A/N: This chapter will give some more insights into Salika, I had a lot of fun writing this one, it was more intensity at times than I have written in awhile. Anyways read on and please, please, please, leave a review, I live to know what you guys think. ;)
Everything is choice, but sometimes you can't always choose.
-Salika Maria
CHAPTER SIX
CHOOSING WTIHOUT A CHOICE
Salika Maria walked down the corridors of the Venomian ship she was on. Her tail was lashing a bit, she was not happy, but then she never really was. Her life had been one unending task ever since that day on Fortuna, ever since she had learned that even when you had a choice you might not really be allowed to choose. Life had chosen for her, she served the Venomians, she had served Oikonny, and now his successor who, although far less incompetent was just as insane.
Salika stopped outside the door to the captain's quarters, currently occupied by the leader of the Venomian military, what was left of it at least, Oikonny had managed to get quite a bit of it destroyed fighting Corneria, the Aparoids had managed to destroy even more. Apparently the only thing that had stopped Corneria from wiping out the pitiful remnants was the fact that they were still fighting to rebuild their own navy. They were too busy to worry about an enemy that possessed at most a few dozen ships. Of course Salika knew that soon, if the Stone of Ocelot was what it was supposed to be, the fact that Venom didn't have a fleet anymore would be irrelevant, all they would need was that one ship, that one game changer.
The Stone of Ocelot, the Fortunan burial mask, Salika had stolen both, as well as kidnapped several ocelots to help the captain, no, admiral now, to revive the ship that had been sitting in The Cloud since the Lylat Wars. The Stone itself was about the size of a person's head, and apparently possessed Krazoa spirits, life giving spirits. Salika was still not clear on how that would help in getting a starship up and running, but she had her orders, her life without choice, and if she wanted her and her little brother's lives to keep going she would do what she was told. She would continue to hold the rank of commander, she would continue to steal things and kidnap people and betray friends, she would continue to serve the admiral, all because she had had to choose without having a choice.
Salika pressed the door chime, a moment later a voice said "Come!"
Salika walked through the doors and stood immediately to attention, "Admiral Alyona."
Alyona was a she-wolf, attractive to be sure, and somewhat...affectionate towards Salika. Alyona walked up to Salika and ran a hand across her muzzle, "You have it?"
Salika nodded, trying to keep her ears from flushing at the touch, she didn't like Alyona, she was the reason her brother had spent most of his teen years in captivity, Alyona had been Venomian intelligence, and she had seen to it that Salika, an orphan who once had worked for Corneria, became the perfect weapon for her interests. "Yes admiral." Salika reached into the small pack she had been carrying and produced the Stone of Ocelot. It was a pinkish stone, perfectly smooth, and glowed at all times. "The Stone of Ocelot."
Alyona grinned and her tail began to wag, "Oh how lovely. One step closer to revival." She took the Stone from Salika, "And you took the ocelots as well?"
Salika nodded, "Yes admiral."
Alyona looked at Salika, "So formal. Haven't I told you dear that you don't need to call me by rank in private, it would make things terribly...awkward at times."
Salika pursed her lips and felt her ears flush despite her best efforts, "Sorry, Alyona."
Alyona smiled and placed an arm around Salika's waist, "Much better." She set the Stone down on a table and then said, "Computer, lock the doors, and close communications, we are not to be disturbed for anything less than a priority one event."
"Acknowledged." Came to computers monotone reply.
Salika knew what that meant, and she could see the look in the she-wolf's eyes. Another choice she couldn't choose. Alyona smiled, "I think I shall reward both of us for your success. Come to bed."
Salika put on her most practiced smile and said, "With pleasure." Though she felt farther from that state than any other.
Alyona began to undress, so did Salika. A few moments later Salika was lying on the bed and Alyona was leaning over her, the she-wolf planted a kiss on her muzzle and said, "Now, relax, we shall enjoy ourselves."
Salika wanted to cry, but instead she said, "As you wish Alyona."
The doors to Alyona's quarters closed behind Salika, she had dressed and left as soon as she could. If there was one silver lining to being Alyona's bedmate it was that it permitted her to see her brother. If it weren't for that... Salika shook herself, she didn't want to remember her escapades with Alyona, they were just a part of her duty, something unavoidable. And something that the crew of the ship was likely aware of by now, fortunately none of them had mentioned it, they knew that anything against Salika went against Alyona, and even before she had become the leader of the entire fleet she had been feared, and rightly so. Her enemies had a habit of disappearing.
Salika stepped into the turbo lift at the end of the corridor and said "Deck seven."
The lift began moving, when it stopped and the doors opened Salika quickly made her way to the only quarters on the deck that were occupied. She hit the door chime, her tail wagging furiously, a moment later "Come in!"
Salika walked through the doors and saw a seventeen year old tod, her brother Felix, standing waiting for her. She threw her arms around him and said, "Felix!"
Felix wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly, she could hear him taking her scent, when they separated he said "Again?"
Salika looked to the floor, her tail drooping, "It's the only way I get to see you."
Felix nodded, "Yeah, I know. It doesn't make it right though."
Salika looked up at him, "I know that. Please can we speak of something else, I don't want to have this fight, it's worth it to me if I get to see you."
"All right sis. Don't worry, I'm never angry at you, I'm angry at that..."
"Don't say it!"
Felix looked at her funny, "What?"
Salika sighed, "You really think she isn't listening?"
"Oh."
Salika sat down on the couch in the room, Felix sat next to her, "So little brother, what have you been up to?"
Felix shrugged, "Just the usual, pacing the room worrying about you, I did some writing in my journal."
"Good," Said Salika, she was happy he was writing, it made him happy. "Did anything interesting happen while I was gone?"
Felix glanced at her, "If anything did you know I wouldn't know."
Salika pursed her lips and began to run her claws through her tail, "Sorry."
"What were you doing while you were gone?"
Salika shrugged, "I...had to get some things."
Felix looked at her seriously, "What did you take?"
Salika frowned, "You sound like another tod I once knew."
Felix looked confused, "What?"
Salika shook her head, "Nothing. It doesn't matter." The two were silent for awhile, then Salika felt something, her eyes were misting, why? What did she have to cry about now? It didn't matter, she always did when she saw Felix.
He must have noticed because his arms were around her in an instant as she cried against his shoulder, she felt so helpless. And helpless was not something she enjoyed. "Don't worry sis, it'll be all right. I know it."
"How?" Salika said into his dampening shoulder.
"I know, just trust me. I have a good feeling."
"I'm glad."
"I know you are sis. I love you."
"I love you too."