NIC COLIN'S POV

A great noise.

My ears about to pop.

My eyes shut tight but I could still see the burst of white light and hear the thundering of the explosion--that is, until I slipped into unconsciousness. That moment might as well have been my last. . .but it wasn't.

---- ----
10 YEARS AGO

"We are Colins, it's in us to come out top in class, do you hear me, Nic?" My father gave me a stern look while my mother helped him out with his dry-cleaned suit. She put the sleeves through his spread-open arms and it slipped right on perfectly.
She looked at him with admiration and he pecked her forehead with his mouth and moustache.

My posture was tense as I waited for this lecture to end— one more time. I didn't register when a sigh escaped my mouth.

Dad glared at me, obviously taking it as a sign of disrespect. As I braced for an extended lecture, a series of knocks came from the front door, stealing everyone's attention.

"I'll get it." Mom strode through the living room into the passageway. Dad and I stood still, mutually interested in knowing who'd pay us a visit this early in the morning. I hoped it was the person I had in mind and a familiar laughter confirmed it. My eyes sparked and I dashed after the voice, much to my dad's contempt. "Uncle Alain!"

"Hey, boyo!" He stepped into the living room and I tackled him in a hug. "Easy there. Oh, bonjour, Tristan."

I heard my dad grunt. "Qu'est-ce que tu fais chez moi?"

"Nic called me yesterday and invited me over. Said you two won't be available to drop him off at school today. So, since I don't work a 9-5 in a cubicle like some people," the moment he said that I couldn't help but chuckle. His charisma, his tone, I wanted to be like him. "I decided I could drop--"

"No!" My dad snapped. "I was going to call a taxi for him. There's no way I'm letting you drive around with my son."

"C'mon Dad," I protested. "It's just a drop-off at school! What do you have against Uncle Alain?"

"Nic, you're too young to understand but thankfully I'm not. Your uncle is wealthy all of a sudden without getting a job." My dad turned to Uncle Alain. "You said you didn't win the lottery so that must mean you did some shady business! And my family will not associate with you."

"Does day trader mean anything to you?" Uncle Alain snapped back.

"Honey," Mom gave Dad a concerned look. "Wouldn't you rather save money on a taxi? Your brother is right here and wants to drive Nic halfway across town for free."

"That's what I'm concerned about." Dad spat. His eyes moved from my gloomy face to Mom's gloomy face, then his features softened. "Fine," he faced Uncle. "You can drive him to school. But I'll call the school in one hour and I swear if they can't confirm that Nic is safely inside, you'll have another thing coming!"

"Mon frère," Uncle Alain smiled. "You've got to soften up a little."

* * *

"Awesome!" I roared at the sight of the sleek jeep. There was a convoy of three black cars around it.

Uncle Alain chuckled. "Oh, you like this old thing? I'm planning on buying a bigger one soon. C'mon, hop in."

I excitedly obliged and got into the back seat with him. The driver and the other dude in the passenger seat wore dark shades over their stone-cold expressions. The sight of them made me shiver. If anything they resembled thugs than a classy company.

"Your outfit is missing something." Uncle Alain scrutinized me.

"What?" I scanned my plain black T-shirt and blue jeans.

"Here, take my Rolex." He removed his watch. "Just for today, you're bound to attract a chick or two with this baby."

It was on my wrist in an instant. "Sweet! You know, I perfected that bad boy persona you taught me last week. Damn, you should've seen the way Aliya asked for my Snap! We're even going on a date tomorrow."

Uncle Alain laughed. "I knew you had it in you, boyo. Though, are you sure Mr. Uptight is gonna let you go out on that date?"

I relaxed in the seat and crossed my legs. "He doesn't have to know it's a date."

"Atta boy." He ruffled my hair.

By the time he told me a couple more tips, we'd arrived at my school.

"Uncle Alain," My shoulders slumped. "I wish I was Cameron."

He gave a mirthful laugh. "Take heart kid, you've got a lot of potential. Besides, Cameron's only four, he can't go on hot dates with Aliya."

I snickered. "Alright, you make a point."

The air was suddenly
pierced with the wailing of sirens and before I knew it, cop cars had formed barricades behind the jeep and the three convoy vehicles. Staring through the back window, I observed cops alighting and drawing out their handguns.

One blared over a megaphone. "Alain Archer, we've got you surrounded!"

"Shit," Uncle Alain raked a hand through his gelled hair. His forehead creased as he donned a frown.

"Alain Archer?" I looked at him. "This must be some kind of mistake, right?"

The megaphone was used again. "You have five seconds to come out of the vehicle with your hands in the air!"

"Uncle," My voice wavered. "What's going on?"

"Nic, trust me and do exactly as I say, alright? Everything's going to be fine. Just do exactly what I say."

I barely nodded.

He spoke to the two men in front. "Radio every man in the convoy to lock and load. Give me a signal when you're done."

"....two! One!"

I followed Uncle Alain out of the car.

"Hands in the air!" The cop barked. "And the rest of you come out of your vehicles, now!"

Uncle Alain slowly raised his hands, eying me to raise mine too. He whispered. "You gonna have to trust me, boyo. I know I messed up but just trust me, even if it's one last time."

My lips quivered with fear. What is he saying? He should tell them they have the wrong guy. That his surname was 'Colin' for God's sake!

"Nic, look at me. When I say 'now', drop to the ground and close your eyes. It doesn't matter if you're ready."

The cops moved in with careful steps. The lead cop still blaring for the other men to alight their vehicles.

"Now!" Uncle Alain dropped on his stomach and I quickly followed suit. I even closed my eyes.

That same moment, I heard car doors burst open and--to my greatest shock--guns firing simultaneously. At first, the shots were coming from behind me but in no time, the cops returned the fire--a deduction from the bangs I could hear in front of me.

My heart ran faster, threatening to burst out of my chest. With every passing second, anxiety welled up inside me. It felt like the scariest nightmare unfolding.

After what seemed like forever, everything stilled.

"All clear, boss." I heard a raspy voice grunt.

"Nic, keep your eyes closed." I heard Uncle Alain rise beside me. "I'll guide you to the school gate."
He helped lift me but I slapped his hand off my shoulder and stared up at him with spite.

"I almost got killed!"

His gaze wasn't fixed on me when he nodded. Suddenly, a rough hand wrapped around my eyes, and I was lifted in a sort of reverse bear hug. The grip was stronger than my thrashing.

"You're too young to see this mess, Nic." I heard Uncle Alain's solemn voice. Then it turned authoritative. "Rex, get him inside the school. Make it quick or we're driving off without you."

I kicked and screamed. For the first time in a while, I was truly scared. No Call of Duty video game could have prepared me for that mortifying experience.

Shell-shocked is what I was. At first, when I was tossed onto the grass of the school's courtyard, I thought Alain Colin was a monster. But as that day proceeded, and I ruminated on the earlier occurrence, I came to the realization that he was the coolest, sickest dude to have ever walked the planet. I still hated him though--for a few years too many.

---- ----
THE PRESENT

I woke up feeling groggy and seeing double, laying on my belly with my right cheek pressed to the ground. There was a little aching in my joints and muscles but I was more concerned about the air I was inhaling. Each breath made my insides feel like they were on fire.

What happened?... I grumbled. Turning my head, I came face to face with a pile of rubble that had a pair of suited legs in loafers sticking out.

A knot formed in my stomach. Uncle Alain...

It all came flooding back to me; the lair, the alien, the battle, Jason.

The wind picked up and my brain finally realized that this wasn't the lair. Still too weak to stand, I craned my head up to analyze the environment.

Way up in the sky was a very bright and majestic red Aurora.

Where am I?

An earthshaking stomp broke my train of thought. It came from behind me. I forced myself to flip over, my back now on the ground.

The source of the stomp was Kazar. Endless cracks lined his hulk-ish form as he stared me down.

"You live," the alien growled. "Ah, but your body cannot withstand the atmosphere for much longer."

"How..." Is all I could wheeze out amidst the burning sensation.

Kazar stooped into a crouching position. "This is the Red Fields of Chargeora. We have the means to make you whole, human. But it will come with a price."