Alter Squadron: Alter Resurgence: Alter Squadron, #3

By CD McMillon

Defeated and separated, the Cosmic Alter deal with their loss. With some captured, all injured, and struggling to control their new powers. The Cosmic Alter stand at their lowest point. But they still force themselves forward to save the earth. As the Havaggre Empire plans to summon a full invasion of Earth, the Alter are running out of time. Pressed against the corner the Alters have to prove themselves as Heroes or else the world is loss.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CD McMillon
• Release date: Aug 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223102250

CD McMillon

A nerd since the first time I played an arcade game. The progeny of a family a teachers trying his hardest to not follow in the family footsteps. I grew up reading and playing games mostly JRPGs with a strong emphasis on story. Originally I wanted to write comic books but I could never make that work. And after falling back into fanfiction decided to write my own original stories. And from there I ended up like any other wannabe writer. I write both Novels and Web Novels, while also striving to make YouTube videos. I keep myself busy and I'd like you to follow me on this journey as I try to fill the time in-between now and when I meet the grave. And if your wondering "How come he's not showing his face?" Well I just don't want to. So enjoy these various Avatar images I've plastered on my social media instead of actual pictures.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

GELEON SITS ON his throne in the command room, tapping his blue fingers on his armrests, looking out through the monitors at the sights and sounds of Earth. Various monuments, statistical data, live streams, and other images appear on holographic monitors floating across the command room. Below him, his subordinates work hard, analyzing the information flowing in as they point out various spots on a map of the globe.

How goes the analysis? He yells out.

Sir! A large, portly purple man steps in front of him, saluting. We’ve analyzed roughly sixty percent of the data from this planet. Tapping into their internet increased our efficiency by fifty percent.

Good. Once we’re done learning all we can from this dump, then we’ll send out our swarms to take out the major cities. From there, the Humans will spread out and become game to hunt down. After we’ve cut the population down to forty percent, we’ll claim this world for the Home World and report our brilliant success.

A large insectoid man laughs as his mandibles move about. "My Lord. Why wait? These Humans have no knowledge worth of our glorious empire. We should just wipe them out."

Fool! A tall purple-skinned woman yells out. Are you insane! These Humans were able to tap into the power of Alter Energy. That in of itself makes them worth studying.

Hilara’s right! If these savages could use it with a slight push, we have to be careful to stop the spread before other savage worlds discover the means to!

"Gallus, your cowardice is showing. For such a brave warrior the moment you're up against a tough enough opponent, you cower and seek to weaken your opponent. He laughs once more and steps forward. Your cowardice will cost you on the battlefield if you hold on to it."

Gallus steps forward. Oh yeah, Entomi! How dare you all me a coward? All your plans to stop the Alters didn’t work. Your foolhardiness will cost you on the battlefield.

The two glare at each other as Geleon shakes his head.

"Hilara, Entomi, Gallus! Cease these foolish squabbling in front of our lord before I silence the three of you myself!" A robotic man yells out as he stands next to Geleon’s side.

The three stop and turn away from each other. Vextin. The three say at once.

But I wasn’t even arguing, Hilara whispers.

Geleon laughs, looking down on the three with a smile across his face. My allies. Once I have stricken this stain of a planet from my family’s records, I will reward you when I make my return to the Home World!

Of course, My Lord! The three yell out in unison.

He stands up and looks around the area. Now everyone, let us make some preparations. Entomi, I’d like you to locate the stranglers who escaped from our initial attack.

Entomi bows. "As you wish, My Lord."

Hilara, I’d like to see the results of your experiments, especially now that we have some Alter Energy at our side.

Hilara bows with a wide grin on her face. As you wish, My Lord.

And Gallus. I want you to look into the tunnel network of this mountain. I want to know what’s buried under there.

Gallus bows, laughing. As you wish, My Lord. I’ll dig out this entire mountain if you wish it.

Geleon smirks. And Vextin, I want you to keep a close watch over our prisoners. I wish to keep them alive for my entertainment.

"As you will Sir."

Geleon snaps his fingers, and a screen appears, showing Kira, Fellim, and Zene in small cells. Kira pounds on the walls of her cell as Fellim paces about, and Zene sits nearly motionless.

These three are special. A part Human Alter, the cat princess, and a traitorous member of my kind. Aren’t they interesting, huh, Vextin?

"Be careful My Lord. While they are separated from their power source, they are still quite dangerous. We have to be careful or else they could become a threat."

He smirks. As they are now, do you think they could present a threat? He snaps his fingers as an orb appears in the palm of his hand. Inside the sphere, a cellphone-like device sits motionless as Geleon stares at it. Do you believe they can stop me without the use of their Alter device?

"No, My Lord. Without it, the Human is nothing more than a simple girl. The princess is too bound by her convictions to do anything. And the last one is powerless on her own. Those three are no more threat than an insect attempting to bite at your heels, my Lord." Vextin takes the orb staring at it.

Then why the caution?

"Insect they may be. With enough insects, they can threaten even the mightiest of beasts, injecting their poisons and slowly killing even the mightiest of beasts. He throws the orb into the air as it floats about. That’s why the Empire’s strength comes from squashing those insects before they can even be perceived as a threat."

Geleon nods. You have a point. But I imagine we can learn more about the Alters from at least one of them. So, for now, we’ll keep them alive, but after that, we’ll execute them without remorse.

Vextin bows. "As you say, My Lord."

Well then, My Lord, I’m off to the lab. The AI can finish the cultural analysis of Humans while I work. Hilara says with a smirk on her face. Oh, I’d love to see my experiments to see the chaos that unfolds.

"I’m going to take a handful of prisoners and machines. They will make perfect tools for a hunt." Entomi says, laughing as he stomps about.

Gallus walks out. I’m going to start the digging right away. The prisoners have been sitting around for too long. They could use some work so they don’t get too lazy.

As the three leave the room, Geleon sits with Vextin at his side, the pair turning toward each other.

Well? Geleon asks.

Vextin nods. "As you say, My Lord. Your plans are quite bold. Once we’ve acquired all six Alters, we can truly begin experimentation. We will learn of the Alters and uncover all of their secrets."

Geleon laughs. That’s right. Soon this world will be ours and there is nothing anyone can do to stop us!

CHAPTER TWO

DAMN IT. DO I don’t have enough change for this, do I? Scott asks, standing in front of a vending machine.

He stares at the machine with the stares overhead at a rest stop next to a long stretch of road. He looks down at the change in his hand and sighs, putting each coin into the machine. After a moment, the drink gets stuck in the machine.

Oh, come on. You stupid thing! He yells out, shaking the vending machine.

Annoyed, he kicks it and several drinks fall out of it. Well, that’s convenient. He says, picking up the drinks.

Are you done yet! Emma yells out from around the corner.

Just a moment! He yells, trying to balance the soda cans in his hands. There’s a lot here.

He runs back to the parking spot where Emma sits outside of the black car. She snatches one can from him and stares at it.

How did you get this much?

Accident.

Yeah. Let’s go with that. She shakes her head and opens the can, taking a sip. It’s warm.

Well, I have nothing to do with that. Besides, who knows how long these things have been in there?

Yeah. This entire area’s abandoned. But that just adds to the question. Are we sure we’re headed the right way?

Gotta be. That cyborg asshole gave us the directions, and he’s part robot, so it has to be the right way.

She shakes her head. I don’t think that’s how it works.

Yeah, his body’s mechanical, but he still has a human brain. Lavi exits the car and stretches as he takes a soda can from Scott. And unfortunately, his power levels are too low and I’m not an engineer, so I have no idea how to get him functional.

He’s too beat up, Emma says.

Scott puts the cans down, taking one for himself. Well, the guy not only got his ass whooped by us…

After he beat our asses. Emma interrupts.

Scott scowls. Yeah, he’s strong, okay? He beat our asses and we could barely handle him. But we still beat him and then he took that huge laser to the face.

It’s a miracle he’s alive, but his energy is low, so he’s mostly sleeping and his limbs are all twisted. How can he even fight right now?

Lavi nods. Well, we’re going to need the big lug if we’re going to get through this. They parked a whole ass ship right over the base, and it’s a newer model than ours was.

And I’m worried about the others. We were the only ones who I saw get out. And this was the last car.

Scott crushes his can. We can’t go back unless we have the firepower to fight them off. And right now, we’re way outgunned.

We’d be running into our deaths if we went there right now. So, what’s the plan?

Well, we’ll need that guy if we’re going to stand a chance and here’s hoping that they have some secret weapon or two ready at their base for just such an occasion.

Emma sighs. It’s a long shot. But are we even sure if we get there, we can repair him?

I can take a crack at it. But it would be rather makeshift if I had a go at it. Lavi says.

We’ll figure that out when we get there, Scott says. But first we have to figure out where there is. Emma, you still have the map?

Emma holds out her phone, showing a screenshot of a map. I have the address. And this map, but it’s taking us to the middle of nowhere. Are we sure this is the right place?

That’s where he told us to go, so that’s where we’re going, Scott says.

Lavi smirks. Come on kids. Think of it as a fun, brief field trip. Once we come back, we can go save the others.

Right, we better hurry up and….

Everyone get in the car now! Emma yells out.

The three rush into the car, with Scott getting into the driver’s seat and Emma sitting next to him. Lavi rushes to the backseat where Alpha sits slumped against the side of the car. The three peek out through the windows, watching as something flies overhead. A shadow is cast over the car as everyone stays in position until the shadow moves from overhead.

Is it gone? Scott asks.

Something crashes into the ground, shaking the area as Emma shakes her head. No. No, it is not.

Scott and Emma exit the car as a small orb sits impacted into the ground. The surface moves as it spreads across the ground and robotic humanoids grow from the metal substance. A small crowd of robots stands against the group as they move to surround the car.

This happens every time we stop. We have to figure out how to stop them from finding us. Emma says.

Scott nods. You have enough in you?

No. I need some actual food.

Well, we don’t have a choice in the matter here.

I know. Emma pulls out a small phone-like device. Come on, let’s get this crap over with.

Scott nods. Old man, make sure the car doesn’t get wrecked.

Lavi comes out of the car. Fine. But hurry it up or else we’re gonna have more company to deal with. I give it about five minutes before another squad flies by.

Right. Let’s do this! Scott yells out, taking out a similar device.

Stop being so loud.

The two hold out their phones and, in a flash of light, they transform into red and blue suits, respectively. Scott holds out his hand and a small ax appears, with Emma doing the same, calling forth a long pole.

You’ve heard the big cat. Five minutes, so let’s wrap this up in three!

Emma sighs. Stop trying to act like you’re in charge here. Let’s just smash these robots and get this mess over with!

The robots charge at the pair as Emma swings her staff. Using the pole, she sweeps several robots into the air. She twists on her staff, splitting it into two sticks, and rushes in, swinging them through the crowds, smashing in the heads of robots along the way. Scott comes throwing his ax, splitting a robot in two before pulling out the ax and swinging it at the surrounding machines. A few of the robots move towards the car with Lavi leaping out and opening his mouth, shooting out a laser that blasts them back.

With their numbers thinning, some robots combine forming several four-armed machines that lash out at Scott. He leaps back, avoiding the attack as Emma rushes in, smashing her sticks into the sides of the robot, knocking it off balance. Scott leaps into the air and slams his ax into its neck, decapitating it as it falls defeated. But more of the robotic swarm charges in to take its place.

As the robots charge forward, some hang behind, forming rifles and shooting off lasers that Scott and Emma dodge. One blast hits the car with Lavi, looking over the damage.

We’re good!

Scott, get the ones in the back!

Scott sighs, staring at the crowd of robots. Easier said than done.

Didn’t you play football or whatever? Charge through them and get to the end zone!

Scott rolls his eyes under his helmet. That’s not how that works!

Shut up and do it!

He sighs as another barrage of laser fire shoots out toward them. He shakes his head and dodges as the shots barely miss the car. Getting into position, he launches himself forward, smashing through several robots. As he charges into the middle of the crowd, several machines cling to him, stopping him as they surround him. Before they can strike a blast, fires through, taking out several of the machines.

Emma turns to see Alpha hanging on the outside of the car holding onto his chest. He fires a laser out of his fingers at the robots blasting through several of them.

Hurry up and take out the command core. He struggles to say.

Scott! Emma yells out.

Scott forces back the surrounding robots. Working on it!

Scott sees past the gathered machines firing lasers and spots one in the distance with an antenna on its head. He tightens his grip on his ax and focuses on the machine, pulling his arm back. He throws his ax with everything he has as a group of robots forces him down. The ax flies moving at intense speeds and then striking the command robot in the head, lopping off half of its head. The machine collapses alongside the other gathered machines as the group stops fighting.

That was annoyingly close, Emma says as her suit fades away. We’re too used to fighting with all of us together.

Scott rushes to retrieve his weapon. Well, what do you expect? We’re weaker when we’re apart, and right now it’s just the two of us. We’re lucky we can still kick robot butt.

Lavi looks over the scattered machine bits and starts picking through the crowd. We could find a use for all this junk.

No time. We have to move now! Alpha struggles to breathe as Scott and Emma rush to his side. "Have to