as a great and effective aerodynamic brake, drastically reducing speed. The pull caused the harnesses on my chest to press against my ribs, but I didn't despair. Pushing my left knee on its support on the saddle, I lifted the rest of my body and pushed it with all my might to the right. My legs felt how I was not only pushing my own weight, but mine and Iker's as a whole. I lowered my center of gravity until I was almost lying on his back. I feel Iker's wheels slipping on the mud, but soon he regained his grip on the ground, and with a leap resumed the race, slamming his doors shut, and jerked hard to the right with the sole purpose of making sure I returned to my original position on the saddle.

By the time I opened my eyes again, we were already running in a straight line again, unharmed, as if nothing had happened. Iker's mastery is still intact after years of not having a human partner, and there is no better evidence of that than my own safety. I sit up again, catching my breath, unable to process what had just happened.

- Iker, we did it! Haha, we did it..! -My little celebration was enough to make the slack strap finally give up, causing the entire saddle to slide to the side until it was on Iker's side, and not on his back as it should be. My head is inches above the ground as I hang on my side, strapped into the saddle harness. I hold on to the safety strap attached to my stomach as the last method to bend my body, and keep my head off the ground-

- EEK! -Iker tries to brake as soon as he sensed something was wrong, exclaiming with a high-pitched squeal in his voice as he slowed down. He locked his wheels so they wouldn't spin anymore, and they slid across the grass for a few more feet before finally coming to a stop. He rose higher than usual on his wheels to try to gain a little more height, thinking that my body was dragging on the ground- Tyler! Oh god Tyler! Are you alright?! -Iker screams in genuine despair and anguish, trying to stay as still as possible-

- I'm fine! I'm fine... Don't worry, everything is ok. -I release the safety strap, my arms have given up trying to return to my original position. I try to flex my body using the little strength of my abdominal muscles, but that too fails. I have resigned myself to hanging upside down until someone can help us. I felt the blood from my body rushing to my head, which wasn't a very pleasant feeling, but as uncomfortable as the situation was, I still had a chance to annoy Iker a bit-... What the hell was that noise you made?

- What?... Which sound?

- When you braked, you made a very funny noise, don't pretend you didn't.- I hoped that my mocking tone would at least calm him down a bit, but it seemed that it had produced the opposite effect-

- What the hell are you saying? I didn't make any noise! -Whether because of the adrenaline of the moment, or the little scare he got when he thought I had had an accident, Iker doesn't control his nervousness and exclaims as if it were a serious accusation-

- Of course you did! I heard it very clearly, you were braking and you said EEK! What kind of sound is that? -I started to laugh uncontrollably at the nonsense I had just said. My hands began to shake again severely, so much so that I couldn't hold on to the safety strap anymore. My body also begins to shake uncontrollably, and the only thing I could do was laugh nervously while I was hanging upside down, and I didn't even know why- I guess from now on I won't call you Iker, now I'll call you "Eeks", I finally found a good nickname for you.

Iker relaxes his breathing little by little, and starts laughing with me. We were both just as grateful that nothing really bad had happened, but it went without saying that this was very close to being a nasty accident. Neither Iker nor I wanted to admit it, but inside we were scared to death. We just laughed to get the nervousness out of our system, but unfortunately, the time for our mischief had come to an end.

Adara rides on the back of Saemus, who had to sprint to catch up with Iker and me from the other end of the training ground. Adara's prowess is shown by being able to jump back down to solid ground while Saemus was still on the move. She was furious, she marches towards our direction while she fixes her long curly hair back, preparing for a more than feared confrontation.

- What the hell happened here?! I was very clear when I told you to go slow, right? Well, this is why I warned you! Tyler could have had an accident, and you just laugh?

Iker didn't stop laughing, even after Adara yelled in his face. He took a few more seconds to relax and turn to look Adara in the eye. Meanwhile, I could sense an imminent storm coming between the two of them.

- Hey, relax for a minute, okay? Tyler is fine. This is part of the training, you see, in my Hunter days this is how we trained newbies to create resistance to G-forces. You would know that if you were part of my generation.

- Yes, of course, and where is that generation now?

A cold and tense silence is generated between the two, even Saemus seemed to resent Adara's comment, since he has frozen in place, refusing to intervene in the discussion. Iker has gone silent, I can feel his heartbeat quicken, as well as his breathing.

- ... What did you just say?

- That...wasn't what I meant. I'm sorry. I meant that... -Adara tries to patch up her words, but Iker wouldn't let her retract so easily-

- No! You knew very well what you wanted to say. Come on, say it!

- Hey guys, don't make this more difficult... -I try to reason with them, but both Iker and Adara completely ignore me. Seeing that I would achieve nothing by staying here, I desperately seek a way to untether myself from the harnesses as soon as possible, all to prevent the conflict from escalating beyond what is necessary-

- You are putting words in my mouth that I have never said. Is it so difficult for you to admit that you put his life at risk?

- And you think I don't know already? Do you think that all of Cilt's hatred for me isn't enough to remind me every day that I did something terrible?! Do you think I don't regret what I did, Adara?! ... Do you think I don't miss him? Everyday. -Iker screams desperately, Saemus prepares to subdue him if necessary, but Adara frowns, and she remains in the same position without backing down an inch, visually confused by what my friend was saying-

- ... I wasn't talking about Aaron.

The screaming stops for a moment, and is replaced by sharp looks of resentment and incomprehension. In my efforts to free myself from my restraints, I have finally been able to find the strap that will free me, I untie it from the harnesses on my abdomen, and I fall directly to the ground on my head, although fortunately the helmet has taken most of the impact. I get up again, and with shaky legs I crawl until I put my body between Iker and Adara, turning my back on my friend, who was breathing heavily on the back of my neck.

- Friends... Please, that's enough. We don't have time for this. -I extend my open hand towards Adara, in a gesture for her to stop, at the same time that I touch the tip of Iker's nose, also to contain him.

- You're right. I no longer have time for this. -Adara turns around without saying anything else, and starts walking in the direction of the Hunters' Village. Saemus sighs and shakes his head at Iker in disapproval, then catches up with his girlfriend as she retreats-

Iker and I have been left alone in the training field, alone and with a bitter feeling which was not necessary to discuss. What was said, was said, and there is no weapon that can leave someone more stunned than the words themselves. They had both talked too much, and this time I didn't have a clear side to which to support.

Eventually, Saemus would return to the training grounds, alone, to continue our Ranger training in Adara's place, neither of us had the nerve to ask where she had gone.

It was not necessary.

—--------------------------------------------------------------

The day of our departure starts early. The team gathers at the foot of the mountain of the Warriors' den before the sun awakens the earth, and the rest of the inhabitants of the neutral lands.

Zenda, Tori, Ankor, Maverick, Evan, Ciro, Saemus, Adara, Iker and I are the elements of this squad, carefully chosen by General Kassia, who will guide us in our mission to rescue my father.

I knew I would have to blend in as a Ranger, but I never thought that included disguising as one. Maverick has been generous with me and decided to lend me one of the Warrior armors that he has worn during his career as a Cilt defender. The full body armor made of black kevlar was impressive, made up of a myriad of individual moving parts, it covers me from my neck to my toes, and as advanced and stylish as this armor looks, Maverick's help is needed to put it on correctly. As I wait like a well-behaved mannequin for Maverick to finish donning my armor, I glance at the rest of the squad around us.

All the hybrids were ready and waiting to be loaded with supplies in the compartments inside their cabins. Tori was possibly the one who carried the most things, since being the only Medic in the squad she had to be prepared for any situation. Adara and Evan were sitting on the floor facing each other. She and I haven't talked since yesterday, and I was wondering how long she will be punishing us with her silence and indifference.

An inadvertent blow to my chest brings me back to reality. Maverick punched me in the chest plates of my armor while I was distracted, causing me to gasp and cough for a moment, though I couldn't make a sound, either from lack of air, or from the surprise of taking a direct hit from the same person who was helping me at the time. Surprisingly, the impact of the blow has been fully absorbed by the armor, and I did not feel the slightest discomfort or pain. I run my hand over my chest once I've caught my breath, and Maverick gives me a smirk as he crosses both arms. It had been a somewhat rude way to welcome me to the squadron, and to prepare myself physically for the mission, but it wasn't all bad, at least now I knew that my armor, in addition to being quite comfortable and with good mobility, would really protect me from the dangers of the neutral lands. The burly Warrior takes a couple steps back so he can look at me from head to toe, and his smile only grows.

- Damn boy. It wouldn't be a bad idea for you to consider joining the Warriors when we get back. The armor favors you. Maverick takes out a small rectangular package from one of the many compartments in his own armor, unwraps it to reveal a silver thermal blanket, unfolds it until it slowly forms a flexible full-length mirror, all for that I could see my reflection on it.

In front of me was a Cilt Warrior... there was no way that man was me. My heart couldn't help but race, because it liked what it saw. The sturdy full body armor made me look big and strong, almost heroic, and almost made me forget that under all that kevlar, I was still the same scrawny boy as always. The fantasy of being a Cilt Warrior for a day would be the feeling I would hold on to throughout the mission to keep myself collected, and I wasn't complaining at all. Like Narcissus in the reflecting pool, I couldn't, and wouldn't, take my eyes off my reflection, for the first time in my life.

- Tyler? - I could see Iker's reflection approaching from behind me. When I turned to see him, his mouth was wide open. He has never been discreet with his way of expressing himself, but that was one of his best qualities. At least now I knew that I wasn't the only one who thought I looked good in the armor-...Okay, who are you and what did you do with my friend?-

- Looking good as well, Eeks. -

- You're never going to let me forget it, right?-Iker rolls his eyes, but he doesn't complain too much when he hears his new nickname-

Iker was well equipped with his own armor made of the same material as mine. Thick kevlar plates stamped with his Warrior rank protect both doors, the entire lower surface of his body is protected by a cover similar to plastic, but with a very high resistance to ruptures, which will protect him from possible friction with the ground. The saddle and harnesses were in position and this time I paid special attention to adjust them well. The only thing Iker was missing was his helmet, but he would put it on just before leaving.

- Alright, attention everyone! I don't want slacking while you are in my line of sight. -Zenda raises her voice, effectively drawing the attention of everyone present. She wears a simple armor, which, judging by the many blemishes on its surface, has seen enough successful battles so that Zenda entrusts her safety to it- We'll go over the plan while our fellow humans finish enlisting. We will leave through the south gate of the city, then we will head west taking the pass between the mountains, under no circumstances will we go near the river, because we can become an easy target for the Vortexes, keep a low profile, and take good care of your companions ...

I was busy putting on my own harnesses as I listened to Zenda go over the plan with the hybrids from the squad, when a warm rush of air seeped to my ankles. Looking back, General Kassia was right behind me.

- Gene... um, Kassia! -Her sudden presence of her almost makes me forget that I don't need formalities with her. To which she just smiled-

- I see you're almost ready. I'd like to talk to you for a moment, don't worry about not listening to Zenda's instructions, you don't need to know anything about that.

Saying nothing else, Kassia walks to an area away from everyone, it was clear that she wanted me to follow her there, and that she wanted to make sure she was out of earshot of the rest of the team. I take the short walk as an invitation to learn to walk a bit more naturally in my newly acquired Warrior armor.

Finally she stops about twenty meters from the settlement, turning her back to me, silently observing her city, sleeping peacefully. The morning air was blowing strong, and the first rays of the sun were peeking over the highest peaks of the mountains. Neither of us said anything, it was as if we both had the need to see the sky at that precise moment, as if we had been able to communicate without words for a few moments. Her company is pleasant, calming and comforting. Kassia was silent for as long as she thought it was necessary to take one last look at Cilt, then looked at me again. She quickly scanned me from head to toe to make sure everything was in order and smiled with the warmth that only she was capable of radiating.

- How you feeling?

- To be honest with you... I'm terrified. Even a nice armor like this doesn't make me feel any less...vulnerable.

- I understand. Only a fool would feel confident in such a situation. Don't let your fear be an impediment. Let it drive you to survive, but don't let it paralyze you. Have faith that your body will know what to do. -Turned her eyes back to the city, and the rising sun. Her smile fades as she expectantly sees what she had in front of her eyes, and inside her head-... I keep my promise to you and your father. I promised you that I would do everything in my power to rescue him, and that is what I will do. At last I will repay the debt of trust the Council has owed you since the day we brought you here against your will.

I approach her from her side, and I place my hand on her back. She sighed deeply when she felt my hand, although she didn't take her eyes off the horizon.

- There is no debt to settle. If there's anyone here who owes something, it's me. Everyone here has been so kind... They welcomed me with open arms, and offered me their home. I wish I could do something to give back a little of what I have received, in some way.

- Would you really? -Kassia turns her body until she is completely facing me. Her mesmerizing purple-blue eyes merge with mine for a few moments. A sudden wave of uncertainty and anguish washed over me, and I didn't know why- Would you be willing to do something for me?

- Sure, anything.

- I need you to promise me one thing only. -Kassia breaks eye contact, closes her eyes for a moment, and puts special emphasis on her words- No matter what happens in this mission... You will obey Darius when he asks you to, no matter what it is, I want you to trust his judgment at all times. I need you to promise, Tyler.

It was a strange and redundant request, especially considering that it was already my obligation to obey Darius simply because he was our Leader. But if that was important to Kassia, and it would make her feel more secure about the outcome of the mission, I wouldn't question it.

I put a knee down to the ground, expressing my devotion to her request and my confidence in her authority. She watched me kneel without changing her gesture.

- I promise, my Leader. I will follow Darius's orders unconditionally.

Kassia gave me a small curtsy in gratitude. Her face lights up again as she smiles calmly at me, seeing me as just another Warrior in her eyes.

- So be it.

Rushing footsteps behind me diverted my attention, and I instantly knew it was Evan from his voice, as youthful and full of enthusiasm as ever.

- Tyler! Tyler! -I get up from the ground to receive him, but he hugs my stomach as soon as he has the opportunity. Knowing that I wouldn't be able to get out of his grasp until I responded with the same level of affection, I pat him on the back, and stroke his hair affectionately-

- Look, it's my good friend Evan! Shouldn't you be with Maverick right now? We're almost leaving and you haven't even put on your... armor. -

Something about him looks different, but I can't figure it out at first. I ruffled his hair for a few more moments, and my hands turned an artificial shade of orange. I observed his face carefully, and at last I was able to realize what was so strange to me; His hair was dyed a bright reddish color, and his face was dotted with fake paint-on freckles, and...was that my hoodie?

I take Evan by the shoulders and turn to Kassia for an explanation.

- It's part of the plan. We decided it would be better and safer if we had someone impersonate you to throw off the enemy in case things go wrong along the way. Since you're posing as a Warrior, Evan volunteered to be...well, to be you, basically.

I look back at Evan who just smiles at me, he was really excited to be the lure for some reason. He might still be too young to fully understand the seriousness of the situation, but I trusted that he knew what he was up against in accepting such a role. I can't help but smile tenderly at the smaller version of myself.

- Are you sure you want to do this?

- It will be an honor to take your place as yourself, Mr. Hopper! -

Evan does a mock salute, and starts giggling like a kid, really excited to pretend to be me. After showing off his new hair style and asking me to help him do it the same way as me, he takes my hand and leads me back to the squad. I look back to see Kassia again, but she just nods, leaving me free to go back to the others. Before looking back at my companions, I manage to make out a large figure calmly approaching from the horizon, with the sun behind it. The great Leader Darius has finally manifested himself in the gathering, though he limits himself to speak in private with his beloved, far from the prying ears of the rest of us.

We finished the last preparations. I helped Iker put on his helmet correctly and clean his green glasses from the dirt that he did not clean when he returned from his last mission. I also put on my helmet, thus completing my armor one hundred percent. I use his armor as steps to climb onto the saddle, and now with a bit more dexterity, I've managed to take my position and hook all the appropriate harnesses onto place. On the right side of the saddle there is something new, a sharp metal spear is attached with special locks, in the same way that a beautiful carbon fiber bow and its arrows have been placed within my reach in case of emergency. Real weapons, for real missions.

We do multiple communication tests with each other, making sure the transmitters inside each helmet are working properly. We went over the formation positions: Zenda will lead, as one of the strongest elements of the squad, she will break the wind for us. In the second row, she will be followed by Ankor and Máverick as the first Rangers couple, and Tori will follow next to them. Kassia will go to the center, taking with her the fake Tyler, that is, Evan. Everyone in the squad will pretend to be protecting the two of them. Just behind we will go the other two pairs of Rangers; Adara and Saemus, and Iker and me. Finally, the experienced and reliable Ciro will take care of all of us in the rear, although being the last in the formation does not mean that he is slow. Quite the contrary, Ciro will chase us at all times to maintain a constant speed, and avoid being left behind, the position at the end of the formation is always reserved for the hybrid with the greatest physical resistance.

We remain in our positions waiting for Kassia, who has been talking to Darius for a long time now, but none of us dare to interrupt the Leaders' dialogue.

- Darius won't come with us? ... I really thought that he would accompany us because it is such an important mission. That and also to accompany Kassia. -I ask the entire squad, now that we could all hear the same conversation thanks to our communicators-

- That's precisely why he can't come with us, the General will already accompany us, and two Leaders can never go together on the same mission. -Iker answers calmly, also secretly observing both Leaders-

- Why can't two Leaders go on the same mission? ... I don't get it.

- Because in the event that everything goes to hell and they kill us all, at least one Leader will have died, and not two. It's that easy. -Ankor answers cynically, making everyone in the squad sigh in dissatisfaction, and getting a well-deserved scolding from Zenda. Although his argument made sense in a way-

- Well, THAT, and also for a simple reason... If Leader Darius doesn't come with us, it's because he would kill Neyzan the moment he sees him again, not to mention that Neyzan would try to do the same, and that would complicate things a lot. -Adara finally deigns to speak, albeit briefly.

- Well, I say that it wouldn't be a bad idea to get rid of that damned Neyzan once and for all, we don't get anything good leaving him alive, do we? -Iker openly responds to the group, effectively creating a heated debate among the entire squad on the controversial topic-

I couldn't stay focused enough on the conversation to get my point across. Instead, I turn my full attention to the hybrid Leaders.

My heart shrinks when I see them both say their goodbyes. Darius may not be the most sympathetic or expressive hybrid towards any of us, but all that sensitivity and good heart came to the fore in the presence of his beloved Kassia. I could see in the expression of both that the farewell was not easy at all. They keep their noses pressed against each other while they talk, sometimes there are little pauses where neither of them says anything, and they just nuzzle each other's faces and kiss. It almost felt wrong to spy on such an intimate moment between them, but even Darius didn't look uncomfortable showing affection in public. He just wanted to have a moment with his partner before she left.

When the time finally comes to part ways, and Kassia is about to turn away, Darius seems to plead one last word. Kassia approaches him again and they nuzzle again. Darius closes his eyes, while Kassia places a delicate kiss on the tip of his nose. He swallows hard, breathing deeply to keep from succumbing to his tears. The lovers give one last goodbye kiss, long and full of feelings on both parts.

I need to look away, or else the feeling will wash over me, and I couldn't afford to be distracted if I wanted to play my role as a Ranger. I take a deep breath, and return my mind to the mission.

As I mentally prepared myself for what was coming, I heard a peculiar roar, deep and with such a low frequency that it made my bones vibrate, which was produced by Ciro in the direction of the city. Ciro remains attentive, as if waiting for something in return. The waiting for him is too long, and he roars back towards the populated area of this part of the city. He waits again. Before he took a deep breath to try a new roar, someone seemed to answer his call, but this is not a hybrid. A high-pitched whistle answers the roar with a long blast, which makes him sigh in relief, and smile to himself. I could bet that whistle was from Marione, responding to her hybrid father's farewell call. As difficult as their relationship is sometimes, it was evident how much they loved each other, and despite the fact that Marione has not been there in person to say goodbye, at least she has not let Ciro go without wishing him luck, and that was enough for him.

Sooner than I expected it, Kassia has already taken her place in the center of the formation, allowing Evan to stay inside her instead of taking a position as Ranger. Darius makes an appearance. He has swallowed his feelings and replaced them with his stoic expression, although the slight redness in his eyes betrayed that he had been on the verge of tears moments ago, but he was unfazed. He blended into the squad until he reached the head of the formation, where his mother waited patiently for him. Both of them affectionately bump heads, and mother and son produce a sound very similar to a deep purring that echoes in our ears. Zenda kisses her son on the cheek, and nudges him away playfully with her own nose, to which Darius smiles discreetly. The Hybrid Leader exchanges glances with the General before walking away, both staring into each other's eyes for a few seconds, until Darius nods respectfully and soberly towards his partner, who responds in the same way, and lets him go without saying anything else. Darius reaches the end of the formation, and also says goodbye to Ciro, who can't help being pretentious, and makes his friend smile by reminding him that when we return, the celebration will be on Darius, and that he should take advantage of the time we will spend outside to organize the welcoming feast.

Darius positions himself in front of everyone, taking a last look at each of the members of this squad, including me, he looks at me as one of his Warriors, and that makes me feel a growing tingle in my stomach. The disguise almost felt real. They all turn in the direction of their Supreme Leader, maintaining a respectful silence that not even Ankor would dare to break.

- Warriors and Hunters... Friends and colleagues of mine. You represent the best of this city. Circumstances may have pushed us to this moment, but it will be our conviction that will define our destiny. I can't accompany you on this mission, but I'll be your remote mission coordinator from Cilt, we'll stay in constant communication for as long as you're on neutral lands. General Kassia is from now on the highest authority of this squad, and everything she says must be done effectively. I trust that my mother has trained hybrids and humans with a good heart, and faithful to the principles that keep us alive, so make her feel proud. -Zenda fills her lungs with air, and lifts her chin proudly as she sees her son in front of her. Darius takes a firm position, and with a voice that rumbles like thunder breaking the silence, he proceeds to fill his soldiers with courage- Squad! You will embark on this mission to the neutral lands, carry out the exchange with the leader of the Vortex, and return to Cilt, safe and sound, and bring Marcus Hopper back home. So be it!

- So be it! -The squad shouts in unison as one voice, full of hope and courage. The scream gave me goosebumps.

- I wish the best of luck. Take care of each other. We will be waiting for you when you return. -Darius sighs deeply, and nods again towards Kassia, giving her one last smile, to which she responded in the same way before formally starting the mission-

- Let 's go! -Kassia roars her words at the top of her lungs, turning her back on her city and her lover. Zenda moves, and with her the rest of the squad. The trot turns into a gallop, and soon we are running at top speed towards the south gate of the city.

Darius stays behind, witnessing the squad soon leaving for neutral lands. His mighty roar accompanies us like a great rumble, warning every citizen of Cilt that we were on our way. Suddenly, other voices join our farewell; the entire city has joined the roar started by their Leader, giving us the necessary push to furiously furrow the forest in front of us. When Darius roars, the city roars with him. Cilt has our back, and with their chorus they wished us good luck.

The gigantic doors open only for us. The guards of both watchtowers shout at us with emotion from their posts, Maverick and Adara take their spears and raise them in the air to respond to the salute, I don't stay behind and do what they do, holding on to the saddle with a single hand, waving my spear above my head.

We turn our backs on the sun as soon as we leave the borders of Cilt, for our destination lies to the West. Our long shadows are the arrow that will guide us towards the abandoned city of Kiem.

- ... Hold on, dad. We are on our way.

~

We cross forest, meadow, streams and slopes on our journey through the neutral lands. At times it was necessary to use the road, although that had been reserved as a last option, since the Vortex like to hunt the unfortunate travelers who naively pass through there. There is a reason why the road is completely abandoned.

No matter how many stops and rests we took, they would never be enough to alleviate the pain my legs were causing. Staying in the same position for so long, absorbing the jolts of the imperfections in the terrain directly with my knees was not something I could bear long term, but I had to resist.

Darius has kept us company in one way or another, as he was in charge of maintaining effective communication between us and the Cilt command center. He regularly warns us of Vortex activity in the areas we transit, and constantly asks about the status of all elements of the squad. Despite having a direct line of communication with his partner, neither Darius nor Kassia use the radio channel for personal talks, both have managed to maintain their professional profile during the mission.

The morning turns to the afternoon much faster than we expect. We chased the sun until it led us directly to our destination. We stopped for a moment in a bunker near Kiem to unload some of the equipment, and stock up on the things we forgot when we left Cilt. It was not a simple whim or coincidence that Neyzan wanted to seize a bunker like this, as this solid and reliable underground structure could supply his clan with food, technology and weapons. Neyzan wanted us to pay a high price for my father's safety, and he knew that no price would be too high for the Leaders. Nothing was too much when it came to Marcus Hopper.

The sun begins to hide, and we find our last obstacle. We stop at the edge of a dangerous and mighty river, which has become raging due to the constant premature summer rains. On the other side of the river, its Kiem, and the only thing that unites us and the city, is an old and rusty metal cable-stayed bridge, which has been able to overcome the force of the river by sheer miracle. The corroded and incomplete passageway of the bridge leans sharply to one side, as several of the steel stays that supported it have given way to the cruel current of water. Zenda, Kassia and Ciro, together with Darius, debated for a moment about what we would do to cross the river, since there were two options to consider;

The first option was to walk upriver until reaching a wider and shallower section through which the hybrids could swim without much trouble for them, but this river is reputed to be extremely dangerous for humans as its intensity of current varies without warning, no matter how shallow the flow and that we Rangers had the advantage of being anchored to the back of a hybrid to cross.

The second option was to cross the bridge.

The more experienced members of the squad argued among themselves, and decided that swimming across the river was not worth the risk, so we would use the bridge to cross.

One by one, the hybrids and pairs of Rangers took turns crossing the treacherous bridge. By the time it was Iker's and my turn, I didn't dare turn around to see the flow of the river that passed just below us. Iker walked very slowly, the metal creaked as soon as the weight was supported, but apart from unpleasant noises and the constant movement that the push of the water generated on the supports of the bridge, the structure surprisingly did not show signs of collapsing at any time. Iker celebrated reaching the other side by dragging his stomach on solid ground until Saemus and Ciro passed behind us as well.

Crossing the river in this way has robbed us of the little daylight that we had managed to save during the trip. We needed the light to set up camp in a safe area in the city, but now darkness will take Kiem, and no place can be one hundred percent reliable when the sun is no longer on our side, for the night belongs to the Vortex. On top of that, the clouds above us show clear signs of an impending storm.

When it came to proposing a place to spend the night, Iker broke the silence, stating that he knew the area well, and that he knew of a safe place to set up camp. Despite initial skepticism from some members of the squad, Kassia agreed to inspect the place Iker spoke of.

Kiem is not very different from Cilt structurally speaking. The city maintains the same modern and simple architectural style as our home, although time and desolation have not been so kind here. The metallic skeletons of the buildings are visible everywhere one looks, there is hardly a single window intact, and dead vegetation has deformed the asphalt at our feet. It was like traveling back in time to those dark days during the Vortex accident.

We move cautiously through the streets, scaring away with our presence the deer and wild boars that have taken the city for themselves. Iker and I are at the head of the formation, leading our companions towards our temporary shelter. Iker stops right in front of a metal gate, sniffs the entrance for a moment, and after convincing himself that it is safe, uses the sharp blades at the base of his helmet to lift the gate, which I had to finish pushing up so that the other Rangers could pass without having to duck. Once inside, I realized that we were inside a parking lot with a spiral-shaped ramp, which seemed to extend upwards infinitely. Inside the parking lot there were still cars, all of them covered in a thick layer of dust and debris, Ankor was scared by one of them thinking it was a hybrid, and the squad was not merciful in mocking him.

After closing the gate again I was finally able to step on solid ground again, my legs are shaking and my knees ache as if they had aged 70 years in a single day. We pushed a couple of cars to block the entrance to our lair, and after making sure we'd secured the only entrance and exit, Iker led us to the upper levels of the parking lot, which were in better shape than the lower level. General Kassia selects a large open area to settle in, and at last we are allowed to shed our armor and other gear. We help the hybrids unload things from their cabins, we put the armors aside, well organized to use them again tomorrow, and Adara is in charge of lighting a fire to warm us up and prepare dinner.

I had been able to remove the armor on my own, because as cool as it was, the truth is that I was starting to get tired after a whole day wearing it. Iker has returned from completely inspecting the rest of the parking lot, he stands apart from the rest of the squad, simply watching us coexist. I turn to look and smile at him, to which he responds by shaking his head in the direction of the ramp that continues up, somewhat inviting me to go with him to the upper levels. Everyone was too distracted by the campfire to notice that I was no longer there, all except for Kassia, who nodded at me as a way of giving me permission to separate from the group.

Iker and I slowly climbed the slope of the parking lot, since my legs were too weak today, to which Iker did nothing better than make fun of my incompetence to ride like a Ranger, although he had to admit that to be the first time I do it, it hadn't been so bad.

A cold draft distracts me from the conversation, forcing me to look straight ahead. We were now on a level just above the rest of the squad, where a section of the wall had crumbled, creating a window to the outside, but that wasn't the most interesting thing about this level.

There were many things accumulated, all of them arranged in an organized mess; In the corner there were many blankets and cloths, so many that it looked like a huge makeshift mattress. A mountain of food cans, each and every one of them pierced down the middle with a big hole, and completely empty. Human belongings without any connection between them besides that they were damaged, or in poor condition. Some paint buckets of various colors, now dry, had been spilled over a section of the floor and mixed with each other to create a plastic amalgamation that gave a bit of color to the desolate and strange place. Some mops stained with the same paint are a couple of meters from the painting, one of them is still leaning against one of the walls, which was painted with said improvised tools.

Among the many crude lines and drawings on the wall, some of them vaguely resemble the silhouettes of several of Cilt's most important buildings; The stone podium, the Council Dome, and the H tower were there. It was clear that whoever made that work had prior knowledge of Cilt, and it didn't take me long to deduce that I was right now in the company of its author.

Iker silently observes the place, sighing heavily as he places a broken pot back into its place, and makes his way through the mess of objects and garbage on the floor until he reaches the large hole in the wall, watching the night fall. I stayed in the dark for a little longer, watching my friend interact with all these forgotten belongings.

- I never thought I would come back to this place, not after so long... Heh. How many turns does life take, don't you think? -Iker says without diverting his gaze from the rough window, his tone was nostalgic, and melancholic, although not enough to succumb to sadness- Aaron and I found this place on one of our missions. We thought it was a good place to hang out and keep things that we found interesting...

Iker looked towards the corner, walked until he took the cloth that covered the rest of the improvised mattress with his teeth, carefully slid it to one side so as not to disturb the dust it accumulated, and left it on the ground a couple of meters away. He takes the rest of the blankets and drags them until they are right next to the big hole in the wall. Once Iker takes a seat on the blanket nest, he invites me with a subtle gesture to keep him company. I climb onto the padded surface carefully, sitting down next to him. We watched the dark storm clouds trying to swallow the dim new moon. I almost couldn't feel the cold when standing next to this window. The place is very peaceful, so much so that I could stay here for much longer.

I looked at Iker to my right, and I realized that he was also looking at me for just a second before turning his gaze outside. He smiles, embarrassed for a few moments, and then turns his gaze towards the street.

- ... When I was exiled I had no other place to go, besides here. This was my refuge. I don't even know how long I spent here. It feels like too much time has passed, and yet...it doesn't feel like I've come home. -He remains pensive for a long moment, unable to get any good feeling from the things that surround him-

- They say that home is with the people you love, and that doesn't always mean it has to be a place. Maybe this place doesn't feel like home anymore... But that means you get to choose where to build a new one.

This shelter reminds me too much of my old home, desolate and full of memories that I always wanted to run away from, and if it weren't for fate wanting me in a different place, I would never have found my true place in this world, and I had the suspicion that Iker felt the same.

- You're right. -Iker nods to himself, sighs slightly, and he looks at me out of the corner of his eye with a peaceful look-... My home is in Cilt. -Before the eye contact could become awkward, Iker yawns and stretches, opening his doors in the process. He shakes himself to dispel his exhaustion, and gets off the mattress carefully- Well, tomorrow is going to be an important day, so you'd better get some sleep. I'll take the first turn to watch. You can stay here to sleep... If you want, of course. Although I would understand if you want to return with the others to feel safer or accompanied... I don't know.

If you say I can stay here, here I stay. Also... the view is very nice from here. -I arrange the blankets to make my space as comfortable as possible, making sure to show Iker that I appreciated his offer for a more comfortable place to sleep-... Thank you, Iker.

Iker smiles at me before heading up the spiral ramp, the light reflecting off his big green eyes shining as he steps back into the dark lower levels of the parking garage, giving me a bit of privacy by leaving this entire parking level to myself, offering me his private refuge.

I lay on the dusty covers, watching the rain finally fall. Neither the uncertainty nor the nervousness were enough to keep me awake for long. My body was crying out for rest, and when I least expected it, I had already completely succumbed to exhaustion, without even an opportunity to mentally prepare myself for what would happen the next day.

~

- They are taking too long... -Iker exclaims in a low voice through his communicator, becoming increasingly impatient-

We had been ready since early morning, packed up camp, and re-armed. We did our best to reduce variables and jump into action as soon as we were told. We took all necessary precautions. We were ready... But they didn't arrive, and we had a feeling that the day would end without us being able to execute the plan, and the mission.

- Patience. Hold your positions. - Kassia maintains order on the line of communication. She and Evan are waiting inside the shelter with me and Iker, while the others have strategically dispersed to various parts of the city. We would not go out until it was absolutely necessary. -Darius, what's the situation?

- Marcus's chip is failing badly, and his location readings are inaccurate. But based on the last signal we picked up, they must be close. The estimated time of arrival is thirty minutes.

I stay away from them, my back to the metal gate. I hold my helmet with both hands, doing my best to keep them from shaking. I see my reflection on the shiny surface of one of the abandoned cars inside the parking lot. I look into my eyes. That Cilt Warrior looked composed and ready to serve... but inside, he was scared to death.

- Alright. You heard everyone, get ready. I'll meet you at the rally point in five minutes. -

I heard Kassia perfectly fine, but I didn't move a muscle, didn't even change my expression an inch. I hear Iker approaching quietly, speaking in a soft voice with the intention of muffling the message.

- ... It's time, Ty. -

Without turning to look at him I put on my helmet, effectively erasing the expressions of my reflection. Full armor makes me look menacing, with no feelings. It was all I needed to survive. I walk towards my friend, stroking his helmet without saying a word, then climbing onto his back with the skill of someone who has done it hundreds of times, completely ignoring the fact that only yesterday I had learned to be a Ranger. I equip my bow across my chest, strap the quiver of arrows to my waist, and take the spear in one hand.

I'm ready.

We maintain positions under all circumstances. There is complete silence on the communication line. Darius's voice is the only thing that brings us back to time every once in a while, but even he sounds tense.

The squad waits just outside a four-way intersection in the center of the city, the tall buildings casting long shadows down the street in front of us, making us lose any visual detail of what lay beyond the shadows.

Our close range locator begins to beep, having recognized a chip in its limited range. A dark silhouette looms out of the shadows, its orange eyes glowing like fire, awakening an unconscious fear in all who dare to stare. An ash-gray-skinned Lamborghini Aventador materializes out of the darkness. Deep scars trace the Vortex mark across the entire surface of his head, scars that he wears proudly. The lord of the Vortex bathes in the golden afternoon sun, closing his eyes in utter and unreasonable confidence.

To the right of him, a second shadow joins the formation; Another Lamborghini, but this was a wine-red-skinned, gray-eyed Veneno that I strangely remembered seeing before. The Veneno bears a white Vortex mark, a direct contrast to his dark skin. Tori grunts as she also recognizes that hybrid, since it was the same one that attacked us when I arrived at Cilt.

The third silhouette was not easy to recognize with the naked eye. An amorphous mass smaller than a hybrid inched forward, but as soon as the light caught enough of the individual, the entire squadron gasped. A man with graying red hair, dressed in a bloody Cilt lab coat, creeps weakly toward us, suspended a few inches in the air. I was so focused on him, that I almost ignored the cause of such unnatural levitation; Dheera, the infamous White Terror, holds him from behind with his teeth, digging right into the old man's clothing, tearing into his back in the process, causing the blood on his clothing. Dheera watches us with icy eyes, completely lost in the madness inside his mind.

Neyzan opens his eyes when he feels once again in the company of his vassals. He watches all, and every one of us with those eyes, but especially staring at Kassia, who didn't flinch at the tyrant before her. Neyzan smiled in the most cynical and disrespectful way when he saw her.

- ... Greetings. Her Majesty.

Hybrid-Kira (2023)