Battle Of Planets

Chapter 8: suspension
Inside the lab, dim lights flickered as Blue sat on chair, receiving basic first aid.His bracelet, the meta-bot, rested inside a small metallic pod nearby, absorbing the Nano-particles.

As more nano-particles were absorbed, Blue’s bracelet flickered every second. A final chime his meta-bot’s form flickered into a hologram of a perfect, refined suit. It reflected the armor of the Rangers, a seamless design that emitted strength and control.

Coco’s voice broke through his thoughts.

”i did some minor adjustments and your power points reached twenty-seven”

Blue laughed the sound rich with satisfaction. ”wow, so even getting enough nano particles helps raise points?”

Coco remained silent.

Blue turned his gaze to his meta-bot, now fully operational, inside the metal box.

”Well, now it seems we’re on even ground,” he said with a hint of pride. ”We and the Rangers”

Coco, leaned against the desk as he smiled softly. ”Right, Just wait until every one of us hits 100 percent. Then we’ll show them what we’re really capable of.”

Blue never heard that having reserves to 100 percent could raise the power points for any meta-bots, which made him pause. He wanted to ask Coco about it.

But before Blue could ask, the AI screen in the corner of the lab flashed. The breaking news was impossible to ignore, a steady stream of images flickering across the screen, showing scenes from the recent battle, the wreckage, and terrified civilians.

The headline boldly blared: ”Rogue Attack Causes Massive Destruction; Rangers under Fire for Inadequate Response.”

The camera zoomed in on the chaos left behind from the battle—the debris of crushed vehicles and the damaged infrastructure.

News anchors were speaking quickly, their voices filled with urgency.

”The attack was done by a Rogues,” one anchor said, the image of Blue flashing across the screen. ”A rogue faction is responsible for the havoc wreaked on this district, The Rangers are caught off-guard and now getting condemned for their lack of response.”

The camera then cuts to a civilian interview. A middle-aged woman appeared on screen, her eyes wide with fear.

”They’re dangerous,” the woman on the screen said, her voice trembling with fear. ”I saw it with my own eyes. The Rogues—those people—they don’t care about anyone but themselves. It’s chaos wherever they go.”

Blue laughed, his body now free from the medical treatment but still bearing the evidence of the battle. He winced slightly as he walked around the lab, clutching his abdomen.

”They really know how to spin it, don’t they?”

Coco gave a dark chuckle. ”Of course. These are the Rangers, after all. The so-called protectors, the saviors. Doesn’t matter how many of us sacrificed ourselves in that damn tournament. They get the credit. We get the blame.”

Blue’s gaze drifted to the screen as the anchor’s words blurred into the background, his thoughts more focused on what Coco had said. He stopped pacing and turned to face his leader. ”Is this why you became the leader? To give these outcasts a fair chance”

Coco’s eyes flickered briefly, the question catching him off guard. He didn’t respond right away, instead gestured to the scar on his chest.

”Edward gave it to me,” he said, ”This—from the so-called savior of Elria, the one hailed a hero in the last tournament. But how many people knew I was there too?”

Blue said nothing, but the weight of Coco’s words did not escape him.

”I helped him,” Coco continued slowly, ”I helped then to earn those sixteen years for Earth. But do they care? No. We helped, we fought, and yet... we are forgotten. Only the Rangers get to wear the crown of respect.”

”You see, we Rogues aren’t welcome anywhere, but they still expect us to fight for them in that damn tournament. We get drafted, randomly, every time. A hundred warriors—Rogues and Rangers alike— to fight for humanity. But what do we get?”

He laughed bitterly, shaking his head. ”We get nothing. They tell us to be a Rangers, live in misery like they are living, and protect the weak... the very ones who are quick to criticize us at every turn, even though we do everything to protect them. Why? Why do we sacrifice ourselves, and for what?”

Blue stayed silent, absorbing Coco’s words. The room was quiet, save for the hum of the medical equipment.

The world wasn’t as simple as he once thought. The Rangers, the Rogues—there was more to their conflict than just battles. There was a history of pain, betrayal, politics, and resentment woven between them.

He looked at Coco, his expression serious. ”What do you want from me?”

Coco didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he turned back to the screen, his eyes narrowing at the footage of the battle, now smeared with the accusations of the media. ”I don’t want you to be like them, Blue,” he breathed, his voice softer now, almost fatherly. ”I want you to be better than them. To make them see the truth. To show them that we’re not the monsters they paint us to be.”

Blue nodded slowly, though a small part of him wondered if Coco’s dream was even possible. Still, for now, he followed his leader’s gaze to the screen, silently taking in the unfairness of it all.

-----

Tyson sat alone on the terrace, staring out over the school campus. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the campus.

The past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions—guilt over his actions, the consequences of his impulsive decisions, and His one-week suspension. A break from everything.

He thought about the battle with Blue. How his anger had taken over, how he’d let it dictate everything. It wasn’t just about the fight—he knew that now.

It was about him, the person he’d become under pressure, the man who wanted to be more than just a soldier.

The man who felt he had to be a perfect, who couldn’t afford to make mistakes. He couldn’t stop thinking about the Rogues being blamed for everything.

The media had painted them as the villains, and Tyson was also been a part of that narrative.

The sound of footsteps broke him from his thoughts. He turned to see Nancy walking toward him, her usual calm demeanor softening his mood.

She offered a small smile as she approached, sitting down next to him on the edge of the terrace.

”How are you holding up?” she asked, her gaze never leaving him.

Tyson shook his head, letting out a long, exhausted sigh. ”I don’t know, Nancy. I’m just... I’m messed up. I let everything get out of hand, and now I’m sitting here while the Rogues are getting blamed for all the chaos”

Nancy raised an eyebrow, studying him. ”You’re not responsible for the media’s spin, Tyson.”

”I know,” Tyson murmured, his voice laced with guilt. ”But it’s my fault. I lost control—and now I’m on suspension for a week. I should’ve known better.”

Nancy had always seen Tyson as someone capable of more than just fighting. But today, she wasn’t sure if she could get through to him.

There was a part of her that wondered if she was just as lost as he was, trying to be someone she wasn’t, someone who could fix everything like her mom does, but she can try.

Nancy’s gently placed a hand on his shoulder. ”Tyson, Your father knows you. He didn’t send you on suspension to punish you. He did it because he wants you to learn, this time is for reflection... and maybe a bit of rest. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard recently, havent you?”

Tyson gave a dry laugh, his shoulders sagging. ”Yeah, I guess I’ve got more than enough time at my disposal”

Nancy smiled, trying to lighten the mood. ”You’ve always wanted a chance to relax, and Now you’ve got it. Maybe you can find some clarity in all this.”

Tyson looked at her. he felt a small sense of peace. ”Since I’ve got an entire week off... maybe I could help you find the best coffee shops and restaurants in town”

Nancy was slightly surprised, ”Oh? You’re offering to be my personal tour guide?”

”Well, yeah. You’re still getting to know the place, right? And I’ve got nothing but time on my hands. I know all the hidden gems around here. You could call it... an unofficial town guide service.”

Nancy playfully raised an eyebrow, ”An unofficial guide, huh? And what do you want in return? Free coffee, maybe a dinner?”

”I’ll let you decide but... I promise you, I’ll find the best spots.” He replied,

”We will see, mister,” she smiled, ”but don’t run away now. It’s a promise”

”yeah,” He smiled, looking over the horizon,

After their exchange on the terrace, Tyson and Nancy remain silent for a few moments, both of them lost in thought, but neither feeling awkward. There’s an unspoken connection they both feel but don’t acknowledge yet.