Courage makes heroes, but trust builds friendship
13th of Helona
11 Years Earlier
Kaia's Log
Hell
"NO! STOP! YOU'RE HURTING HIM!" My voice rings out as a guard stands over a boy, no older than I; he stops and scowls.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" An awful voice screeches in my ears, a cringe trickles down my spine. "A slave who hasn't learned her place in the world?" Heavy boot falls stalk towards me, the way the predator stalks its prey one final time. "YOU DARE SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY!?"
Urine trickles down the scarred flesh of my leg, "Y-y-y-yes sir." His voice was powerful, taking the boldness I had prior and slashing it to pieces.
"YOU DARE DEFY ME YOU WELP?!" More substance falls from me, staining my clothes mixing everything together. Before I dare say anymore my throat is closed by a strong, iron grip; my lungs gasp from air instantly. With both feet kicking out, I claw at the hand trying to open my airway once more, my fingers stinging and bleeding from the labors of my day and my effort to live. "You listen to me and you listen well." His breath is so close I can smell the whiskey he had. "If you ever defy me again I will make every nerve ending in your body plead and beg for forgiveness. Do you understand me?" I can only nod as my vocal cords were beginning to crush and die. "Good. Here is a little reminder of this conversation."
With force my body is thrown, not tossed, but thrown with great force into the pile of refuse that was meant to be melted down for scrap. A metal shard makes its way to the top of the pile, nicking the thin material I was given for cloth, sticking through my left hand as I try to catch my fall. A shriek crawls through my mouth and into the air but no one looks, no one even make a sound of acknowledgement of my pain. A single tear rolls down my face as I sit there, blood seeping through my newly opened wound onto the rusted parts below. Little did I know this would be the first of many wounds to remind me of insubordination I would receive.
My eyes open wide as the memory clouds my vision, invisible pain reach down through the nervous system to my right hand; the scar pulsating rapidly. The scar was not big in size, having shrunk to my skin over the years, jagged looking, reminding me of how I can never make a full fist without pain. It was the first time I had stood for anyone other than my own, the feeling of injustice would not allow me to stay silent; it was also not the last time. The other scars begin to feel hot through my body. That boy, the one I had stood for that day was one I would stand for many more times, the boy I would never get to share a moment outside of Hell with; the one who haunts my dreams, encouraging my nightmares. He is the one I weep for when I am alone, the one I wish I could save.
23rd of Yelona
3 Years Earlier
Kaia's Log
Hell
Crack!
A sickening feeling takes hold of my body, blood pours from my mouth onto the metal shards I lay on below; the guard above me laughs as if he was told a funny joke. My two bottom ribs are broken, I can feel them poking into my stomach, tempting fate with a death of pure agony as they would puncture through causing everything to implode. Tears welled in my eyes but I had learned not to show the enemy of your weakness, it would make them stronger, more powerful; something they did not need. Every pain receptor in my body is on fire and multiple lashes of a whip breach the upper level of skin, leaving the wounds to inflame and bleed; my brain is ready to explode. I had done this to myself though, trying to save someone again from the mercilessness of the guards; someone I have saved before.
I look over to the unconscious boy, the first one I had saved, laying flat on the ground; a guard was walking towards the boy. I try to cry out, tell him to stop at the guard shakes the boy violently, his head snapping back and forth with such force I could not bear to watch any longer. The guard who has beating me mercilessly takes my broken jaw with his large, rough hand and jerks my head towards the incinerators; I can not even yelp in pain. I try to turn my head away, rather to take the beating than watch what the guard might do to the kid, the guard unsatisfied with my willingness takes his boot and encloses it within my already broken ribs; my eyes open wide at the sudden pain. The boy was still being shaken but he was regaining his conscientious now, the motion awakening him somehow; the smell of burning metal turns the guards attention to the burner; my eye go wide, head shaking against the weight of my guard. An idea was forming in his head, an idea that sends a smile onto his face; a smile of someone receiving a medal, a proud, sickening smile.
I can not control my tears any longer, begging with my eyes for him to do this unthinkable, unspeakable deed; spare the boy, for he did nothing. My windpipe is being held, not even a gasp can escape my throat as I can only watch, the green eyes I have become familiar with fluttering open; I try and close my eyes but find myself unable. The guard lifts his captive over his head now, the metal incinerator burning hotter than any other object I have ever encountered, the flame burning my skin slightly even from a distance away. Nothing runs through my mind as I watch, tears blurring my vision as he is slowly brought down to the molten metal below. Burning metal is replaced by burning flesh instantly; the smell revolts in my system, everything comes up.
Screams of something I have never witnessed penetrate my ears, half human, half demon explode with high decimals shredding what I had left of my hearing; but I can still hear his animalistic cries. The guard does not just drop him in but slowly lowers him into the metal, my senses are over loading, I can not even cry out as I wish him to stop this; wish it be me and not the boy. I am blinded by tears but can see the last image of the boy's eyes connecting with mine, the pain, pure pain expressed through his eyes shoots right passed me and into my heart; they burn into my soul. That is the last thing I see before he vanished into the substance below, the smell of charred flesh, flesh of a friend, makes me dry heave whatever I have remaining; my stomach feels as though it will come up my throat out to the cement below. I can feel my ribs scraping at it dangerously; it did not matter though, I just want to die.
With swift movement I am taken from the floor and throw into the metal surrounding the substance that killed my friend; my nose smells my flesh before I can feel the burn. Bounding off I land into the pile of metal below, shards sticking through my body at every angle; it did not amount to the pain my back was in. Spots flash before my eyes as the pain becomes unimaginable, a pain I have never felt and can not describe; it was a pain deeper than the wounds and burnt flesh. The spots become bigger until I am only left with a big void of darkness, awaiting me like an old friend.
Tears streak my face now, the gag becoming soaking wet; a salty taste hits my mouth. I never even got to know his name, he was an unknown boy to me yet he haunts me day and night. The ship jolts again making my chest heave as more tears pour down, I did not know why I was crying so hard but can not stop. Images of my time in hell flash before me, body burns with the pain of past wounds wanting to feel new again; my back burning almost to the point I can smell my flesh. His screams ringing in my ears and his green eyes look into my head, no matter how much I try and push them out they push back; haunting me of what I could not save. I could not even comfort myself, the restraints dangling me above the ground, the gag stopping my reassurance that I am ok even though I can feel I am not. I do not think I would ever be more than ok, always slipping back into Hell; feeling the heat and torture given to me by the demons who 'guard' us; it was a never ending cycle of torture.
9th of Kelona 0700
Captain Rex's Log
Kamino
"Her strategy is sloppy, weak." One of the bounty hunters, Bric comments as we watch Cadet Kaia run through the simulation. "She would surely get her squad killed."
"She just needs improvement, nothing more, she just started yesterday with a blaster." El-Les the other bounty hunter hired cuts him off. "She would make a fine addition to the Domino Squad."
Bric lets out a dry laugh, "Domino Squad? You can't be serious?" I look to both of them, confused, I was usually never on Kamino watching the cadets train. "They are the weakest squad I have ever seen, hell they should be sent to work with 99!"
"Maybe she will be the link they need!" El-Les, someone who never loses his temper, strides on.
"Let's have her run with Domino Squad to see how she does, if it works then keep her if not let's try Bravo squad." I interject, she was under my care after all. "Let me go give her a couple pointers before running an O-Course."
I leave them both to their arguing, the red light is shining warning everyone not to enter the range; it was dangerous with unskilled cadets; some of them get a little to trigger happy. Ignoring the warning though I walk right in, her blaster was set to stun so all I had to worry about was being immobile for a couple of minutes. Walking through the door, the sound of blaster fire brings back battles but also my own time here as a cadet; that was a long time ago. Her focus was strong, I will give her that, but her stance and hold on the weapon was not strong enough; she has the strength but her inexperience stops her. I take a blaster from the rack, drawing closer to her location, I do not even think she knows I am here the way she focuses down range at the single droid. Taking a knee I move into position, my sight down the barrel of the gun, with one breath I take a shot, dead center on the forehead; all firing ceases.
'You need to hold your weapon tighter, have more control. Feel the gun connecting to you, allow it to become an extension of you, like this." I show her the stance, left knee locks to the ground as my right foot cements. My right elbow locks to my side as my left guides the front of the gun where I should point; a straight shot follows. Kaia does not say a word but does her best to mock my movement, her right knee goes down but her left foot will not stay solid to the ground, her grip is loose on the gun as well; as though she can not tighten it anymore. "No, no like this." I walk over to her, reaching out to adjust her. "May I?" She nods, slowly but determined. "Since you're right handed your left foot should be planted to the ground like this, and your left arm should be out, holding the gun in place." I guide her body, feeling the growth of muscle and fat returning to her from the capsules we are making her take. "Your right knee should be firm and to the side of you, like a triangle for a steady stance, a little more. There!" It was odd touching her, I was use to moving soldiers like myself, same body structure but hers was different; something I was not use to. "Try and fire now."
With her new stance she looks down the sight of the barrel, her body slowly breathing as she tightens her grip on the weapon. It was almost the perfect stance, she would just need to be relaxed, something I know she would not be able to do at this time; she was to wired. Her blue eyes train down the range, suddenly she stops breathing, her finger slowly squeezing at the trigger; silence endures. Pride swells in me as I watch her stance, how quickly she takes direction and follows the orders given to her, like a true soldier without a doubt; she would make a fine addition to the Army. What would happen after her training though, that should only take roughly a year, if that, but General kenobi had said she would be with us for three years; whose command would she fall under, or would she stay here? I didn't really know why she was being trained or what the Jedi planned to do with her, I just followed my orders and hope to fight another day. Suddenly a blue flash comes for the barrel, her body jerks slightly but the blast hits the droid; not in a kill point but a damaging zone.
"Nice work!" Her face turns a shade darker, I realise now I am basically on top of her; our bodies touching now. "Right well come on then, time to meet your Squad. Double time Cadet!" Under my helmet my face was burning, I had not realized it but we were very close as she had taken the shot and the distance only closed as I congratulated her.
9th of Kelona 0830
Kaia's Log
O-Course
"Orders just relayed, mission objective to take and hold the LZ until help arr-"
"Shut up Echo we all heard the orders!" One of the other Cadets cut him off, I think his name was Fives.
"Just follow behind me boys!" One with the Z-6 Rotary gun fires off, droids fall at his feet as he moves. "Woo hoo!" He was having way to much fun with this.
The other two of the 'squad' had begun arguing as soon as mission orders were relayed, everything was in chaos; only making my fight instinct more powerful. I could not help it, the entire zone was making my head spin, the chaos and gun firing making my insides twitch with anxiety; I just want to punch something. I take a breath and fire my weapon, the recoil feeling as though someone had punched me, this was only making me feel more hostile; if I did not do something soon I would surely go crazy! I look for a way to escape, the arguing from the two clones on the ground growing stronger, the blasters firing left and right banging inside my head. With my heart pumping heavily, the blood pumping through my veins making every nerve want to run, fight.
"Hey idiot!" A voice rings in my ear, someone shoves me slightly. "Lets get a move on!"
"Do not touch me again." My voice is dark, a voice I only hear before an attack.
The clone with the Z-6 Rotary shoves me harder, "What are you going to do? You're nothing but a worthless slave trying to be a clone. How the fuck do the Jedi feel so confident in you when you'll just try to get us all killed along the way. Tell you what stand out of our way and we'll deal with this on ou-" HIs head flies back, my fist clenched tightly. "WHAT THE FUCK?!" He screams at me, throwing down his weapon. "Are you on drugs?!" His fists ball up before he takes a swing towards me, I dodge gracefully.
"I told you to not touch me." My voice was calm, almost deadly. I give another blow to his shoulder, damaging his armor. "But you didn't listen." Our bodies collide now, each fighting for dominance.
A fist lands on my helmet knocking me back slightly, I throw myself onto him; our bodies fall to the ground. He falls on top of me, his body crushing me slightly from his weight advantage and the armor he wears; mine does little to support his massive structure. His fist comes crashing down onto my helmet, it is knocked off with his blow; my mangled hair sprawls out to the ground. He goes into hit me a second time, I am ready however and take his arms throwing him off of me; I straddle him as he falls. Even though he is stronger I have the advantage of swiftness, nimbleness so as his back hits the floor below my hand is already coming down; knocking off his helmet. I give another blow, red trickles down his face after the sound of an audible crack fills my ears; a smirk rest on my mouth now.
Tension was releasing from me, I have been the calmest I have felt in a couple of days, every cell in my body relaxing with each instinctual movement. It was like being back in the ring, feeling the pressure of dominance cloud around me, to fight; to win. Another pressure quickly takes over on my upper torso, my body lifted off of the clone in a matter of seconds. I was fighting back, my eyes on the prize of getting to kick the crap out of this disrespectful clone, three pairs of hands hold me down. Each jerk and yank only causes a tighter grip on my body leaving me with an empty satisfaction as I watch the clone stand, wiping the blood from his mouth; his glare is not even among the 10 deadliest I've seen. I spit in his direction only to be jerked back, my spit missing his shoes by mere inches.
"What the fuck was that cadets?!" A stern, angry voice reaches my ears. Instinctively I cease all restraint I was giving, looking down shamefully to the side; not willing to meet the eyes of the voice. "Clear and hold the LZ that was your orders, clear the LZ from the droids not your squad mates!"
"Sir, this thing attacked me for no-"
"CT-782 did I ask you to speak? Actually did I tell you to interrupt your commanding officer?" Captain Rex interrupts, his voice cold and angry.
"N-No Sir!" The clone speaks, his cheeks red.
"She attacked you because she was provoked. It was uncalled for hostility and I will not even mention the things you had said to her." Captain Rex is in his face right now, I can see the spit flying. "And you…" He turns to me now, fear enters my body, I close my eyes ready to embrace the hit. Captain Rex sighs, "Look, I know you do not know a lot about teamwork but we do not assault your squad mates, no matter how much they deserve it in the middle of a fucking war zone ok?" His voice was calm, a complete 180 from what was spoken to CT-782, it was to calm for me.
"Sir you can hit me if you would like." I look down, still bracing for the kick to the or a punch to the face.
"What? Why would I hit you?"
"I was foolish and disrespectful Sir. It is what my Master would do when I became out of line. You can do it later to if you do not want me to be braced for the impact."
"That deserves a yell, cool down period but not a physical attack." I look up to see everyone staring at me weirdly, as if seeing me for the first time. Captain Rex sighs, "Ok cadets, clear out but the next time I do not want this to happen again. Are we clear?"
"Yes Sir!"
9th of Kelona 1645
Kaia's Log
Barracks
I go flying across the room, my back hitting up against a locker with great force, a groan escapes my lips. The blood from my nose leaves drips through the white floor, staining my garments as well. The blood reaches my senses, a lust for a kill strikes my bones, I can feel my muscles growing and anticipating a fight. With fists raised I head back over to the five clones standing around in a circle, one looks nervous, two look tired, another looks like he's enjoying this, and then my eyes turn to the final one. His smirk reaches halfway across his face, he had a score to settle from our previous encounter in the O-course; oh it is so one now bitch.
I take a swing at his shoulder, not a lethal punch but just trying to catch him off guard, he avoids my attack going to drive me into the lockers once more. Gracefully, and swiftly I counteract his movement by taking my arm and locking onto his, slamming him into the lockers this time; I felt alive, more alive, more powerful with my movements. The pills they had given me to 'boost my immune system and get my body back in shape', where helping a lot; I was more alert, more focused, stronger and faster. CT-872, I believe, grunts out before taking me and shoving us both backward into the lockers behind, a giant clanging rings in my ears as my body is crushed by his. Stupid clone, why did he have to go and catch me off guard, I grind my teeth shoving him off of me to place us back into standard position. Why the fuck was I even off my guard in the first place?! I scold myself at this, because this is what happens when you left your guard down; people try to attack you.
His fist lands right into my sternum, a heart wrenching sounds comes from my lungs as the wind is knocked out of them; my ribs only slightly healed give way quickly. Pain shoots through my body now as my lower ribs break once more, a sickening sound echos through the small circle formed. I clench my jaw now, pissed off and ready to end this little dance we had done, if he thinks he can be the alpha male he has another thing coming. There was no energy from before to surround me but I didn't need it, I was faster and stronger than I have been in years, it was a disadvantage towards the clones but frankly I did not give a fuck about him. To be honest I did not give a shit about anyone I had met in the past 2 weeks of my miserable life, they were people who held me away from my Master, forcing me to attack because they didn't give a shit on what I had done for my life; it was all just stupid. My fingers dig into my palm, arm shaking beyond control, I attack.
Left arm to the face, his head flies back at the speed. Right leg to the right knee joint, his body digs to the right at the impact. I blow his weak attempt at a face shot with my left arm, it bounces off me feebly. My right elbow attacks the right side of his face, I can hear the crunch of his jaw dislocating from the mantle. My body felt good, felt alive as I watch my enemy go downwards. With one quick, swift punt from my right leg to his ribs, not enough to break them but enough to bruise, I watch as the clone gasps for breath. Every live nerve in my system is yelling, urging me to kill this clone were he lies, to put him and others around him in his place, my head and heart yearning for last blood as his entire face is swelling and dribbling down with blood; the black eye from earlier showing. My right foot climbs up to just above his head, the tingles to urge me along with what my body only felt naturally right to do; my foot falls with great intensity.
CRACK!
My eyes make contact with the clones, his eyes glazed over as his last thing he saw was my foot coming down in his head. I take my foot away, slowly placing it back beside me, my body at full peace with the damage down. Blood from both sides come together, forming a pool of both slave and clone blood, it looks the same from where I said but the origin of the blood is different; it didn't matter now. Stepping back slightly I look up to see the immobilized faces of the clone's 'brothers', looks of fear, anger, and death shadow over them all. I shrug, it meant no difference to me where they died or lived, I pick up the bandage wrap by my side; my ribs would need to be treated if I would ever want them to heal. Taking what I need I place it back down on the bench that sits only inches away, luckily placed in a location that was not disruptive to the blood shed.
I look back down to the clone now, "Pity, and here I thought we were becoming good friends." I walk away, shoving the four clones standing out of my way; none try to stop me. My footsteps dragging me far from the clones, the weapons, the armor, even the dent in the locker right next to the clone on the ground; the one that was meant for his head.
Hey Ya'll. So whatcha think? Kaia really does not get along well with others does she, but hey at least she didn't kill Hevy am I right? Anyways you know what to do comment, PM, and/or follow! Thanks!