Just A Kludge
By Rommie
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Tyr, Harper, or any of the others from the Andromeda Universe.
He was just a Kludge.
A worthless human. He was also just a child. Maybe everyone else, like Hunt, saw him as an adult, but I judged him by his behavior, not his age. His enthusiasm, joy, and sheer power to annoy, are what made him a child in my eyes. A brilliant child, who saved my life more than once. But still just a Kludge.
So why did I make him a promise? Why did I insist on keeping it? Why did I kill him?
Maybe because, isolated as I am from my people, I felt as though he was part of my pride. A young brother perhaps. And his bravery in the face of his worst fear made me respect him. The boy stood and fought against the Magog, pushing back his terror.
I should have protected him better. Or I should have told him to hide in the conduits. Instead, I let the Magog beasts capture us both. I let us become infected with their eggs.
When the boy asked me to kill him before the eggs hatched, I responded that I would without thinking for a moment. I suppose I believed that Trance would find a way to remove the larvae before they hatched. If I had known theretruly was no hope, perhaps I wouldn't have promised him so quickly.
When the time came, he asked that I take him to the Observation Deck. He said he wanted to see the stars one last time. I helped him sit upright and look at them. After a moment he pointed to one. "That's earth."
"Your home," I replied.
"Nah. Andromeda is home," he gasped out, short of breath. "The Maru used to be. But this is now." The boy let out a short gasp of pain and clutched his stomach. "You promised," he pleaded.
I nodded and stood. I helped him lay flat on the bench. "I promised," I said as I powered my weapon.
The boy looked up at me and smiled slightly. "Thanks, Tyr."
I closed my eyes as I prepared to shoot, but then opened them. I would look him in the eyes as I killed him. He deserved that honor. I met his gaze and fired. His body jerked for a moment, then stilled. A small smile graced the boy's face.
I don't know why I gathered him in my arms, but I did. The others found us that way. The boy's limp and cold body gathered in my arms, his shirt damp from my tears. I know why they cried, but not why I did. He was just a Kludge.
He was just a Kludge.
THE END
By Rommie
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Tyr, Harper, or any of the others from the Andromeda Universe.
He was just a Kludge.
A worthless human. He was also just a child. Maybe everyone else, like Hunt, saw him as an adult, but I judged him by his behavior, not his age. His enthusiasm, joy, and sheer power to annoy, are what made him a child in my eyes. A brilliant child, who saved my life more than once. But still just a Kludge.
So why did I make him a promise? Why did I insist on keeping it? Why did I kill him?
Maybe because, isolated as I am from my people, I felt as though he was part of my pride. A young brother perhaps. And his bravery in the face of his worst fear made me respect him. The boy stood and fought against the Magog, pushing back his terror.
I should have protected him better. Or I should have told him to hide in the conduits. Instead, I let the Magog beasts capture us both. I let us become infected with their eggs.
When the boy asked me to kill him before the eggs hatched, I responded that I would without thinking for a moment. I suppose I believed that Trance would find a way to remove the larvae before they hatched. If I had known theretruly was no hope, perhaps I wouldn't have promised him so quickly.
When the time came, he asked that I take him to the Observation Deck. He said he wanted to see the stars one last time. I helped him sit upright and look at them. After a moment he pointed to one. "That's earth."
"Your home," I replied.
"Nah. Andromeda is home," he gasped out, short of breath. "The Maru used to be. But this is now." The boy let out a short gasp of pain and clutched his stomach. "You promised," he pleaded.
I nodded and stood. I helped him lay flat on the bench. "I promised," I said as I powered my weapon.
The boy looked up at me and smiled slightly. "Thanks, Tyr."
I closed my eyes as I prepared to shoot, but then opened them. I would look him in the eyes as I killed him. He deserved that honor. I met his gaze and fired. His body jerked for a moment, then stilled. A small smile graced the boy's face.
I don't know why I gathered him in my arms, but I did. The others found us that way. The boy's limp and cold body gathered in my arms, his shirt damp from my tears. I know why they cried, but not why I did. He was just a Kludge.
He was just a Kludge.
THE END