Core Integrate: The Core Welcomes You.

By Nkauj Ntsuab Lis

Rule #1:
You can not kill anyone. If you kill someone, the entire group will be left abandoned in Deceased Island.

Rule #2:
You can not go to Deplore Sanctuary where the Sacred Stone is if you do. The torture ceremony Welcomes you.

Rule #3:
Teamwork is Essential.

Last message:
Play it well, Core Soldiers

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524542429

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by GaoJoua Lee.

Library of Congress Control Number:     2016915038

ISBN:               Hardcover             978-1-5245-4244-3

                         Softcover               978-1-5245-4243-6

                         eBook                     978-1-5245-4242-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 10/18/2017

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgement

PART ONE

1.     Commencement

2.     The Core

3.     A Stranger’s Station

4.     Back at The Station

5.     Training begins

6.     Decision| Reunion

7.     Deceased Island

8.     Murder Squad’s Base

9.     Sacred Stone

10.   Deplore Sanctuary

11.   Childhood Anamnesis

12.   Returning to the Station

13.   Sabotaged Core

14.   Murder Squad’s Base

15.   Master Mide

16.   Captain’s Pain

17.   Master Mide’s Palace

18.   Master Mide’s Training

19.   The Core

PART TWO

20.   Welcome

21.   Faded Black Corporation

22.   Sentimental Descendants’

23.   Sinnerz

24.   Rita

25.   THE CORE WELCOMES YOU

26.   The Mixed Blue Team

27.   The Core: Phase One

28.   Girls

29.   The Mixed Red Team

30.   Fever

31.   The Mixed Yellow Team

32.   The Final Mixed Blue Team

33.   The Reunion with the Mixed Yellow Team

34.   Bad Attitude’s Station

35.   Escape

36.   Disbanded

37.   Reunion

38.   Faded Black Corporation

39.   Collaboration

40.   Exposed

Last Time

Author’s Note:

To:

Lajntxiag Sakura Vue and Kazoua Xiong for always listening.

And to my amazing believers, Grace Fleming, Lu Yang, and Mai Pazao Vang.

-I made it through the labyrinth because you were with me.-

Acknowledgement

The original art design credit goes to Justen Xiong for being my very first Artist from the start of it all. I am really thankful for all of the work that he has done. For the original silhouette character designs, this is all thanks to Toog Yang for tackling down this strenuous project. I thank Andy Vang for the alteration of the original emblem designs’ I really appreciate this collaboration with you all and hope that you would work again with me on my next project.

©Justen Xiong | ©hmonger95 | ©Andy Vang

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PART ONE

Chapter One

Commencement

I take a few steps back and swing my right arm in a rotation to push the carriage door to open. I move my hip and slide back to charge at the door using my full strength. But instead, I flew back and hit my back against the carriage wall. I see shadows of two figures bickering and arguing about my behavior. I leaned in and tried hard to listen to what those two are saying.

I told you to watch him, not let him out.

Says Koi.

The chosen one as the Leader or the Captain to escort me to the country, Aaliyah.

I exhale and lean my back against the carriage corner edges where the perfect king size mattress is laid out with the Royal blue and Gold bed sheet, and pillows are neatly made. I slide my eyes to the right and thought. Why did Uncle Ace decide to make the lock on this thing from the outside? I can’t summarize every little detail of what has happened since training days with Blind Eagles and Lonely Sacrifice. But along the few months spent with them, I learn a few things. One, they are to play a game. And Two, I am not part of it. Now, you are probably confused about why I am now locked inside of the Royal carriage that includes heat, air conditioner, a walk in bathroom, and a long closet full of bulletproof crafted Royal garments. Yes, yes. It also includes Metal Essence’s one and only Royal Berry shampoo and conditioner, of course.

Are you hungry, Prince?

Rita says from the window with her usual nonchalant tone.

I exhale and think about the life that I had before any of this happened. Usually, my days start out like this. I awake in bed early in the morning before the sun rose, the sky would be clear. I would walk out from my chamber counting the chandeliers wiping each of the glass with a clean cloth. Now, this is a memory that I recalled a few months ago. A Royal main silently see me from a distance keeping her eyes on my next deed. I remember this because the Royal mains are naturally adventurous. Running footsteps and heavy breathing arises afore me.

Run! Run! Keep moving!

This voice belongs to Joie.

He’s going to find out sooner or later!

Interesting, the skit that the Royal mains are reciting this morning is more unusual than their usual shows. I slowly walk down behind the three of them who are indistinctly shouting over each other. The person from the shadows blitzes over to halt me from taking another step.

Prince, we’re playing a game.

Says Nouvosola folding her fingers tight.

I look at her uninterestedly and gently push her to the left side to allow me to see what this skit is thereby.

Joie

I connect my attention to him the one sliding away from Rita.

"Aranne, Whoa~ what are you doing here?"

He quickly stands on his feet, and the chattering quiets down to zero.

Gera

I say to connect my eyes with his.

Gera doesn’t converse with me. It’s our eyes that do the speaking for us. He would glance at me in silence, and I would connect my eyes with his to say something back, but it’s only because even I don’t know how to talk to him. He is always mad looking. And, I’m intimidating. Or so, I was. I exhale, sliding my attention to Rita the one who was chasing after them.

Don’t ask me anything, Prince.

says Rita emotionlessly.

Nouvosola, the one in front of Joie stand politely in her place with her head down. Joie lets out a yawn but remains standing still scratching the back of his head nervously. I stare at him and then I silently walk down from the hall to allow them to do whatever it is that they wanted to do. The Royal mains quickly rush east to the elevator to pull the lever to exit quickly.

Gentle tapping against the carriage alerts me to remind me that I am living inside of a carriage now, expected to arrive in the Country Aaliyah where Uncle Ace, Metal’s King send the citizens to keep away from the Core in Orchid City. Unless it is a town and not an actual city. Although, I wouldn’t actually know the difference.

Prince, are you hungry or not.

Says Rita emotionlessly.

Rita is or was my morning chef before the Originators announced the invitation of the Core’s opening in June. Her real name is Riia, but I renamed her Rita. I just replaced the extra "I with a T" in her name. Her eyes are central-heterochromatic jade green. Her hair is sun-kissed brown and her haircut is definitely recent, it’s uneven, and it bothers me.

I’m not going to ask you a third time, Prince.

The way that Rita speaks is like claws ripping through my flesh. There is a tint of despise in it. More like, displeasure. I’m not sure what it is. The locks on the carriage open, and there he stood. Loki, the only person who understands me. He has naturally dark brown hair and forest green eyes. His skin tone is beige. My meeting with him wasn’t delightful. Also, it was recent, and if I have time to scatter the meeting, I would’ve lost my left foot in a bear trap, or so Loki calls it a hunting trap. But, the truth is, he probably wanted to trap me. That’s why I am here, stuck inside of the Royal carriage where Koi forms his lips like a duck and rotates it in circulation whenever he is upset.

Come on, Prince. I said that I’m sorry.

says Loki with his right hand out to shake hands with mine.

I turn away and slide my eyes away from him. I take the first steps down, and then a long shadow reaches in front of me. I slowly lift my head up to see his facial expression.

"I told you to stay back; this is not a playground, Prince. Do you understand."

says Koi with his stern voice.

Everything that I do is wrong. Leaving the station is like illegal. It’s like me not having a clean bath. Although, if I put it that way then perhaps I could try to understand where Koi is coming from, unfortunately, I can’t because I am not him and if I were him, I wouldn’t want to be him because all that he ever does is tell me the opposite.

Prince

Says Loki softly elbowing my left arm to respond to Koi.

I’m sorry…

I say softly keeping my eyes on my feet.

I think of Joie, my best friend. The only person I would have wanted to stay in this requested assignment to escort me to Aaliyah, but surprisingly he declined the mission. I don’t understand his decision because nothing that he says will make up for leaving me behind. Perhaps, I am wrong. Maybe he does have a reason and maybe traveling with me would drag him down because he would be missing the fun of the Core by looking out for me. Joie’s real name is Jiro, but I renamed him Joie because Joie means happiness. His eyes are aquamarine or pastel green. His hair is pumpkin orange if you look close it looks red, but in the sunlight, it’s light orange. He keeps his hair short. His face is a little long making him appear a tint mature looking. But he is always joyful and in good spirit.

Koi continues to lecture me about my partition with Nyiam. A Royal, but in disguise. It was on October 2nd, noon when Joie remained a member of this group. How we discovered Nyiam, let’s not talk about it. November 1st was the date that Koi had given Nyiam for discharge. I suppose Koi didn’t like him very much. But, I also didn’t like him at first either. When he first awoke in the morning, his face was leaning over mine. It alarmed me, so I quickly moved back. He enlarges his eyes, and I do the same. He tilts his head to his left, and I tilt mine to the right following him. He blinks his eyes twice, and I do the same. I lift my left hand up, and he raises his right hand up to sweep it.

Are you mocking me?

I asked feeling as though I am doing a reflection skit with him.

No, are you?

He says with the same facial expression. I flip my bangs to the side, and he does the same.

Creepy, are you always like that?

We both say at once.

It was that moment when I knew that something was undeniable with him. Actually no, It wasn’t just that mirror mimicking- it was something more, his posture, his refined ripped bulletproof suit with remaining blood stain on it.

This emblem means that you’re Royal- and participating, why is that?

Koi rolls up his left sleeve to show him his Liquid Piercing device.

Liquid is the brand of Piercing’s transmitter device. The one that Nyiam carries has the Piercing’s crown printed on the back. Ignite is Kurta’s and that’s the brand that Koi owns. Loki’s device name is Utopia, and that’s Azalea. I hadn’t seen Aaliyah’s transmitter device in person yet, but the name of their device is called Bolt. Metal’s brand is called Lure. The device that I possess.

Are you attracted to me?

Nyiam laughs lifting his head to see his face expression avoiding Koi’s question.

Answer me.

Says Koi crossing his arms tight.

Alright, what do you need from me, for me to get my device back?

Nyiam says calmly combing his fingers through his hair with an exciting grin on his face.

I asked you the Question already. Now, answer it.

Koi narrows his eyelids leaning closer to Nyiam.

Oooooh…I get it! Are you perhaps what they call.. a male fan of mine?

Nyiam combs his long jet midnight bangs with his fingers, and Koi turns away irritatedly.

Unfortunately, I am not a fan.

Koi Scoffs.

"I like you, already."

Nyiam spreads both of his arms out leaning in his face closer to see Koi.

I wouldn’t do that if I were him. Koi’s eyebrows already speak for him.

If you want your device back, you wouldn’t answer with that stupid smile on your face.

Koi says as he moves his pressed duck lip mouth in circulation.

This meant that he is serious. I expected it. Although, to Nyiam-it must’ve been a joke. Joie left on October 16th. I woke up late that day and noticed a declination request from Joie’s identification number. Nyiam spoke of Joie as if he is just an assignment member- and shouldn’t matter. It upset me so much and created a feeling so uncontrollably that I punched Nyiam in his left jaw. I couldn’t control my emotions at the time because from the beginning before the training sessions. I didn’t have any. The punch alone wasn’t enough to satisfy my anger toward his rude comments about Joie, not knowing him at all and labeling him as just an assignment member. No, I wasn’t going to let Joie’s name be known that way. Joie is still my best friend, and that’s what separates him from his comment.

"Are you mad? Declining a mission means that he’s abandoned you, it’s the same isn’t it."

Nyiam continues to infuriate me.

I clenched my fist and attempted to punch him again. He touches his jaw and scoffs. He slides back and then focused his pale blue eyes on me. A friendly smile appears on his face as if he’s excited to see what I am going to do next.

"Is that all that you got?"

I squint my eyes and charge toward him. He caught my right arm and bent it back and then he pushes against my back, and I fell to the ground. The soil almost touched my nose. Filthy.

Try again.

He says moving his left hand folding it forward to invite me to make the next move.

I see, so he has either seen the combat clash tournament battles on screen, or he just prefers a fair fight. It hasta be one or the other, but I’m not signed up to no tournament if he thinks that this is a combat clash competition, then he is wrong. I round-house kick him to fly back to hit the carriage door, but he gets back up constantly laughing from his stomach. I knew it; this is a joke to him. I raise my fist, and Rita stopped me from continuing.

Would you two stop!

Rita grabs my