Earth

We are traveling to the opposite end of the galaxy. To the most secluded civilized species known. After knowing Dragen for so long, I am actually excited to see what his people are like. I know they look exactly like Olympians, but their culture, according to Dragen is significantly different. Dragen was from a place on Earth called, Romania. Although he has long lost his accent, he was only a boy when he was rescued by the swordsmen.

Another long journey in the ship with Marie. She became a little talkative towards the end of our flight to Kaj'Matar. But since the visit with the mystic, she hasn't said a word. She has been strapped into her chair reading the tablet. Presumably doing research on the human race. I figured I should do so.

I pulled my tablet out and walked into the cabin to give Marie some space. I searched for humans on the tablet and it began to read, 'Searching for data'. There were many videos that had come across my screen. They had mastered the internet and expressed themselves openly on it. Very dangerous game, it allows all of us to see exactly what we want. I set the tablet to audio and let it play out the history. It spoke of great big beasts called dinosaurs, and then there was an asteroid. The cavemen that had evolved into societies. Samaritans, were an interesting time. I believe swordsmen had explored the planet during this time and indulged in their culture before leaving. The Khan era, the world wars, the devastation that swept through time on this planet. The plagues that would usually set a species back, yet that led to medical advancements. Now the world is split into tribes. Some are called Americans, Russians, Chinese, etc. Fascinating, I thought. The power of each army was astounding. The technology they had developed was unique. They faced each other in various sports and games across the world. Football, soccer, chess, and something called video games. I clicked a link that led me to a website. Humans played these video games and displayed themselves. They interact with an audience of other humans. These video games were simulations of other worlds. Humans are absolutely creative. Their artwork, their history, and surely their future. They raced to space against one another, marking the moon as a great accomplishment. They send probes into space to learn and they one day plan to reach the fourth planet from their sun, Mars.

Seeing a civilization in the height of their expansion was exciting. I looked forward to greeting them and hoping one day to extend a helping hand. I spent the rest of the flight watching videos of war. I needed to understand their armies and weapons before I could arrive, in case they found me to be a threat. I studied their various languages, which was a bit difficult, they didn't fall under the rule of the galaxies common tongue. I watched what they called their Olympics, which I am sure some drunken Olympian showed up decades ago and influenced. The world cups, the super bowls, etc. I dozed off during many sequences of research and woke to absolute confusion while being told a different topic.

Days had passed and Marie and I only spoke moderately when we ate. Humans had actual lore of horsemen and Hercules, along with Zeus himself. I found that more odd than anything. How had they learned of such people, yet the stories were far from correct? This felt off, but I had to brush it off as a coincidence.

"We are arriving in the Earths solar system in approximately one hour." The ships AI called out.

"Marie, do we have any idea where the horseman is on Earth?" I asked.

"I am picking up his intergalactic bio signature in the place called America. He's nearing a place called Nevada." Marie replied. "Temperatures are hot, proceed with caution, according to the reports on the humans, there is a larger than visible military structure there."

I nodded and began to stow my things away. I washed and donned my armor. The blue top and black pants fit more comfortably since I had broken it in. I sheathed my sword and began to meditate. I needed to calm my adrenaline and clear my mind. This was it. This is the first time I will engage with a horseman and I will not let him slip through my grasp.

"Initiating cloaking sequence. Their satellites will not detect us." The ships AI reassured us.

We flew past their small sun and puny planets. Earth came into view and we both sat in our seats in awe. It has been quite sometime since we have gazed upon a planet that hasn't been littered with ships and had such beautiful colors, even from space. We passed by a floating satellite that the ship was picking up having human life onboard. Our shield indicated the large amount of floating debris around the planet that was poking at us. We broke through the atmosphere, shields cooling the air as we descended to hide our whereabouts. Landscapes broke into view and once again displayed such peace.

"Marie, when we get down there, and I get off the ship, you take the ship back into space and wait for me to com you before reentry. If things go wrong, and I die down there, you need to beacon the swordsmen." I said.

"Why not beacon back up now? Why wait?" She asked.

"We cannot interfere and make ourselves known to these people. You saw their history. It would make things worse if we just showed up in a city unannounced while fighting one of our own adversaries." I said.

She sighed and nodded. As we neared what the humans called Nevada, we could see a blanket of sand. This place was in the middle of a desert. Then again, the file did read top secret. Which in my language studies indicated that it is prohibited. The ship landed softly on the sand dune below. I exited the ship and gave Marie one wave of my hand to indicate that she could take off back into space.

I looked around and had no idea where to start. I pulled my tablet out of my bag and began searching for this place Area 52. It formed an arrow and showed me the path I needed to take. I drank plenty of water on the ship and could feel the heat quickly drain that out of me. I stayed away from the streets. The humans commonly transported along these with metal creations called cars. I kept a steady pace.

I had reached a few hundred feet from the gates that led into this place. I heard sirens blaring and weapons being fired. I quickened my pace to catch up to the noise. The main gate had been ripped to shreds. Two guards laid on the ground, their skin had been corroded and left here. From there I could see massive vehicles with a long tube, known as tanks, firing at the horseman. He stood in the center of the base laughing. He was shot with a tank missile and it exploded. It sent him back a few feet, but this primitive technology would have no effect on him. I drew my sword and began to run towards the horseman.

"Leave the humans, fight me horseman!" I shouted. As I did, I was struck from the side by one of the missiles. They aimed again and shot at us both. Although it was not painful, it still forced me off my feet. The humans began to descend into their buildings as the air above ripped with a sound. Two spaceships flew above and dropped bigger missiles. They detonated in the space between myself and the horseman. It sent us both flying. The horseman rose from the ground and flew a few feet into the air, shooting some kind of energy at the crafts that sent them whirling to the ground. I ran after the horseman and leapt into the air. I collided with him and we both came tumbling to the ground.

"You wretched swordsman!" Pestilence called. He punched me hard in the face and I stumbled a bit. He kicked my legs out from under me and then one kick to the chest sent me flying into the nearest tank. "The plague has already begun in the cities. I am just here to retrieve something. Stand down, or I will squash you." Pestilence had a larger frame than Hades, and seemed overcome by the power.

I pulled myself from the tanks broken exterior and lifted my sword again. I ran at him. I slashed straight down and he had side stepped. He kicked and I had caught it with my free hand. I pulled him off balance and connected my hilt to his face. Black blood shot from his face. His grew angry and he tried to take off. I jumped and caught his foot and swiped upwards with my sword catching his thigh. He screamed in agony and took us higher into the air before flying downwards and sending me into the pit of sand miles away from the base.

"You know too little swordsman. You are interfering with forces you know nothing of!" Pestilences face was bloodied from the attack, but I could sense he was an actual Olympian, before whatever altercation had happened due to him becoming a horseman.

"Whatever Zeus has promised or given you, its all a lie." I said.

Pestilence began to pull out a scimitar and started swiping and slashing at me. I parried his heavy attacks and dodged a few others. He had clipped my left shoulder slightly. Blood coated the edge of his blade. The adrenaline hid the pain for now.

"I don't have time for this." He delivered one kick into my chest and sent me into the ground. He then flew straight into the air, turned and flew off.

"Marie, he got away, where is he headed?" I asked.

"He's headed east at great speed. I'll come get you." She said.

Moments later our ship had landed and I climbed onboard. "Quickly, follow him." I said.

Our ship picked up speed and we rushed. We were now headed into the side of the planet covered in night. Our map of the planet indicated we were in some place called Salisbury. We could see Pestilence surrounded by a rock formation. He raised his hands towards it and energy flowed from his finger tips. I jumped from the ship, that was still hanging in the air. I dropped down hard on my feet. I raced towards Pestilence. The top of the rock formation formed some kind of glowing entity. A massive paw came through it, followed by a massive body and three heads. He had opened a portal to allow Cerberus here on Earth.

"Remember our pet? Now, lets see what you can really do. He remembers you." Pestilence said.

Cerberus had snarled and snapped at the open air. He turned to face me and all three heads barred their teeth once more. The spit and foam dripped from their mouths and Cerberus once again, was charging straight towards me.