Chapter 1: The End

Two gifted individuals and one being above every God had damned the universe into a final battle against the fourth dimensions and multiple ways that wouldn’t be believable.

Every punch thrown, formed together tsunamis around Earth that washed away entire countries. People naïve to watch the battle, lost their flesh and bones.

Both individuals reached their top speed between seconds. The tiniest particles collided against their bodies and bumped into their neighbors and their neighbor’s neighbors, all until eventually there was no space left and soon. Bang!

Atomic explosions followed their movements. Nothing, even the Gods could see their deadliest speed, only the bombs they left on their tracks.

In one second, they were clashing behind Earth and in an instant, they launched each other across the solar system.

One of the individuals carried a red glowing spear that no God would dare to defy. The spear has been seen flashing like a beam of light, and its pressure left a planet ten times larger than Jupiter into nothing, but another asteroid belt billions of light years away from the solar system.

They formed a terrifying presence, even the most fearless Demons and Gods ran from their sight only to be ripped in half by one swing of the spear several thousand miles away from where the weapon was thrown.

Everybody who attempted to assist in the final battle, were mere pawns. You were given a better chance of survival, being away from the universe itself.

The creature. The being threatening all life in the universe had power that defied Gods. The two individuals while incredibly destructive in planet busting scale. They were still ten chairs below the King’s throne. Even at their highest potential, they stood no chance at defeating him, Liam Darkson. The Devil.

The two individuals, destined to die fighting him, started off as ordinary human beings at childhood and merciless super soldiers known as Rhinos by their twenties. The Prophets.

The story did not start until the first group of Rhinos who defied a God came to prevent the massacre of humanity, threatened by flesh hungry creatures ready to chew down to their bones.

Tony

It’s been fifteen years since I first had a hundred-pound foot on my back in the middle of a crowd of other terrified Rhinos.

“Can you make the decision for us now?” Romeo asked as he pressed his foot on my spine. A vein popped from him crunching my bones.

“I don’t want to be here, sir!”

“Good,” Romeo said, yet continued to crush my back. “Then do you want to stop this training?”

That was the fifth time he asked yet I still couldn’t answer it for him.

“Come on, kid!” He pressed my spine hard enough to cut my skin with the cement floor. “Do you really want to train here in the most brutal Rhino division there is?!”

The Delta division was comparable to Hell those fifteen years but hell may still be worse. Rhinos there are strong but they carry permanent scars.

“That’s fine kid,” Romeo said then pulled his foot off my back. “You’re becoming a Rhino now, Tony. I don’t train snowflakes so you better not act like one.”

He pulled his weight off me and I attempted to push myself back up only to get slammed back on the ground.

“I didn’t say you were done,” he said. “I want a hundred pushups since you’re still wimpy. I’m going to get an ice cold water and spit on your face when I come back. If you don’t do fifty by the time I’m back, I’ll know. I don’t think I need to explain even more than that.”

If Romeo was a demon from hell, he’d be the high ranking one sitting right below the Devil on a throne made out of skulls.

At least, back then he was.

“If you don’t give me a run for my money, you’re still a snowflake,” Romeo said and raised his arms into a fighting stance. “Let’s see how much training has changed you.”

I was thirteen when it happened.

I lunged my foot into his knee and tripped him. The first time I ever felt pain from Romeo was sent straight into his back. That ounce of pain was justified. He rolled out of the way and kicked me in the nose without looking at me, another pound of pain needed to be relieved after.

Another punch thrown, washed away the saliva on my neck from the ice cold water. Then a kick satisfied each time he made do push-ups under his foot.

He attempted to add another memory of pain with a slow moving fist. Out of my own senses, I saw the punch come in slow motion. My instincts told to me to grab his arm tight then strike his elbow.

In that moment, his arm was paralyzed and I had the chance to defeat each time he made feel miserable with one attack towards his chin. The punch called it a day for him, and soon every ounce of destruction I received from him was relieved, satisfied and justified. Romeo was no longer a demon.

I waited three seconds before we confirmed victory, raised my arm up to the air and yelled out, “You see that! Every Rhino older and younger than me now know, I just beat the strongest demon in Hell!”

It was Hell and I was going to face worse. It was nothing compared to what my parents would have done to me if I went back home. I was too naïve to simply face my father again and that’s my fault. I didn’t know what to expect at the time.

It was depressing to understand the only reason I could lift nearly a thousand pounds is because I didn’t want to see my parents. It was depressing to be okay with tasting my own blood ten times a day. It was depressing to scream in agony each time I lifted a fork just to grab food.

In all honesty, my parents couldn’t have treated me worse than the Delta division and that was my fault. I only had myself to blame. Romeo wasn’t the villain and neither were my parents. I was.

I didn’t really know Rhinos like Romeo existed until I saw very eye-catching adverts that specifically pointed at me each time I walked past their holographic posters.

“The Rhinos. Super Soldiers. Super Heroes. Super Human. Anybody who threatened to defy the rules, would be threatened back with a menacing right hook.”

The poster popped out a scrawny looking kid who’s life flashed out to their twenties. He had probably the scariest bloodshot eyes and a beard that said they’ve been there longer than they should have.

“From ages five to eighteen we train individuals who are ready to kill the most threatening evil people out there anywhere they find them. If you don’t come out of the Rhino’s super soldier’s system with more blood than your dead enemies, you’re probably dead yourself.”

Then the scarred man was geared up with high tech suits and armor that was specifically described to handle tank shells and bigger explosions.

“Our most high-tech armor yet. The 28th century Quintuple packed titanium armor set that isn’t even a real metal on Earth. It was extracted from animals on planet Orson known as the armored Rhinos who’s skin was proven to be more durable than titanium metals. Now the skin has been compressed and toughened to survive anything that’s thrown at you, as long as you can handle the bruises.”

Funny thing about the armor, is you didn’t get to wear it in training until you turned eighteen. All the blood I tasted and the punches and kicks I induced were just part of the process of getting ready to use the armor.

“A final statement about our Rhinos, each professional is injected with the newest Rhino serum. It allows you to last longer on the battlefield. Enhances your senses and lets you go up to two months without getting hungry or sleepy.”

Unfortunately, that needle was more than painful. It was a mark. “But a setback to the serum and the reason people back out, is because once you take it, you must work your body out or else your heart will explode. This is not a joke. People actually died from taking the serum multiple times.”

Nobody, not even the weakest snowflakes who joined the Rhino’s divisions came back home, even if their parents came for them. They stayed for probably their whole childhood or died, but the strongest came out as blood lusted super soldiers ready to kill anyone standing in their way.

***

I just finished off training for today. I had to disarm my gear and weapons before I could go back and rest. I didn’t really feel like sleeping but I did want to lay down in comfort.

Oddly my armor was a lot heavier when I wasn’t wearing it. It didn’t make sense how I could move fast with five hundred pounds weighing you down, but the reason may lie by the fact that I’ve gotten stronger over fifteen years of training.

I skipped past the office to avoid eye contact with Ryan and Romeo but then I met an open door at my sleeping quarters and prayed that Romeo didn’t walk in on the massacre of unorganized jackets and bookbags laying down beside my scratched-up desk and rusted chair.

Before I stepped in, I caught a shadow shift further from the door. I squinted to the right of the room and saw my closet door slightly opened and felt a warm breath slap on my face from across the room.

I smelled mint and a hint of a char broiled steak, with a possible lemon lime soda that’s been sitting in a plastic bottle for a whole year. I knew exactly who swallowed down that expired drink.

I stepped my right foot up then sprinted to the closet. The closet door shot against my forehead. The pain turned me around and I was restrained by the arm and slammed head first on the ground.

“The door was my enemy that time,” I said. “How long have you been waiting here for?”

“I don’t know but I’m pretty sure you would have died if I was a real enemy,” my assassin said.

She released my arm and faced me with a shiny smile. “How was training today?”

“Exhausting and bloody as usual. How about for you, Nancy?”

“That doesn’t matter,” she said then revealed a gift wrapped bowie knife. “This is for you. Don't ask how I got a hold of it.”

“I wouldn’t dare with you,” I said then touched hands with the knife. I felt her smooth skin and attempted to let go but she wrapped her hand around my fingers like a snake and pulled me in.

She smiled wider and leaned forward to kiss me but before she landed her lips on mine. I stepped back to the wall and turned my face away from her.

Nancy’s smile faded away. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not sure,” I muttered. “It’s not appropriate for work. We’re Rhinos, Nancy. We can’t have relationships.”

“Then when can we?”

“We’ll figure something out,” I said. “Right now, is not the time.”

“Why isn’t it?”

“Because soon, we’re going to step in the blood of war and we’re not going to be healthy enough for a relationship. We’re Rhinos. We can’t be distracted. We’re meant to kill and nothing else.”

“Come on!” Nancy jumped. “Is it because of Ryan and Romeo? Did they really hurt you that much?”

“I came here to get away from my parents but Ryan and Romeo were a lot worse than them,” I blurted out. “I was asked as a favor multiple times if I wanted to go back but I hesitated to make the decision. So, I got stuck here unfortunately.”

I had a difficult time comprehending my own desires. What would Romeo’s lessons show my parents? If I did go back with all that tension, not only would I feel uncomfortable but I wouldn't know what I’d do with my life. I wasn’t sure if I had a future ahead. I wasn’t sure what I would become then.

“I’m a Rhino of the Delta division now, Nancy,” I said and fidgeted with the gift wrap. “The scariest and strongest Rhino division there is and so are you. We were brought here for stupid reasons. We need to fulfill our purpose as killers. We’re nothing else besides that.”

“I don’t know how I keep falling for you,” Nancy said then took the knife back. “But you better not keep me waiting too long.”

Chapter 2

Maurice

I took a breath and sucked in the dirty air of the people who died before me. Nobody but my best friend Jacob deserves to breathe the same air as mine, unless they want a fight.

I inhaled the oxygen of my cigar and blew it out of the room. It appeared even the dirtiest and blood with mud infested people didn’t dare to step close to my own aroma.

Memories were so stale to me like warm blood. All the stained blood and the air that used to be brisk fresh, it has all been tainted by the newcomers.

I was one of those newcomers at one point. Now look at me, I was smoking my life away every day because of stress and depression. Nothing could snap me out of this life. Being a Rhino, it may pay the bills for years, but it sure is hell is one of the most painful things you could become.

“Being a Rhino doesn’t mean you’ll be a merciless killer,” my father told me. “Being a Rhino doesn’t mean you’ll scare off all the toughest people. Being a Rhino doesn’t even mean, you’re the strongest man out there. It meant, to get there you needed to cut your way through Hell at least a thousand times before you achieved anything.”

“Damn it, dad,” I sighed and lit up my cigar some more. “If only you were here to teach me some more lessons, rather than Romeo.”

He was not just my father. He was one of the strongest Rhinos out there. To others he was a force to reckon with and some he was an icon. To me, he was the best father out there.

One day, I had everything, then next thing I knew, all I had left was Jacob. I used my hand to get many answers. My hand was cut to the deepest bone. My fingers pressed triggers to kill people in one shot and my legs allowed me to move around and slaughter the next target.

No matter how much power I had in as a Rhino, it was still not enough to kill off every bastard who tainted my memories.

There was a power in me though. I’ve been desperate to find that power for years but I never came close to using it again after the day I lost everything. I wanted to use it again against my fight with Tony. It was never an option, otherwise, I would have released something that teared the flesh and skin off his bones.

Nobody cared about my hidden power. They’ve never seen it. Only Jacob has. I was getting my teeth launched out like a bullet. All because of one punch from Romeo. The second punch, another tooth came out but so did blood, mucus and last weekend’s potato salad.

If I had my power and Romeo had that same potato salad, he’d be wiping my shoes glass clean while I sat in the King’s Chair.

Unfortunately, Tony was the target, but that didn’t mean I had no grudge against Romeo. If I wanted to get close to that chair, I needed to mark my own presence. A thick air around people that they couldn’t breathe unless I allowed them to. Tony had to die.

“Maurice,” Jacob’s voice finger snapped back into existence. “You’re very good at forcing people to smell your scent.”

I coughed and laughed as I watched Jacob peddle into my space.

“Jab at it, brother.” I threw a cigar at his palms. “It’s your turn to make people smell you.”

“Nah.” Jacob flicked the cigar back at me. “I’m not a drug addict. As much as I wish to be, it’s probably not healthy for me.”

I blew the smoke into his face and stepped off my bed.

“Was that necessary?” he asked.

“No,” I coughed. “But it would be nice to have a smoke with a childhood friend at the most terrifying Rhino division there is.”

“Yeah,” Jacob said and swung his arm at the thick smoke. “For you it is, but I don’t like the smell anyway.”

I blew more dirty oxygen near his face and grabbed his shoulder.

“Let’s get training before Romeo forces us to run twenty-miles while being shot at.”

“That does sound like a good idea.” Jacob smacked the cigar off my mouth. “But Ryan and Romeo probably won’t like a smoker on the track.”

Then he crushed the cigar and kicked the door open before it closed.

“Step out. You know how stupid that door is. I’ll hold it for you,” Jacob said.

“Thank you, brother.” I pushed him away from the door. “But I’m no bitch.”

“I’m not a bitch either.” Jacob punched my face. “So, don’t fucking push me asshole.”

I chuckled and lit up another cigar then blew more dirty oxygen at his nose.

“That better be the last time, Maurice.”

I slammed the cigar in the ground before he said more. “That was. I’m just making sure we evened the odds.”

I kept a dirty smile on my face and followed Jacob into the gun range, until I felt a cold air sweep across my face and as I knew it, my smile swept away too.

I didn’t dare to stare at the man but I saw Jacob clench his fist. He shouldn’t be threatening to fight this man when we saw him unless he forced us to but who cares, he was already in my space. I needed to claim my territory.

“What made you stop smiling, Maurice?” Romeo asked.

“Am I allowed to ask why?” I questioned him.

“Only for one sentence.”

“You showed up. That’s why?” I pulled another cigar out of my pocket and attempted to light it up but Romeo slapped it off my hands and battered my stomach.

“Laugh it off if you can, but don’t fuck with me,” Romeo said.

After a second, I puked out blood then I touched the vomit and rubbed it on Romeo’s face. He stared at me with his eyebrows facing down and in an instant, I regretted it.

“I want you to start walking away. I’ll give you a ten second head start.”

Jacob shoved me off and screamed, “Run, dumbass!”

“He’s got the right idea, Maurice,” Romeo said. “Run. I’ll start counting for you.”

For an odd reason I still kept staring and told him, “Do I have to run, or can I kick you in the face for a head start instead?”

“That’s not recommended, but you better land a damaging blow. If you don’t kill me in that one hit, you’re done.”

“Hm,” I questioned where I belonged and jabbed my kick at his face but he blocked it one palm. I was going to die. That was my mistake.

“You hear that?” Romeo said. “It’s the sound of your blood boiling under your skin.”

He pulled my leg then paralyzed my knee with one elbow. I was powerless now.

“That’s enough of you for today,” Romeo taunted then released my leg and smacked my spine on the Earth. “Get back up when you can.”

Even with my broken knee, I kicked my second foot out, and tripped Romeo. I laughed at his misery and asserted my dominance as a Rhino but then he slapped my smile away and crawled to his side to land another blow.

Romeo was overpowering my arm in a tight lock then he turned my frown into an excuse to give up. I could do nothing but sigh and tap out.

“Still trying?” Romeo said and whacked my nose on the floor. “Give up you sore loser!”

I couldn’t do anything. His grip was superior. Not even with my eight years of training and my dad’s training, I couldn’t release myself from his brute strength.

Out of nowhere Romeo lightened his grip and launched away from me. I turned my head over and saw Jacob’s foot leaned forward and Romeo rubbing the back of his head.

Jacob smiled at me and lifted me off the ground. “It takes more than one Rhino to beat a Romeo,” Jacob said. “But not today. You got your leg fucked up Maurice.”

“Lesson learned well, Jacob,” Romeo said and stood off the ground. “But if you took that long to save your friend, you would have lost him long ago.”

I rubbed my neck and faced away from his dirty smile. “Let’s get out of here. I’m tired of Romeo’s lessons.”

“Actually, I need you two to listen to me for a second.” Romeo stopped us. “There’s an urgent matter. I’ll fill you in. I’m sure Ryan has informed Tony, Nancy and Patrick already.”

I set my attention back at Romeo and watched him pull out a blank sheet of paper.

“On the human colonized planet Orson, an alien species called the Lox invaded just yesterday.” Romeo then threw the sheet away and stepped on it. “You’re getting deployed immediately.”

This may be the chance to unlock my forbidden power once again. Whatever force I must deal with this time, it was my decision. I will win the war and nobody else.

Chapter 3

Tony

I set aside time to lay in bed without sleeping. I was fidgeting with the mag of my assault rifle waiting for me to realize I should fall asleep.

“One bullet for the head and another for the chest,” I said and poked out one of the bullets. “A bullet for the head is enough. My brain is rotting. One day. Maybe one day for sure, I’ll get one.”

A sudden knock on the door and I turned to catch Ryan peeking around like a shadow. The first General of the Rhino’s Delta Division.

“You have time to speak for a bit?”

“Unfortunately, I do,” I mocked and shot up off my bed. “What’s going on?”

“As we speak an alien species is invading Orson. Right now, we don’t have too much details about them. That’s why you and your team are stepping in first.”

“Of course, we’re going first,” I said and stepped to his face. “You have to send the younger Rhinos to spill their blood. There are over a hundred Delta Rhinos older than us who can do that for you and I’m not allowed to ask why.”

Ryan smirked and patted my shoulder. “You don’t have the right to ask why because I’m your commanding officer.”

I smirked back and told him, “I’m going to assume I have to pick up my armor right now.”

“What do you think?” Ryan toughened up his tone. “It will take you two weeks to arrive on Orson in that ship. There’s no reason to waste more time.”

I nudged him off and guided myself to the armory, but Ryan pressed his grip on my shoulder, preventing me from moving forward.

“Hold on, Tony,” Ryan said. “You have a choice here. You’re not like the other Rhinos here.”

“What are you saying?”

“Romeo and I asked you multiple times if you wanted to go back home to your messed up parents. We’re giving you one last offer. You can go back home and teach your parents a lesson or step in the cold sore of war.”

“What’s the reason for asking me this last time?” I asked.

“You have the opportunity, Tony,” Ryan released his grip. “Do you want to go back?”

I gave it a pause and faced the rotting wall of the base.

“Unfortunately, I got no reason to go back home. I’m a Rhino, Ryan. I became a Rhino the moment I turned eight. My duty is to protect by killing threats. I have no reason to be at the comfort of home.”

“Hm.” Ryan grew a slight smirk. “You’re going to die out there and that’s your fault. Looks like your purpose as a Rhino is being fulfilled now.”

“I know,” I said. “Now, leave me the fuck alone and hope I don’t see your crocked face again, unless you’re going to give me orders.”

“Okay.” Ryan’s smirk demoted into a frown. “You made the choice, Tony. Be careful. Watch yourself out there.”

I ignored his concern and worried about grabbing my armor set with my weapons. I didn’t know how I can forgive the things they put me through.

At the same time, I have tainted memories of my parents. Every word they threw at me stood out as a picture in my head.

That armor was going to set me up for a lot more than mud and blood. If I could just remember everything I was taught, maybe I could survive.

“Tony,” my thoughts broke when I heard Nancy. “Where are you going?”

“You’re not going to like to hear it.”

“What?” Nancy questioned and placed her hand on her chest.

“Something came up. It’s time we step out.”

“Oh god,” Nancy said and covered her mouth. “That means everybody else has to go.”

“Yeah,” I said. “Including you.”

“I knew that but I don’t like the sound of it.”

I opened the hatch and picked out my suit. “You have to get your armor too. We’re leaving today.”

“Ugh,” Nancy moaned and touched her head. “I feel faint. I didn’t think this day would come.”

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“No.” A small tear dropped on her feet. “I don’t want to go. I … I’m not ready. I … “

Her voice broke and she fainted on her back. I grabbed her before she touched the ground.

“Nancy.” I tapped her forehead twice. “Are you okay?”

“You’re …” she muttered and formed a small smile. “You’re so strong … You can carry a six-foot woman on your arms so easily.”

“You’re a crazy woman,” I laughed and tried to stand her up. “Can you stand up?”

Her legs felt so light on the ground and her left foot was trembling. “Uh … I don’t think so.”

“Okay,” I blurted out. “I’ll take you to the ship first and get your armor. Just make sure when we step in that snowy planet, you don’t faint in the middle of war.”

“Trust me,” she muffled. “I won’t while I’m with you.”

“Good.” I carried her to the shipyard. “Keep it that way. It will be bad for the both of us.”

Every step I took into the ship shivered my spine. There was enough firepower in there to tear down entire cities. If that ship alone can’t take down the Lox, I didn’t know what will.

Since we were the first ones to shed blood on Orson, there would be no reason Ryan would force any of the Cobras to step in for us.

Got an artillery cannon against a hundred soldiers? No point. Just send the Rhinos. Got battle tanks overrunning towns? Forget it, the Rhinos will hijack each tank even if there’s hundreds. Need someone escorted but you have to survive a trench line of traps and trip mines. Don’t worry about it, the Rhinos know exactly what they’re doing.

There’s no reason we should lose and no reason we should be scared but for one reason I still had a bit of worry inside my heart. We didn’t know what to expect with an alien race we had no clue about. It’s all a risk in a game of poker even with a royal flush sitting on your palms.

I wasn’t a religious person but that made me hope we had God on our side because I made the decision to join a guarantee of a suicide mission.