YAY! Another chapter!! R&R cuz I have writer's block!!



IV
The Fight Has Only Just Begun

(10 Years Later...)

Her hands ached. Why did they always ache now? Their joints cracked loudly as they moved. Swar removed her hands from the keyboard, wincing. She wasn't old enough to be having bone pain... Although, a large number of scholars got swollen tendons, or inflamed joints in their hands from all the writing and typing they did. Rubbing her forehead, she leaned forward to peer at the screen before her. Translating had always been one of her best subjects. But this was tedious.
The language this passage had been written in was older than anything Swar had experienced before. She'd had to turn to the more recent languages for root words, backtracking and going over different words again to see if the sentences were making any sense. In the archaic language it was written in, the bizarre piece rhymed. But in their current form of speech, it was hideous sounding, not flowing at all. Sighing, she re-read what she now had to herself, biting her lip.
"Under the watchful eyes of jade,
An invader will fall to those he once slew
The race becomes victims of their own enslaving doom
But out of the ashes...
A dead Kaalae will rise."
That alone had taken her an entire month. No wonder her hands ached. "A dead Kaalae..." Swar mused, massaging the aching joints. "A poem...? Really old if it is..." Now she tipped backwards in her chair, glancing up at the clock in the silent hall. Scholars worked in huge buildings called Universities. There were five in Irk's capitol alone. Each scholar had their own little office area, where they could store whatever projects they were working on and what tools they needed for various tasks. Few actually worked in their offices. Most of them preferred the open halls lined with books and small tables with comfortable chairs. Windows were placed near the tiled ceilings to let light in, though each table had a spherical lamp at each end. There were so many books, real books, that the shelves they were on often times ran all the way up to just below the windowsills. Hover disks were readily available to for those who needed to reach those shelves that could not be reached by robotic legs alone.
Now Swar massaged her forehead, not taking any comfort in the warm brown tones the University was decorated in. It was almost quitting time. For the first time since she could remember, Swar Aman was more than ready to get out of here. Normally, she was too wrapped up in her project to even notice the moons were shining through the windows. She cracked her wrists, daydreaming. Once she got out of here, Regert had asked her to come see him at his apartment. Unusual for him. She was usually the one who arranged these things. "Mmmm..." Another sigh. "Can't wait..."
"For what?"
Her antennae twitched. "How long were you back there?"
"A while," Tolia Aman laughed, sliding into a seat across from Swar. Swar's former student grinned across the table at her, tan eyes blending with the rest of her clothing and the hall around her. Tolia was Kasden's replacement. The student assigned to Swar after Kas had become Tallest. She'd been eight, and now, ten years later, was on her own as an assistant to the Tallest whenever they needed research on something. Swar barely ever saw her.
"Tolia Aman! How have you been? I haven't seen you since word got around about this Impending Dooky or Doom or whatever they're calling it started being planned," the elder Aman chuckled. "Why don't you ever contact me?"
"No time, no time," Tolia sighed, casually leaning her chin on the backs of her palms. "Everyone's so busy... running around like rat people with no heads. Students are even being taken along in this Armada of theirs. There's all kinds of chatter going the Barracks lately. Soldiers are competing to see which ones are worthy of being Invaders..." Fingers as delicate as Swar's massaged their owner's forehead. "It's one big blasted free-for-all down there..."
Swar smiled shrewdly at her old student. "You knew what the job entailed, Tolia, when the boss gave you the option." She closed the book she was using wearily. "You have the time, Tol?"
Tan eyes flicked to the chrono-band on her wrist. "You're off now, Swar," Tolia replied, getting to her feet. "Eager to leave for once... unusual for you."
"Unusual for any of us," the other muttered, busying herself with placing the items she'd been using into her satchel. Every scholar had one. It contained their work and tools from that day, as well as the books they needed. It was usually kept in their offices during the off-hours, but some took theirs home to work, if extra time was required. Slinging it over her too-thin shoulders, Swar rose, once again cracking her wrists. "I have a date with Regert Shrig, though Tolia. You remember him?"
Tolia nodded. "The one who's student was killed... yes, I do."
"He invited me to his apartment."
"Ah... well, I won't keep you Teacher."
Swar embraced her student, happy to have seen her again. "I hope you keep your sanity up there, Tol."
"So do I, Swar... So do I."

Traffic was its usual nightmare. Insane drivers should be kept off the road, in Swar's opinion. Finding Regert's building was never any trouble, even for an Irken who had a particularly lousy sense of direction such as herself. It was two blocks away from West Jihi, looming over the rest of the buildings in the immediate area. She parked up on the roof, like the other tenants and their guests, right between a red voot runner and a gray one. To the right of the gray voot, were four others; one magenta, one orange, one that was half a weird green and half a dark blue and the last voot was a dark green. Swar climbed out gracefully. Apparently it wasn't only her Regert had called in. All her thoughts of a romantic evening left her head as she approached the elevator and was met with the cool gray eyes of an Irken already inside.
"I was supposed to watch for you. That way no one would suspect you weren't you and jump you," the eyes' owner said in a light tone.
"How gallant of you," Swar replied, mimicking his tone. After a moment of gray eyes meeting light blue, the owner of the gray eyes laughed, causing Swar to smile. "Min Kaalae! What under Irk's sun do you think you're doing?"
Ten years had seen the once little Min changed greatly. Standing at three feet, six inches, he was taller than both Swar and his old surrogate teacher Kaml. Where there was once a soft, quizzical naivety, his eyes were harder, colder somehow than they had been. Yet, they still retained that softness, which made for an odd contrast. On his own, he was fully capable of caring for himself, being strong for himself... he had matured greatly since Wikki's death and his teacher's banishment. Like Jendai, Min had become quite a powerhouse when he was needed. And it never showed otherwise. "I'm scaring the green out of you," he grinned, his voice a light baritone now.
Impulsively, the scholar wrapped her arms around him, aware he was taller than she. It was so good to see him. "Sweet Mother, Min..." she muttered. "How long's it been?"
"Oh, only a few years or so, Swar." She could almost hear him blushing. "C'mon down, don't gush out here in the open. Irk, if you think I changed... you should see Lidge." He escorted her into the elevator, gloved finger pressing the button to take them down to the floor below them. "You'll be amazed when you see everyone again."
That was something Swar regretted. Since the burial, she'd only seen Regert-and even then rarely, asking him how the others were doing and such things. Both of them had felt it best to go back to the way things were, avoid any messes that might have come back, albeit it hurt them to be apart so much. "I heard about Lidge," Swar admitted. "How tall exactly IS she? Regert always seems to exaggerate."
Min chuckled. "Only about half an inch taller than him, and not growing anymore," he answered with a sly grin. "Why? What's that lardball saying?"
Despite Regert's loss of weight, the remarks about his previous appearance were still apparent in West Jihi. Many of them had been started by Regert himself. He'd gained most of it back, in what some felt was an effort to live up to the jokes and rumors. Swar sighed. "He said she was eight inches, not seven and a half... that's it..." she mumbled to her feet. She felt suddenly depressed, thinking of the past. As if noticing her mood, Min put his hand on her shoulder comfortingly.
"Don't worry about him, Swar..." he said with a soft smile. "We brought ahki for most of us, vinel for those who want something less alcoholic, and lastly..." Min paused for a dramatic effect, something he was quite good at. "A fairly good bottle of amrinae for you, Miss Aman."
"Very good!" Swar gave Min her arm. "Take me to this party, Min Kaalae."
They exited the elevator, heading down the long hall. Min moved strangely, as if he were attempting to mask his footsteps. Something about his movements made Swar nervous. What was he doing? He cast a glance at her, imploring her to copy him. Unnerved, Swar did so. There was something odd going on... At Regert's door, rather than buzzing the vidcam, Min knocked in a bizarre rhythm. Seconds later, the door slid open, Min pulling Swar hastily inside.
Frightened, the scholar let out a little yelp, her antennae falling down. It was pitch-black inside, all window shades were drawn and no lights were on. Even the hum of the apartment's master computer was absent. She was frightened. Someone supported her, their arms tightly around her waist. "Is everyone here?" asked her supporter. Regert.
"Now we are," answered Kaml's voice from the blackness. A single, battery-operated lamp came on, glowing brightly in the orange-eye's grasp. In the sudden illumination, Swar could see the faces of all who were here. Kaml, Min, Regert, Lidge, Shil, Cerol, a few faces Swar had never seen and one she'd hoped not to see again. Gymar Karre was leaning against the far wall, deformed antennae pricked with a slight interest. Beside him, his arms folded lazily, was a merchant, his eyes a light red in the semi-darkness. The badge on his shirt marked him for a distributor of weapons. Most of the familiar Irkens were seated at the table, and on Min's lap was a small, turquoise-eyed female who couldn't have been more than four. The next Kaalae... Swar thought. Lidge was at the head of the table, as her new height demanded. Now the boss of West Jihi, the magenta-eyed female had a definite air of authority over this gathering. Shil sat beside Cerol, who had just barely passed out of her care. At three feet, four inches, Cerol was average height for an Irken, but with his one blind eye, he was an imposing figure. Having changed his uniform to half blue, half milky green, he looked almost as if he were an entity of clashing forces. Neither Kaml nor Regert had changed, Swar observed as she was seated beside her red-eyed lover.
It was only then that Swar noticed the Soldier among them. She nearly leapt to her feet and screamed, if Lidge had not noticed her horror. "This, Swar Aman, is-as he calls himself-" Lidge looked to the Soldier for conformation.
"Hiaki," the Soldier said, rising grandly. He was stockier than Regert had been and rather short, about three foot, one inch, if anyone could guess. His uniform was crisp, freshly washed. All in all, he looked respectable, if you disregarded his height.
Swar blinked. "Hiaki... 'traitor' in the old language..." the scholar mused, dazedly. "Interesting choice of names."
"I was told by Rael you would know the meaning of my choice, Swar Aman," Hiaki said, smirking slightly. "I am a traitor to my Class, because I have chosen, like Rael, to aid yours."
"Aid mine? My Class needs no help from yours." Swar stared defiantly into Hiaki's red eyes, her own narrowed.
Hiaki looked surprised. "She doesn't know?" he asked, turning to Lidge. "I was under the impression you told her."
"Told me what!?" Swar cried. She was confused and frightened even more than before. What was happening? Why where all these Irkens here? Why was the power off? Trembling, she grasped Regert's hand. "What is going on here?!"
Silence fell. A few shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Against the wall, the merchant locked eyes with Gymar, rolling the red pools slightly in exasperation at Swar's ignorance. Lidge especially looked ill at ease. Her antennae flicked. "Ah," she began, seeming unsure of herself. "Swar..."
She got to her feet. "Lidge," the scholar replied dangerously. "What in the name of Irk is going on here?"
"Uprising," Regert said, his voice coming ominously from behind Swar. She spun to face him, confused. His face was impassive. "Uprising, Swar."
"What... what do you mean?" Swar was terrified now. Uprising!? She felt the wall against her back pod and realized she'd been backing away from the table the whole time. The rest of them were on their feet now, some concerned, others annoyed. Shadows played across green faces, turning them into strange, almost demon faces one only saw in nightmares. "What do you mean!?" Swar cried, feeling panicked tears swell in her eyes.
Cerol stepped up, trying to look gentle and only succeeding in terrifying Swar further. He retreated when she sank to her knees with another cry. Min tried, kneeling before her after passing the turquoise-eyed female to Lidge. The gray eye took Swar's hands, moving slowly so as not to startle the scholar. "Swar..." he began. Of all the Irkens in that room, it took the one she had known the least well to calm her. The one she had held in her arms. "Dear Swar... I... I don't know how to tell you this... especially after no one else could..." Min's baritone was strained. "You, of all Irkens, should know... how much has been done to our Class."
"How much Soldiers have done," Kaml muttered, only to be silenced by a look from Shil.
"We've had it, Swar," continued Min. "All of us. The rest of the Class too. Irk, even a few Soldiers don't like it." Hiaki nodded in agreement. "That's why... that's why we're... rising up. Against the Tallest and Soldiers. Until things change..."
Swar fainted.

"We shouldn't have broken this to her like that, Lidge," Min muttered into his knees. He sat against the wall of Regert's living room, shrouded in semi-darkness, knees drawn up to his chest. It was necessary to cut the power to the apartment for this meeting, as you had no idea who could be listening in on the conversations via tele-communications, or any other simple device. "We scared her too badly."
Onial Beke, the weapons merchant with light red eyes, shot Min a glare from his position on the other side of the room. "Scholars," he sniffed in a superior tone. "They're weak to begin with. Staying shut inside with those 'books' all day." He rolled his eyes. "Don't have any life experience."
"Bet she'd faint if she saw a picture of a slaughtering rat person," Gymar agreed, raising his ahki in salute to Onial.
"Both of you shut your mouths before I get over there and do it with my welding torch," Lidge snapped, her eyes flashing from her seat in one of Regert's armchairs. "Min's right, you two imbeciles know it. We shouldn't have done that. And did any of you stop to think what that meant to her? Her first student is Almighty Tallest." Now Lidge's words were directed at Min. "Against the Tallest, my green arse! That's probably why she fainted! Poor thing... Min, that's like you fighting Pira there."
At the mention of her name, the little turquoise-eyed female stopped what she was doing and looked up, leaning against Min's side. In her hands was a datapad and pen. Across the pad was a sketch of her teacher, Min Kaalae. No one noticed it much. Hardly any Irkens had a desire to be artistic, and those who did went unnoticed by the general population. Min noticed her. That was all Pira needed right now. Her teacher patted her head, then answered Lidge. "I was only trying to help. I forgot about Kasden. All right? You, Kam, Regert... all of you had years more experience with her situation than me. How was I supposed to know how she'd react?"
"I know you were Min," said Cerol. He sat against Lidge's chair, blind eye standing out eerily in the dimness. The dead pool looked to be moving about the room, attracted to invisible things. Under its gaze, the Students shifted uncomfortably. Sometimes, it looked as if it were gazing right through you. Cerol was an Irken of few words, but when he did say things, they were said with a bizarre, utter finality which some found more frightening than his eye. "So do most of us."
Kaml had stayed quiet through all this, lost in thought. So much had changed... He looked over at Lidge briefly. The mechanic was immensely proud of his student. She was so tall, so very tall. She'd begun berating Onial and Gymar again, as they'd been making hissed comments about Cerol's odd behavior. Those close to him knew it as normal by now. Cerol was silent about the whole thing, just calmly watching them. Feeling suddenly tired, he stretched out on Regert's thickly padded sofa, letting his orange eyes shut. None of them knew how long it would take for Swar to awaken. It was necessary for her to be alert and calm before they could tell her their plan. The only reason they were going to ask Swar's aid was because of her attachment to Regert. If they hadn't, he thought with a smirk, she would have forced it out of the ex-boss.

"I think she's coming around... Swar? Swar, you in there?"
The scholar groaned, turning over in the bed. Her eyelids fluttered weakly, then fell closed and stayed that way. Someone held a glass to her lips. "Drink, Love... It's amrinae..." Regert's voice, calming her. She did so, feeling strength return as the wine worked through her. A quiet movement as someone put the glass down. "There..."
"How are you feeling?" a new voice, more crisp, drilled.
Swar could only groan again in response. Her head ached, throbbing in rhythm to her pulse. Something cool was placed against her forehead. "Where... am I?" she mumbled drowsily.
"My apartment, Love," Regert's voice answered out of the darkness. She felt him take her hand. "Are you okay?"
"My head..."
A sharp prick in her arm. Someone had accessed a med unit. Shil spoke up somewhere. "You were in shock, Swar..." the small mechanic sounded embarrassed. "Sorry we scared you so bad back there..." The pain was easing from the drug Shil had injected. "We thought you knew more than you did, apparently."
Swar forced her eyes to open. A battery-powered lamp was on, emitting a soft amber light that actually comforted her pained blue eyes. She was in Regert's bed-a place she'd slept more than often-with the blankets wrapped tightly around her slight scholarly frame. The red-eyed mechanic sat beside her, clasping his hands around one of hers. Shil hovered over the bed, batter-powered med unit in her hand, her dark eyes flickering with worry for Swar. Beyond her, the Soldier Hiaki leaned against the wall, a casual air about him. As before, she couldn't stop herself from cringing at the sight of the red and black striped uniform. Regert put his hand around her waist, letting it rest on her lower back, supporting Swar like a child. She leaned on him gladly, still slightly frightened by this business. Shil sat down beside her. "I... tell me what's happening..." the Aman ordered. "I'm more rational now..."
The door slid open. Framed in the lamplight were the remaining Irkens. Silently, the group flowed in, the child clinging to Min's hand. When her turquoise eyes came to rest on Swar, they lit up. Min glanced down at her, then to Swar, and back to the child. He nodded. The child approached Swar timidly before crawling up into her lap. Innocence radiated from the brilliant eyes. "Hello," Swar murmured, smiling faintly at her. "Who are you, little one?"
"M'Pira..." she responded, tipping her head to the side slightly. "Teacher Kaalae says you're Swar Am'en."
"That's Aman, Pintsize," Min corrected gently, leaning against the wall a fair distance from Hiaki. The Soldier didn't seem to notice. Lidge stood beside him, her arms folded over her chest in an easy authority. The others dispersed themselves in any available spot that would provide a good view of the main conversation. "She's Tallest Purple's teacher."
Now there was wonder where there was once innocence. "Wow..." Her small hands clutched at Swar's arm. The Scholar found herself unconsciously relaxing and hugging Pira in return for the clasp on the arm. Pira wiggled comfortably. "I like you..." was all she said.
Lidge made herself more comfortable against the wall, folding her arms. "What do you want to know, Swar?" she asked. "We'll answer anything."
"How on Irk do you morons think you can pull this off?"
The others stared, stunned by the force of the scholar's question. For a moment, there was silence. "That's where Onial and Hiaki come in," Lidge responded. "Onial's supplier has agreed to supply the Uprisers with the weapons we require, and Hiaki will provide necessary inside information." There was something in Lidge's eyes that almost dared Swar to find a flaw in their plans. She looked cocky.
The battle had begun.
"How exactly do you propose to fight the Soldiers? We have no training, no idea how do use the weapons they have access to." Her eyes narrowed. They dared Lidge right back.
"Hiaki and Rael can train us. Not to mention Min, for hand-to-hand," came the answer. "We'll use weapons that won't kill unless they have to."
Off to the side, Shil muttered something about being above the Soldiers for that reason only. This earned her a glare from the more radical members of the group, while Kaml moved closer to her protectively. Cerol's blind eye kept any comments from coming.
"What about wounded? You can be sure the Soldiers won't be so generous with our lives, or that med workers won't notice blaster wounds and turn us in."
"We've already begun setting up secret medical centers in empty robotics facilities and the like," Lidge countered. "The med workers who'll be there are Uprisers themselves and won't turn any wounded in."
Swar hissed to herself. She was losing to this self proclaimed Upriser and she knew it. There had to be some way to make them see reason... to make them stop this madness before it began. "You'll all be recognized if you fight them. They'll recognize you and turn you in and you'll be killed for treason," she hissed.
"We've countered that as well," Lidge replied, the smug look decreasing at Swar's hiss, but hovered below her surface. "If we all look alike, then there's no way they can be recognized and caught."
"Which is where my idea comes in," said Gymar. He looked at Swar, his gaze appraising her once more. The oily smile of ten years past returned to his face. "My dear Swar Aman, we are now working on black contacts and garments for all who are willing to fight for our cause."
"The Tallest won't stand for this!"
"Why are you fighting this Swar?!" Lidge cried, frustrated. "After all they've done to us, to Jendai, to Regert, to Wikki, to your STUDENT Swar! I'd have thought you'd jump at the chance to take revenge!"
"This isn't my revenge, Lidge Tikem!" the scholar snapped. "All this... is your revenge for things that never concerned me! You're asking me, all of you are, to get involved in something that could kill everyone I love and destroy everything I care about. What are you trying to do here?! This can't just be a simple revenge! You don't take hundreds of innocents into battle for one life!" She was crying. "What madness is this...?"
Regert took her in his arms. In her lap, the previously silent Pira reached out for Min, knowing the female she'd been with needed someone different to comfort her. She was lifted by confident, gray-clad arms. "Love..." he murmured. "Nothing will happen to Kasden... Nothing. I promise you... Kasden will be all right..." She could barely hear him through her confusion. Why was this happening...?
"They released Sen from prison," Hiaki spoke up, scanning the ground. "Rael told me so. The Tallest need his protection in the Armada they are preparing." He looked up suddenly. "This meaning, they have gone back on their word to Rael that he would stay locked up permanently." Red eyes bore into Swar. "Guard Sen was the mind behind the genetic defects in Student Hatcheries."
That was it. That was what pushed these otherwise sane Students to this madness. Swar found it hard to believe this. To believe her Kasden would go back on his word like that. Her vision blurred. The final thing she could recall was Regert supporting her as everything spun out of control and shattered into irreparable pieces.

Swar was unconscious again. Needless to say, this made insulting her goodness of heart easy for Onial and Gymar. Those two... Regert was with her now, as was Lidge. The rest of the group was back inside the apartment, drinking, eating, sleeping or conversing amongst themselves. Min was putting Pira to bed in Regert's guest room, trying to keep her away from what he knew was going to be a long night of curses, alcohol and plans of possible horror that did not-and should not-concern her. Smart of him, Kaml thought, leaning his hand on a cupped palm. The elbow of the supporting hand rested on the railing of the balcony where he now stood, cool night air ruffling his antennae. Probably the best thing about Regert's apartment was its size. He could easily slip away from all that madness in there.
The balcony's peace contrasted sharply with those imbeciles in there, Kaml decided, gazing down at the bustling city streets. Upsetting poor Swar like that just so they could gain her aid... Like she would have any information on how to contact Tallest Purple anyway. Lidge should have known better than to reopen that wound. Everyone knew that when-if-your student became Tallest, you weren't allowed to speak with them again. No one knew who'd started that rule. It didn't even make any sense. What did they think would happen? The old teacher would convince the student to step down? He shrugged. Laws weren't his thing. Tikems were much better with working through machines than they were laws. He fingered the mechanic-black collar he wore as this went through his mind.
What was going to happen to them now? How much would this business change their lives? How many would die for the sake of change...?
It was nearing the middle of the night now, temperature taking a drastic drop. High above him, riding in the black sky, the stars glittered down, safe multicolored diamonds all Irkens looked to for comfort. Kaml focused on the moons now. They were thin, slender crescents, the smallest of them all but invisible. The darkness shrouded most of the city, although the lights shone through. Voots of both Classes wove through the huge buildings. It was beautiful, to Kaml's orange Irken eyes.
How much of this would be destroyed...?
Someone opened the door behind him, letting the raucous voices of Gymar and Onial to break his solitude for a brief instant before the door was shut once more. There was a soft tap of boots as he was approached. "Kam?" Shil questioned, placing a small hand on his arm. "How're you?"
"I'm thinking, Shil," was all that would come. Kaml hoped he didn't sound harsh. "About... what might happen... once all this gets started." He gestured randomly out over the grand city that had been named the capitol of their planet. "How much is going to be destroyed..."
"Hopefully not much," Shil replied, coming to stand beside him. At her height, the railing was almost at eye level. "I love it here just as much as you, Kam. This place... it's all us Irkens have right now... well, this and Conventia... and that food planet. But this... this is Irk."
He nodded. "We'll make sure not too much gets obliterated, right Shil?"
This made her laugh. Kaml had to smile at her. Shil had the most infectious laugh of all the Irkens at West Jihi. "As long as that Solider's friends don't get too trigger happy," she grinned. "all this..." Shil's tiny gloved hand swept grandly across the view. "won't change a bit. On the outside at least."
"And on the inside...?" he asked, gently taking the hand that had demonstrated the wonder of their city.
Shil's blush was hidden by the darkness. She moved an imperceptive step closer to Kaml, grasping his other hand and laughing brightly at his wide eyes. "On the inside, Kaml Tikem," she murmured, almost shyly. It was his turn to move a little closer. "On the inside..." Somehow, she was inches away from the orange-eye. It was almost hard to speak with Kaml this close. "Everything... will... be..." His arms were around her, hers around him. Mother of Irk he was tall... "different..." Shil murmured, looking up into glowing orange eyes.
"Better...?" Kaml was whispering too, leaning his head down as far as he could while Shil craned her upward.
"Yes..." The one word was a promise, a longing, a hope and a desire all rolled into one single syllable. Once that syllable had left the air, its echoes dying away in the dark air, Kaml kissed Shil. It was almost tentative, then grew stronger and more powerful. Almost a guilty kiss. As if they knew that two should not begin to love during such troubling times... Yet they continued.
From behind the thin pane of the guest room window, Min's gray eyes absorbed the scene before him. A smile was on his face. No matter how much changed... Kaml and Student emotions were still the same. That was all he asked for. He glanced down at little Pira sleeping in his arms. The next little Kaalae... Min had to keep things as stable as possible for her sake. For everyone's sake. That was what Irkens looked to the Kaalaes for. Leadership, guidance, stability. That was his duty to his race.
And that was one thing he wasn't sure if he could give them.


Sorry that was so short... and boring... The next chapter will be longer... and have more action!!