AOE : Age Of Extinction

Targeted Doppelganger

Amelia's face lit up with delight. "Seriously?!" she exclaimed, her mood instantly brightening.

Duncan rolled his eyes, dismissing Kai's claim. "Don't believe him. He's just trying to pull one of his pranks on us because..."

Before Duncan could finish his sentence, Logan interrupted with a triumphant shout. "I've got one!" he announced, eager to share his own revelation.

Amelia turned her attention back to Kai, her curiosity piqued.

Kai sat confidently on a rock, his smile beaming like a superstar about to unveil a surprise.

"Tell me, who is he?" she asked, her eyes bouncing between Kai and Duncan.

Kai adjusted himself on the rock, assuming a confident pose. "I knew him through a friend. He was really skilled with electronics, but he could be a handful sometimes," he explained.

Amelia nodded, considering Kai's words. "Well, that's still better than having nothing!" she remarked, a glimmer of hope in her eyes as she weighed the possibilities.

Duncan couldn't contain his skepticism any longer. He raised his voice in protest, hurling a pebble at Kai. "You expect us to believe this lying chicken-stealer?" he exclaimed, his frustration evident.

"I'm serious this time. I'm not lying," Kai asserted, his tone firm and resolute.

Duncan's anger flared. "I can't believe you, you punk!" he retorted, his voice dripping with disdain.

Amelia intervened, extending her hand in a sweeping gesture to silence both of them. "That's enough from both of you," she declared, commanding their attention.

A palpable silence settled over the group, broken only by the chirping of insects seeking refuge among the rocks. The weariness of the day caught up with Duncan, and he succumbed to sleep, his head finding a makeshift pillow on a nearby rock.

Amelia's gaze wandered through the darkness of the night, while Kai, showing no signs of drowsiness, drew his sword and meticulously examined its sharpness. Intrigued by one of the many thoughts swirling in her mind, Amelia suddenly spoke up. "Why do you constantly sharpen that sword?" she asked, her tone filled with genuine curiosity.

Kai's focus remained fixed on the blade in his hand as he pondered her question. The full moon peeked through the clouds, casting an ethereal light over the scene, evoking a sense of melancholy. Amelia shivered, reminded of the harsh extremes the wasteland could present—scorching heat in the afternoon and freezing temperatures on unfortunate nights.

"I'm not entirely sure," Kai admitted, still engrossed in his task. "Perhaps it's just part of my duty, a way to ward off boredom."

Amelia absorbed his response, sensing a deeper meaning behind his words. "Do you feel lonely?" she asked, her voice tinged with empathy.

Kai paused, his gaze lingering on the sword. "Not always. Apart from Duncan, I didn't have many friends," he confessed, his vulnerability surfacing in the moonlit night.

Kai reached into his bag and swiftly hurled a blanket towards Amelia. Although his manner of tossing it seemed impolite, Amelia couldn't help but feel pleased. It was exactly what she needed at that moment. She gratefully embraced the warmth of the blanket, huddling into a cozy corner and resting her head on a rock, makeshift pillow.

As the night settled in, Kai began whistling softly, his melodious tunes blending harmoniously with the tranquil ambiance. Amelia found herself wishing that he would continue whistling throughout the night, as it brought a soothing sense of comfort to their desolate surroundings.

After a few minutes of his gentle melodies, Kai abruptly stopped as he noticed Amelia's gentle snoring. He brushed it off, understanding that she must have been exhausted from the day's stress. Rising from his seat, Kai's legs tingled from the chilly night air. He wrapped his arms around himself, warding off the cold as he made a decision. He offered to keep a 24-hour watch on both Amelia and Duncan, aware that the night brought forth stronger and more dangerous Zombies.

Kai purposefully chose to keep vigil throughout the night, hoping to spot any potential threats before they reached their encampment. Locking his gaze upon the dimly illuminated horizon, painted by the moon's gentle glow, memories of Logan flooded his mind. Kai cherished Logan deeply, despite the troubles they had encountered together. The striking birthmark on Logan's face was the only distinguishing feature setting him apart from Kai.

The memory of that fateful day resurfaced vividly in Kai's thoughts. He found himself sitting on a creaking rocking chair, placed in front of a farmhouse within their survival base. Even under the cover of night, the base bustled with survivors, each going about their own business. Kai's senses suddenly heightened, detecting a hint of something amiss in the air. His extensive training in Kung Fu and Taekwondo had sharpened his perception to the point where he could sense the slightest movement around him, enabling him to react swiftly and fend off potential threats.

Kai remained seated in the old rocking chair, his senses heightened as he detected multiple movements behind him once again. He felt certain that this was yet another attempt on his life. In a flash, he recalled that the Jaden Federation had placed a bounty on Logan's head, blaming him for the deaths of a significant portion of their military forces. Now, because of their uncanny resemblance, Kai found himself being targeted as Logan.

Just as a sword swung menacingly towards him from out of nowhere, Kai swiftly evaded the attack, rising from the chair with urgency. Before him stood two formidable men clad in sleek ninja suits, their imposing figures hinting at their deadly prowess.

"You know, you could have simply asked me for a meal instead of resorting to violence!" Kai teased his assailants, attempting to lighten the tense atmosphere.

Without hesitation, the attackers lunged forward, their intentions clear. But Kai was prepared, drawing a gleaming sword from the satchel hanging at his waist. He held it firmly, ready to defend himself.

"I must warn you, I am not the one you seek!" Kai cautioned, his voice filled with determination. As the assailants closed in on him, he skillfully maneuvered backward, maintaining a safe distance.

"Very well then, if you insist!" Kai declared with a mixture of confidence and playfulness. He swiftly dropped his sword to the ground, adopting an unconventional fighting stance inspired by Taekwondo. One leg raised high above his head, and his hand thrust forward, poised for action.

The attackers were momentarily taken aback by Kai's sudden change in strategy. They had anticipated an easy kill, expecting him to be defenseless without a weapon. However, their assumptions proved to be gravely mistaken.

Seizing the opportunity, Kai launched a powerful kick, connecting his leg with the attacker's head. The forceful impact sent the assailant's skull crashing against the unforgiving rocky surface, blood spewing from his mouth and nose. His life extinguished in an instant.

The second attacker, overwhelmed by shock and fear, involuntarily dropped his sword. Abandoning all hope of success, he turned and fled, disappearing into the inky veil of the night.

Kai breathed a heavy sigh of relief, grateful for his victory in the face of danger. Although the encounter seemed almost effortless for him, he understood all too well that he would now face a relentless onslaught of attacks due to his resemblance to Logan.

______

Duncan woke up with a loud yawn, his eyes still heavy with sleep. Dawn was breaking, and the sun was barely visible above the horizon. As he gradually shifted his gaze, he noticed Kai standing some distance away. Surprised and intrigued, Duncan staggered backward and quickly roused Amelia from her slumber.

Amelia yawned gently, ready to amplify the sound, but Duncan's urgent gestures stopped her. He pointed at Kai, who stood facing the sunrise, his attention fixed on the horizon. Sensing something amiss, Amelia approached Kai cautiously.

"I think it's high time you told us more about the person you mentioned, the one with exceptional tech knowledge," Amelia pressed. However, Kai remained silent, his gaze unbroken. Concerned, Amelia moved closer. "Is something bothering you?"

Kai finally responded, his voice hushed. "No, not really. I just stood here all night, and my legs feel frozen."

"What?" Amelia sputtered, finding it hard to believe. "So, you mean you've been standing here all night?"

"If I say yes, you probably won't believe me," Kai replied, walking away from Amelia towards the campfire, now reduced to ashes.

"Howdy!" Kai exclaimed as he passed by Duncan, who sat on a rock, engrossed in rummaging through a bag in front of him.

Kai came to a sudden stop when he realized his greeting had gone unanswered. "Next time, a simple 'Good morning' would suffice."

Duncan raised his eyes to meet Kai's. "I won't respond to any of your greetings until you pay me back for the chicken."

Kai scoffed. "You're ignoring me over a mere chicken?"

Duncan rose to his feet, his determination evident, though secretly fearing Kai's superior fighting skills. "You stole my chicken! I didn't give it to you willingly!"

Kai brushed back his hair and assumed a poised stance, ready to retort, but Amelia intervened. "Both of you, stop arguing about a chicken. Our main objective here is to free Logan!"

"Yes, she's right," Kai quickly agreed, eager to bring the discussion to a close. Duncan muttered incomprehensibly, his irritation dissipating as he returned to his seat and resumed unloading the bag. Every so often, his furrowed eyes darted towards Kai.

"Kai?" Amelia called out, approaching Kai and Duncan.

"Yes!" Kai responded promptly, turning to face Amelia.

Amelia beamed a small smile, attempting to ease the tension as she spoke. "I think we should find that guy you mentioned last night; we need someone with technical skills."

Duncan sprang to his feet, protesting before Kai could respond to Amelia. "I can't believe you still believe everything this chicken-stealer said! He could eat anything and..." Duncan paused, panting as he spoke with fervor, still reeling from the pain of Kai devouring his beloved chicken.

Kai and Amelia were captivated by Duncan's outburst, bursting into laughter when he started panting. Amidst their laughter, Kai managed to choke out, "That's one way to self-destruct. Just calm down!"

"Are you implying that I'm expendable?" Duncan protested once more, but he didn't finish his sentence and angrily returned to his seat.

Amelia quickly regained control of her laughter, realizing she needed to act appropriately to mediate between Kai and Duncan. "Guys, you really need to stop," she said, turning towards Duncan. "If we want to go in there and rescue Logan, we'll need someone with strong technical abilities!" Amelia gestured towards the horizon, as if she knew the precise direction to the Jaden Federation base.

The tranquility of the surroundings was abruptly shattered by a daring growl, causing a jolt of alarm to surge through their veins. Their eyes darted across the area, desperately seeking the origin of the ominous sound. While their instinct whispered of lurking zombies nearby, they remained cautious, unwilling to hastily jump to conclusions. Amelia's hand instinctively reached for her trusty bow, which had been resting on the ground throughout the night, ready to be wielded in defense.

With a swift motion, Kai unsheathed his gleaming sword, ready to confront any approaching threat. Meanwhile, Duncan stood rooted to the spot, positioned firmly between Kai and Amelia. However, their unity was tinged with a concern as Amelia noticed that Duncan, unlike the rest, was unarmed. Speaking in hushed tones to avoid alerting whatever adversary loomed ahead, she questioned his lack of preparedness.

"Damn, dude, why are you without a weapon?" Amelia's words slipped out discreetly, mindful of their concealed location.

"He is not armed; only God knows how he has survived this long!" Kai replied, his tone carrying a mixture of exasperation and admiration for Duncan's resilience.

Duncan felt a surge of anger at the direct conversation about him transpiring right in front of him, but the urgency of their current situation prevented him from seeking retribution. Suddenly, a group of zombie cohorts materialized before them, their ghastly presence confirming their fears.

Without a moment's hesitation, Amelia drew back the bowstring, releasing an arrow that cut through the air with precision. The projectile found its mark, piercing the skull of one of the zombies, sending it crashing lifelessly to the ground. Armed with a long-range weapon, Amelia possessed a significant advantage, while Kai and Duncan patiently awaited the approaching undead.

As the tension mounted, Duncan's unease grew palpable, causing his legs to tremble and nearly give way under the impending threat. Sensing the urgency, Amelia swiftly loaded another arrow, dispatching another zombie with lethal accuracy. Time seemed to blur as Amelia's skill and determination felled dozens of zombies, her long-range weapon proving effective against their relentless advance.

However, luck proved fickle as the zombies closed in, rendering the arrow an ineffective defense. It was Kai who stepped forward, bravely leading the charge. His agile movements, honed by years of practicing Kung Fu, granted him an advantage amidst the onslaught. Swiftly, he severed an arm from a zombie and swiftly impaled its head, silencing its final growl as it crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Amelia, now fully engaged in the frenzied battle, joined Kai's side, ready to face the relentless horde. Duncan, though standing steadfastly, found himself transfixed, a witness to the escalating intensity of the conflict unfolding before him.

Kai's gaze locked with Duncan's, the sight of him standing idly while they battled against a relentless horde of zombies only served to irritate him further. Frustration boiled within him, and he couldn't hold back his anger any longer. With a scream that pierced the chaos around them, he unleashed his fury, "You motherfucker!"

Duncan, instead of joining the fight, chose to retreat. In a swift motion, he snatched up his bag, a clear indication that he had no intention of standing his ground. But Kai wasn't about to let him escape so easily. "Don't you dare run from us!" he shouted, his voice filled with a mix of anger and determination, as he caught sight of Duncan's fleeing figure.

Meanwhile, Amelia found herself surrounded by a web of zombies, engaged in a desperate struggle for survival. She and Kai had been doing a commendable job dispatching the undead foes, but it seemed as though there was no end to their relentless onslaught. It dawned on Amelia that they couldn't keep this up indefinitely; they needed to retreat or risk being overrun.

As she swung her lightsaber sword, its blade cutting through the air with lethal precision, she managed to sever the head of a zombie that had lunged for her arm, inches away from sinking its teeth into her flesh. Her heart pounded in her chest as she quickly scanned her surroundings, searching for any sign of Kai amidst the chaos. The growls of the zombies filled the air, making it increasingly difficult to communicate.

However, Kai was nowhere near Amelia's location. He found himself trapped in a tangled mess of zombies, fighting for his life in a separate struggle. Amelia knew she had to reach him, to convey the urgency of their situation. "Kai, we have to retreat!" she screamed, her voice carrying over the deafening growls, but she had little hope that he would hear her amidst the distance and the cacophony of undead voices.