The Beginning of the End

In a dimly lit office on a stormy night.

A lone man stands in complete silence contemplating on the unfortunate weather. There is a light nock on the door. The lone man breaks his silence. "You may enter"

A servant slows opens the door, afraid of the lord's reaction if he enters to loudly. "My lord, what are we to do with the child". The servant shuddered as the lord turned around with anger clearly written on his face. "Call the Simon family, have them cash in my favor and forge the child an identity as a orange star awakened". The lord paused for a moment deeply in thought, "And then throw that bastard child into one of my orphanages, tell them his parents have sadly passed". The lord turned back to the window, "silence all the servants who have seen the child here, no one can know I have an Illegitimate child". The lord paused once more. "Especially my wife", and with a crack of thunder the servant left to complete his task.

/

/

19 years later

In the office of a local government sanctioned therapist sat Katherine Bell Across from a handsome young man, Raven black hair and yellow eyes that almost make your skin crawl. The young man spoke up "Hey Mrs. Bell, thanks for getting me an appointment on such short notice".

Katherine chuckled softly. "It's ok sweety, but why the short notice"? The young man's face turned slightly Solemn "well, I just turned 19 so I'm being drafted" Katherine was slightly shocked. Slowly raising her voice "They are drafting you even though you can't activate your ability, and you are just letting them do this to you Ace".

Ace Shook his head "I have already done all I could, they want to try and forcefully activate my ability in the field". "An orange star awakened is too powerful to leave in the stands, I just wanted to see you before I leave tomorrow and get a refill on my medicine".

Katherine Frowned "Ace Sweety, you are missing the problem". "You are not mentally stable enough to be put into the field, whoever signed off on this is a dunce"

Katherine sat up in her chair and signed the paperwork to refill the medicine. "Just be careful please, with how many traumatized solders come into my office", she pauses "I don't want you to be added to the statistic, especially after all you've been through"

Ace stood up and grabbed the paperwork from her hand. looking down at the paper he noticed something unusual, "Um, why is there a few extra refills" a tinge of confusion in his voice. Katherine looked up at him with a solemn face "Because you will need extra sweety".

And with that Ace left her office, Even waved at the receptionist on the way out. 'Damn, looks like I lucked out' Ace chuckled to himself like a mad man while passer Byers looked at him like he was crazy.

'I guess it's about time to check in with the WPO and get check into the hotel', Arriving at the address listed on the draft papers ace found a building that could be confused with the DMV just by looking at the line trailing out the door. 'You have got to be fucking joking'

ace walked up the the young lady at the end of the line, she had long black hair that faded into purple and she wore a pretty black skirt with Ripped fishnet leggings and a black Hoodie. '"Excuse me miss, is this the line for the WPO draft?".

Surprised by someone talking to her she whipped around and glared at ace. "Ya no shit sherlock, it should say the address on your papers".

'The fuck??' surprised by the rude response "Excuse me, i just wanted to know if I had the right address. Just because you are upset with the draft doesn't mean you can take it out on me, go yell at a cashier or something"

Ace let someone step in line Infront of him to avoid being stuck behind pissy. 'She may be pretty but she is far too rude, maybe it's a goth girl thing'

after waiting a grueling 30 minutes in the winter weather he finally made it to the Cute Blonde receptionist. "Hello and welcome to the World Protection Organization, how can I help you?".

Ace pulled out his papers and handed them to the receptionist "I am here for the mandatory draft, I'm classified as orange star" The Receptionists face lit up upon hearing he was an orange star. "Right this way sir, you will be staying on the 10th floor of the dormitory. Tomorow you and the other Trainees will be gathered at noon and flown to the eastern defense base, please don't be late".

Ace took his room key from her and started the march to his room. ' I wonder if she would still be so polite if she knew I couldn't even use my ability'. opening the door to his room he was met face to face with his roommate,

"Oh my, long time no see pissy". the purple haired lady in the rooms kitchen spun around and threw a spoon at him, snatching the spoon out of the air "you know throwing cutlery is very unladylike"

The purple haired lady scoffed "Ya cuz you know what a lady's like" chuckling to herself. "And dont call me pissy you troglodyte, my name is Rosa Everglow. you should learn be respectful when talking to someone of a higher class than yourself commoner".

Ace smiled at what she said "im sorry miss but respect is earned, and we both know class no longer matters now that we are apart of the WPO. so, you should probably get off you high horse before you offend someone with higher Star rank than your own".

The sudden realization hit her "why were you allowed onto this floor, this is reserved for Yellow rank and above?". Aces smile grew even wider "I was allowed in here because I'm orange rank".

'I bet that will shut her up' Ace drops his bag by his bed and lays down leaving rosa baffled. Ace Furiosa was a fairly attractive man, yellow eyes that pierce the soul, a tall and slender body with raven black hair. But the dark bags under his eyes leave much to be desired.

"Hey girlypop, you should get some sleep. Tomorrow is gunna be stressful"

Rosa stood still diner in hand watching as ace layed down peacefully.

It was confusing to her how he could sleep in this situation. "How are you able to even consider sleeping in this situation" she simply couldn't wrap her head around.

But her question was still valid, "it's a magical thing called antidepressants"

Confused she asked "they drafted a mental patient, what the fuck had our government come too"

she shook her head not realizing the Oman. Ace however had a suspicion " maybe the war isn't going as favorable as they let on. Maybe they are growing desperate"

She frowned and crossed her arms "are you doubting our military?" And as quick as lightning "yes I am, throughout history there has never been a government willing to tell its people it's failures"

Rosa's frown depend as she sat down on the bed across from him.

"That's a scary thought" she said in a almost worried tone

"But tomorrow's problems are for tomorrows me, So go to sleep and I'll gladly have this debate with you tomorrow".

As the two close there eyes a figure of mist watches them from the window, slowly humming a chilling tune as it floats away.

The Next day

BEEP BEEP BEEP 

Ace jumped up spooked by the sudden noise, looking around he realizes it was Rosas alarm.

"Why is your alarm so fucking loud, sounds like an amber alert" getting up he puts on his only set of clothes, a Black Butten up dress shirt he was given as a gift before leaving the orphanage at 18 and a pair of dress pants to match although they are clearly worn out.

'Poverty is a bitch, wish i could get these patched up. maybe I should just learn how to sow' after finally getting dressed he turned to Rosa who was somehow still sleeping through her fire alarm, he walked over and shook her awake startling her "whaaa??"

still sleepy she groggily got up and after picking her phone up and checking the time she thanked ace for waking her up and shower. after they were both dressed and had their bags backed, they left for Cafeteria for breakfast which was surprisingly empty.

Ace And Rosa Walked up to the food bar and grabbed some breakfast "i guess we got up early than the rest". "they were probably to scared to sleep" rosa chuckled, Ace looked at her strangely "you were barely able to sleep too though, a bit hypocritical".

Rosa glared at him "Don't question me, ever heard the saying misery likes company. let me have my moment asshole" Ace laughed along "okeydokey pumkin" Rosa looked at him as if he had three heads. 'This commoner is really strange. maybe being a orange star fried his brain'

"Ace, what gives you the confidence to speak to me like this? is it because you are an orange star?" Ace was mid bite when he paused to think about that question. "i get the confidence from my mentality because i have nothing to lose, we are all equal Infront of the absolute".

Rosa was a little stunned by how deep that question went "wow, that was pretty deep bro. but excepting death and being suicide are different".

Finally finishing the meal Ace stood up and walked towards the exit, Rosa quickly followed him "why are you following me, I thought you were too good for me princess". 'its kinda funny seeing her squirm for an answer', "because you are the only person here i know" said with as much conviction as a kitten trying to make friends with a bird.

so they walked together to the gathering spot, solders were already lined up waiting for the trainees. Ace glanced around at all of the solders and frowned "why do they need so much fire power just to gather some recruits"

Rosa finally noticing the strangely large gathering of solders. "why do they look so nervous?" 'this is super sketchy, maybe the war situation is worse than I thought. they seem worried about an attack even though we are in a safe zone'