I ran through the Badlands, trying to run from the lepidot. I had gone out in search of some berries in the woods across the Badlands. When I was trying to cross the valley, the lepidot shot out after me. After that, I had no other choice but to run towards to woods. I know I was an idiot, but if I ran back to Galik City, the creature would've been killed. 

I heard the lepidot roar and I turned around. Its eyes were yellow. 'That's not good,' I thought. If a lepidot's eyes are yellow it means it's on the edge of an adrenaline rush. When a lepidot has an adrenaline rush, whatever it's chasing won't make it alive. Lucky for me, the woods were right up front. As soon as I was in range of the first tree, I took out my grapnel. I fired the first hook into the bark of an old redwood. 

My people had never seen redwoods until the Normans took control of Cytros. I remember Alitos, the oldest man in Galik City, told us the first redwood the Normans planted here was still standing. Lucky for me, the woods were actually comprised of redwoods. They were tall enough to stay out of the lepidot's range. Unless it had an  adrenaline rush. "Okay. I only have one shot. Gotta make it count!" I said to myself. I couldn't kill it, but I could paralyze it. 

I took my blaster from its holster on my belt. I took a paralyzing dart from it, put it in my blaster, and aimed. The lepidot wasn't within range, so I had to risk descending until it was in range. I wasn't counting on it having the adrenaline rush so soon, but the second I was within its range, the adrenaline pumped in. 

It jumped and bit the rope from the grapnel that held me up on the redwood. I fell, and my blaster left my hand. I fell to the ground, with the lepidot on me in seconds. Thank the Maker that I was born an Andromedan. Normans were born with regular reflexes, but my kind wasn't. It took eons for our reflexes to reach their current level. I was able to elude the lepidot and look for my blaster.  

I behind the lepidot. I sighed. "So this is how it's gonna be," I said emotionless. I tried my grapnel, but it was busted thanks to the lepidot. I was going to have to make a run for it. I calculated the time it would take me to run, get my blaster, aim, and fire. '7 seconds. That's all I need.' I thought. I stared at the beast before me, barely moving. 

It also waited. 

After what seemed and eternity, I ran, dodged the lepidot and took my blaster.  

4 seconds. 

I aimed as it ran towards me. 

5 seconds. 

I fired. Just as time ran out. I saw the lepidot fall to the ground, paralyzed. I put my blaster in its holster and made my way to the grove where I would find the berries. After I got as many Zanti berries I needed, I headed back to Galik City. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

I entered my mother's bakery and delivered the berries. "My, my Ameline! What happened? You're more dirty than a Ganto after a storm!" she said. I looked down and realized she was right. My boots were muddy, my jacket was torn in some places. My leggings were ripped, and not in the trendy way. "Well, I encountered a lepidot on the way to get the berries," I said simply. 

"Ameline, you can't risk your life like this! If the Normans found out you've been crossing the Badlands, you would would be sent to the ADF or worse!" she said angrily. I couldn't help but scoff at her remark. "Mom! I'm not 6 anymore! I'm 17! I can do this! The Normans don't have a clue about what I've been doing!" I yell at her. 

She falls silent. I see that I went to far. "Ameline," she begins. "What's to guarantee that the Normans won't find out? They've had Cytros under their thumb for generations. If they find out you've been venturing outside Galik City without a plate, you'll...end up like your father." I couldn't help but tear up at her remark. My father was killed by the Normans when they found out he had been leaving and entering Galik City for years in order to get fruits from the woods. They played his execution on the city's megatrons. I watched my father die. 

And it was the Norman's fault. 

I ran up to my hangar. I ran towards my window and opened it. I saw everyday life going on. People in the sale markets. Little children running around and playing battle stations. But I can't imagine what Cytros looked like before the Normans took it over. Occasionally, Norman battle stars can be seen monitoring the planet. Cytros has a notorious history of riots, and protests. The Elders would say that Cytros once was ruled by Andromedan rulers. The Xios family once ruled the planet fairly. Cytrotians never felt the need to overthrow them. 

But then the Normans began sending spies to influence Cytrotians. When Cytros was on the edge of civil war, the Normans swooped in, took over the planet, and killed the Xios. Ever since that, the Cytrotians have tried to kick them out, but have failed. Now the planet is constantly covered by a blockade. No one can get out. Only in. Things have gotten worse ever since the Norman started to war against the Andromedans.

'Damn Normans! If they hadn't taken the planet, things would be different. We would be free, and with the right to leave this damn rock.' I think angrily. The Normans have oppressed my people for decades. As far as I'm concerned, all Andromedans are treated this way. "I'm sick of this!" I say to myself. "I'm...gonna kick them out! For good! I'll make sure they stay in the Milky Way, and out of the Andromeda galaxy!" 

As soon as I say these words, a bomb blows my house to shambles. 

********* 

I awake and see that I'm lying on the ground. I see many feet running away from the bombs. I stand and see my house was destroyed. 'Mom!' I think with fear. She was in the bakery! I run as fast as I can due to the fact that I'm injured, and look for my mom. I see her buried under a pile of metal. "MOM!" I yell. She slowly looks up at me and says, "Ameline...there is something you need to know," she says slowly. 

"What?" I say with tears streaming down my face. 

"The Normans know..." 

"Know what?" 

"Your origin..." 

"What do you mean 'my origin'?" I say, confused. 

"You must stay alive! The Normans might not know, but it is vital that you live," she says. 

"What are you talking about?" 

She hands me a necklace with a serpent wrapped around a heart made of quarent. "You are a member of the Xios family. You were meant to free Cytros from the Normans. You have to train, and fight against them. Protect our people. But remember this: Sometimes your kin can be you enemy," she says before a soldier comes and drags me away. "No! My mom! We can't leave her!" I scream at him. 

"Kid! You're about to be killed by a bomb! She's done for!" he yells while running from my mom. Everything starts moving in slow motion. I see a jet fly over our house and a Neutroline bomb fall on our house. My mom yells out to me, "I love you, Ameline! Stay alive!" The bomb reaches my house. It detonates. 

I fall into unconsciousness. 

------------------ 

I wake up in the hospital sect of a traveler. I see that I'm not the only one in here. I see people with terrible injuries, victims of bomb explosions. I stand and realize were in light speed. I walk around until I find a nurse. 

"Excuse me, where are we headed? What happened?" I ask her. She looks at me and asks, "Where you a Cytrotian?" 

"Yes," I answer. 

"Were headed towards the Quontios system. Cytros...has been destroyed by the Normans. Everyone who isn't on one of the rescue ships, is dead, or doesn't have much time," she said solemnly. 

I nearly collapsed in shock. My home...gone? Not possible! The Normans behind it? They weren't that cruel! "What? Why?" I ask. She only shrugs and points in a certain direction. "When you feel better you can find a bed. But hurry, we have many people who will take the beds remaining." I thank her and put my boots on. I still look how I did after facing the lepidot. Poor thing is probably dead. 

I walk in the direction the nurse pointed. I see a long line and realize it's a registration line. Apparently, the Normans want to know how many people survived their bombing. When it's my turn, the registrar, a short Golvin, asks me, "Name?" 

"Ameline Junt," I answer. 

"Age?" 

"17." 

"Anyone aboard with you? Any family or friends?" 

"No." 

He scribbles something on a piece of paper, and puts it in the transporter. He leads me to a hangar, which I'll be sharing with two more survivors. One is a girl with short, white hair and looks about 13. The other is slightly older than the first, and I judge her to be her sister. She looks almost like the young one, but her hair reaches her waist. Tears stream down both their faces. 

My mind worked slowly in order to process the information. 'The Normans? They wouldn't go that far. Would they? They aren't savage killers who destroy planets.' I think to myself. Unless those Neutroline bombs weren't Neutrolines. They looked similar. But their force was much stronger. 

A sudden sob broke me out of my trance. I look towards the two girls in front of me.