Personally, I think this chapter is gory.. but.. well, you decide for yourself.
V
Just a Freedom Fighter, No Remorse...?
It had started out as a routine, late afternoon patrol of the area. Nothing special. Just a patrol, something any Soldier was glad to do. It got one out of the confines of the barracks. In casual formation, the full squad from South Shakra marched down one of the walkways reserved for those patrolling Irk's streets. Their leader, Rikea at their head. Things would have gone fine, if the smallest of their ranks had not tripped.
His blunder caused a something of a domino effect in the ranks, an effect which caused Rikea to become the bottom of the pile. Her cry of rage made the tiny Soldier freeze in horror. What had he done...? "WHO IS RESPONSIBLE!?" the captain shouted, kicking her squad off her. "WHO!? Report to me NOW!" There was an insane frenzy in her eyes that made even the bravest Irken back away.
"Him!" one of the heavier members of the squad reported, a gloved finger jabbing in Zim's direction. For a moment, the little one could only freeze, petrified beyond reason of his superior's wrath. Then it dawned on him. He was sprawled on the ground, like the rest of his squad, but behind him... Zim turned his head. A Student stood there, gazing down at the squad with startled yellow-green eyes. The Student, a male, wore the uniform of a robotics engineer and was scrawnier than most of the Students Zim had come across. It occurred to him, that this was the Irken Rikea would hold responsible for her humiliation. "It was that Student, Rikea Sir!"
"That's CAPTAIN RIKEA, Skoodge!" Rikea barked, glaring at the overweight Irken. "And for that insult, you maggot, you're running laps for an hour!"
Skoodge hid his disgust. A wise move, in Zim's opinion.
"As for YOU, you pathetic Stoooodent!" Now her anger was focused on the unfortunate engineer. Her hand went for her blaster. "You are NOT authorized to be here! What do you think you're doing!?" The blaster came out.
The Student froze, holding up his tools in explanation. He'd obviously been repairing one of the robots that monitored this walkway. If Rikea noticed, she didn't show it. The blaster remained in direct line with the engineer's head.
"ANSWER ME!" Rikea barked. "Answer me NOW or you'll regret keeping your stinking noise tube shut!"
"Re-re-repairs..." the Student stammered, shaking. His antennae fell down in submission. "The-the secur-security was... b-broken... I-I-was a-assigned this... by-by-by my sup-superior!" His trembling had gotten so bad his antennae swayed on his head, their motion a blur of black.
By now, the squad was on its feet, hands menacingly on their weapons. They had formed a circle around the unfortunate Irken and were leering smugly. Zim stood beside Skoodge, barely an inch shorter than the hefty Irken, almost trembling himself. Too vivid were the images in his mind from the last time his Squad had done something resembling this. What confused him to no end though, was why this mattered to him so much. He had matured greatly during his time on Devastis since that incident, and was even being considered for a promotion to Invader by the Tallests themselves! So... why did harassing this one engineer disturb him to a great extent? Soldiers should be proud of their prowess!
Zim wasn't sure who threw the first punch, but in moments, the Student was down, shuddering under the attack of more than multiple fists. He was shoved into the fray, boots and fists occasionally connecting with him, not all by accident. "Release ZIM!" the little Soldier ordered frantically. "I am ZIM! Irken SOLDIER ZIM!!" No one backed off. If anything they hit him harder. Both Zim and the engineer were crying out now, both trying to defend themselves, neither succeeding. Things were getting hazy for Zim, when a hand grasped his wrist, hauling him out roughly. Being smaller, the Soldier was able to scramble free, hastily thanking his female rescuer. "Deepest thanks, Taller Azel!"
"Just help me get them back!" the purple-eyed female snapped down at him. "We've got company..."
"We what?" Zim glanced around, his antennae flicking. The midget's shout of surprise broke the beating circle faster than Azel's frantic tugging on elbows and waists. Hands froze mid blow as their owners' eyes shot up to see what had startled Zim so. A moment or so passed before realization dawned, causing blasters to snap out. But before the thirty Soldier safeties could come off, fifty more clicked.
The squad was surrounded. While their attention had been on the engineer, ten or more voot runners, all black, had swarmed around them, running silent. Within each black voot, were around five black-eyed, black-clothed Irkens of varying heights and both sexes. A blaster was in every pair of gloved hands. "Get away from the engineer, or you will be shot," a male with a fair baritone ordered, his blaster getting CO Rikea's head in its sights.
"Drop your weapons!" said a female at his side. She must have been someone of importance, for over the left side of her chest was the Student symbol, blazing in gleaming white.
As one, the Soldiers stepped back from the unconscious engineer, but did not drop the blasters. "Who are you fools?" Rikea snarled, staring into the barrel of the baritone male's blaster coolly. "And how dare you threaten my squad!"
"Uprisers," replied the baritone.
"Students who are sick of you brainless drones dominating everything, killing us with defects, and attacking us for no good reason other than you're bored," hissed an unbelievably short female.
"Sure, it's treason, but how're you going to arrest us? You don't know who we are and..." a male with a dead antennae smirked. "we seem to have the upper hand here."
"This is our formal announcement to you, and the rest of your stinking Class," the first female said. "We're taking a stand! Starting today, Students are fighting back until things change!" Her blaster aimed at Rikea now. "I suggest you obey us before we take first blood in this war."
"Do as we tell you! Drop your weapons!" a scrawny male ordered, leaping down from the voot he was in, landing clumsily on one foot. His blaster went off as a result of his awkward footing, its blast grazing the side of Rikea's head. The Soldier growled, her voice filled with hate, and leveled her own blaster.
"Soldiers will never obey you, you pathetic worms..."
The battle began with those words. In this fight, the first to fall was the last Student to speak. Rikea fired at him, point-blank, her blast hitting him in the lower torso, felling him instantly. Student fire rained down on the Soldiers, who retaliated with blasters not set to stun their victims.
It was hell. Student and Soldier cries mingled in commonly felt agony as Irkens of both Classes crumpled. Rose-colored blood that could have belonged to either Class mingled in pools and rivulets on the thin walkway. Despite the stun settings, the blaster bolts still opened wounds, knocking the victims unconscious before they could barely blink. Voot runners zipped around the squad as Rikea frantically radioed for backup. Few Students were downed, although most were now fighting with their hands alone down on the walkway. Zim could barely see, so buried was he in a living sea of Irken life struggling to stay alive. Shouts of, "Ro i Kaalae! Ro i Shrig! Ro i Etiaz!"* echoed from Student lips. No Soldier understood the language, but all recognized the tone as a battle cry. A battle cry they longed to drown out. Blasters fired in rapid succession, filling the air with a thin layer of smoke. This made it even harder for the Soldiers to see. Their shots became wilder, hitting their Student targets less and less often. The Students, their eyes more attuned to the smoky light for a reason none could grasp, faired much better. Soldiers fell more and more often around Zim, as he tried to duck and fire around milling, attacking bodies. He climbed over the unconscious Skoodge, aiming his blaster at the short female. Her blaster was smoking from overuse, her gloves possibly melting onto her small hands from the heat, and a maniacal grin was plastered to her pale green face. If her eyes had been purple, and her uniform the same as Azel's, Zim would have mistaken her for one of the Soldiers in his squad.
He took careful aim and fired.
She ducked the blast, whirling to face him. Zim darted away. More Soldiers were arriving, as were more of these so-called Uprisers. The walkway was slick with blood, crowded with dying or unconscious bodies. Noticing this, the voot runners engaged the cruisers, striking with surprising weapons. None of this made any sense to Zim. Where had Students gotten these weapons? This training? How could they be fighting so well?
Someone engaged him with fists. Their blaster was missing. Zim dropped his back into its holster, crouching warily in case this Student decided his plan of attack faster. The Student swung with a right hook. Zim countered, bringing up his left arm to block the other's swing. He then tried a sweeping kick to knock the Student of his feet. Zim's foot was grabbed and twisted, causing his little body to flip over onto his face. He felt the hot barrel of a stun blaster press into the back of his neck. Struggling, Zim's mechanical legs shot out of his back pod, throwing the knee off his diminutive spine. With a cackle, he tackled the taller Student, causing him to slip in a slick pool of silver-pink blood. He perched on the Student's chest, removing his blaster and lining up the glaring face in the sights. Like the other Uprisers, this Student had black eyes. But unlike them, this one had a jagged line of gray running through his left eye, marring the black depths.
Gray eyes...? Why did those eyes seem so familiar to him...? And why did they appear black? Before he could speculate further, a call Zim never thought he'd hear rang out from a Soldier's lips.
"RETREAT!"
Instantly, the mass of Irkens was depleted by a little more than half as the Soldiers fled into transports and voot cruisers. Their wounded were dragged off the walkway, while Student causalities were ignored with disgust. A few Soldiers were left, deemed unfit to be brought back to Barracks for treatment, as they had "disgraced" themselves in the eyes of their superiors. The Students were left to clean up the mess. Varse runners appeared, black-garbed med workers swarming out. The wounded were quickly assessed, those who were too close to death for even their back pods to save them were gently eased out of their current life with a single injection. Fortunately, these cases were few. Only three Irkens died on that walkway. The rest of the casualties were packed up and shipped off to Upriser med centers.
Seeing their wounded leaving safely, those leaders who were still in working condition rounded up their units. Even with their disguises, Lidge Tikem could still recognize her group. They were the Uprising's prime force, and Lidge its top female leader. Min, Regert, Shil, Cerol... Kaml...? "Where's Kam?" the female asked, frightened. "Where is he?! Has anyone seen him!?"
"Check with the head med!" called Min, already on the move. Shil was close behind him, flanked by Cerol and Regert. Lidge outdistanced them all, grabbing the nearest medical worker by the collar. The shorter Student looked up at her and slicked her antennae back in submission.
"Mechanic. Kaml Tikem," Lidge snapped, never releasing her hold on the smaller female. "Where is he? Is he dead? In a varse? Where is my teacher!?"
Min carefully pried her fingers off before they dug into the other Irken's neck. The med worker shot him a grateful look before speaking, as Lidge grabbed the gray-eyed male's hand for reassurance. "We loaded him on the first wave out, Miss Tikem," the med worker replied, straightening her collar. "He had a wound from a blaster in the lower torso, possible damage to internal organs..."
Now Lidge clung to Min, not just his hands, but his shoulders as well, holding her dearest friend close to her. He was trembling too. "Is.. he going to be all right?" he asked politely, retaking one of Lidge's hands for mutual comfort. They hadn't noticed the rest of the unit come up behind them, as they kept quiet for their own respective reasons.
"Should be. You all just go home. Get some rest." There was a faint smile on the med worker's face. "You front-liners have more respect from us than anyone, now that we've seen what you can do."
"Thank you..." Lidge murmured numbly. Her antennae drooped. "May... may I... ask you something, Miss?" The med worker turned from leaving, nodding to permit the request. "May I come with you? I need to make sure my teacher is all right."
Another gentle nod. "Of course Miss Tikem. It's good to see teachers are still so loved by their graduated students." She motioned Lidge after her, heading to her transport. Lidge followed. But when Min tried to accompany her, the West Jihi boss turned and stopped him.
"No Min," the magenta-eye ordered, holding him back with an upraised palm. "Go home... please."
"Nothing on Irk would make me!" he snapped, clenching his fists. "Kam was my teacher too, blast you! I need to see him just as much as you!"
"Nothing?" echoed Lidge. "I can't believe you said that Min! What about Pira!? Did you think of her? Mother blast it, you're almost as bad as Jendai was when it comes to a student of your own!"
Min stepped back, stunned. "Fine," was all he said. His antennae flicked in, his back rigid as he stalked back to a black voot, Regert and Cerol following him reluctantly. Shil stayed behind, eyes trained nervously on her boots. After a moment, the tiny female spoke up.
"Lidge... do you... are you... requiring me... to.. go too?" Her voice was smaller than her stature.
"No Shil..." Lidge replied, sighing. She knew all about her old teacher's so-called love for Shil Haye. She knew almost everything. "You can come. Provided you don't try and kiss him in my presence." If anything, Lidge could never accept Shil as her teacher's lover. It felt... wrong. She tensed, feeling Shil hug her in impulsive gratitude for the action. With a sigh, Lidge disentangled the wry arms and made her way towards the varse.
It was stormy that night. On Irk, stormy classified as windy, with a heavy drizzle of rain. In the apartment district, stormy meant Min got off the elevator drenched, exhausted, and smarting from small injuries he didn't know he'd had. Silver liquid dripped off of antennae that were plastered to his green head. His back ached the worst.
Blasted Soldiers...
The corridor echoed with his footsteps. All he wanted to do was to get home and into bed. Thoughts Kaml, combined with the images from the battle, clouded his mind. Sleep... sleep always comforted him. As did his home. Although, tonight, when he stepped through the door after pressing his access code in, he was assaulted by memories.
...Hello, Teacher Kaalae... ma'am. I hope it's all right that I'm drinking this. You told me I should find something to eat, but there was nothing so I drank this...
... It's fine Min...
Warm silver water, filled with dirty dishes...
... Food and excitement does that to you. Night, shortie...
... Night, Teacher Kaalae...
Min shook his head hard, not caring that his vision swam a bit afterwards. There were times... especially since Pira, that he'd begun to regret moving into Jendai's apartment after graduation from Kaml's care. He kept remembering the too-brief times with his original teacher. And they hurt. Worse than his back did now. Exhaustion set in, as he finally found the couch and flopped down with an audible groan. The décor and furniture of the apartment had not changed a bit, remaining that bizarre blue-gray combination that suited him fine. Most of Jendai's things remained as well. His plans for inventions, mechanical books, cooking things, holographs... pretty much everything had stayed. Except for the door between his apartment and the next. That he'd removed. Removed and torn it apart. Kaml had told him what the Irken who had lived behind that door had done to Jendai.
He rolled over onto his stomach, feeling his spine crack. Mother of... what had that midget done? Ah, well. He'd just get his computer to check him over later. Right now what he needed was a good drink... and sleep. These thoughts were shattered when a sleepy-eyed Pira appeared in the doorway that led to her room. Her wide turquoise eyes were dull with sleep that had not yet been shaken off. A blanket from her bed was clutched in her hand. Min looked at her, sighing heavily and shaking off his own sleep urges.
"Pintsize... you're supposed to be in bed," he groaned, holding out tired arms for her. "You hear me walk in or something?"
"Uh huh," the little one replied sleepily. She came over and buried her face in Min's shirt, her thin arms wrapping tightly around his waist. Min carefully hefted her into his lap. "You're loud."
The gray-eye hugged her in return, humming to himself. He'd always liked the smell young Irkens had. It was strange, sort of a spicy-sweet, almost like female Irkens, accept with less spice and more sweet. By most standards, Min was too young to have a student in his care, about three years shy of the age most deemed appropriate. Dear little Pira would never have come to him, had Jendai not given him the Kaalae name all those years ago. "Kaalae Talent" as it was called, was considered too precious to waste waiting for three years. "M'sorry, Pintsize," he murmured, hugging her tightly and trying not to wince. His arms hurt. "I'll be more quiet next time. I promise."
"Where'd you go, Teacher Kaalae?"
Now Min did wince. That name... that title... he had not heard them in the same sentence since he'd spoken them years ago. He didn't think it would hurt so bad. "I... I can't tell you now, Pira," he answered. Her arms tightened around him. "Everything'll be explained someday, but I can't tell you right now. But..." He leaned back, rocking the tiny Irken in his arms. "I'm gonna have to be coming and going for a while... okay? Don't worry though." There were tears in his eyes that Min impatiently brushed away on Pira's curled antennae. "I'll always come back to you though... I promise."
Pira purred under the attention, snuggling into Min with a sigh. "Okay," she murmured.
Still rocking her, Min rose, ignoring the aches in his own body in an effort to be a better teacher. He carried her to bed. Pira was already asleep by the time he lay her down in the warm turquoise sheets. For a long time after, he stayed by her side, just watching the tiny chest rise and fall as she slept. Was this, Min wondered, how all teachers felt around their student? Had Jendai ever, during the one night he'd been healthy enough to, watched Min's breathing? Had he even cared like this? Or had that Gymar been right all along...?
Had... had Jendai... even loved him? The blue-eye had never said so. Never acted like it either. Remembering the last time he'd seen his teacher hurt more than Pira calling him "teacher Kaalae" did. Jendai had abandoned him, he thought bitterly. Left him in Kaml's care without a single word to tell Min if he cared or not. Hands trembling, Min ruffled his student's antennae, smiling a heartsick smile at her purring. "I love you, Pira," he muttered. "I love you so much... and I swear to the Mother of Irk... I swear I will never be to you, how Jendai was to me."
Without another word, Min left, heading for his own bed and his own dreams.
"What was the final death toll?"
"Five. Three Soldiers and two Students, including Captain Rikea of the Soldiers."
"Good. That rat's dead."
"Sixteen are seriously wounded: six Students and ten Soldiers."
"Including Kaml..."
"We won though, Lidge. I thought that was all you wanted."
Lidge Tikem fiddled with her gloved hands. "I did..."
"Until Kaml was shot," Regert said, nodding slightly. The Uprising's male co-leader was responsible for collecting distributing information of the casualties after the battles, and had been contacted by Lidge for an update. They were using the Uprising Med center's terminal to speak, as it was the only one programmed to eliminate those hacking into the system. "How's he doing, anyway?"
"They've got him in a ReGen pod," she muttered, still examining her hands. "He can't be in too long, because there's others who need it more. But... they think he'll be fine."
Regert nodded. "Good. Last thing we need is him dying on us." A casual glance over his shoulder at a clock. "I need to get some sleep. We do have work tomorrow. Not on rotation."
"Yeah, let the 2nd unit go out tomorrow. We've got so many volunteers we could give everyone a day off and still be formidable," agreed Lidge, massaging her temples. "More of us are tired of those drones than I'd thought."
Another nod. "Hopefully I'll see you tomorrow, Lidge. Good luck with Kam... and tell Shil hello for me." The red-eyed face faded from view as the connection was severed.
Lidge sighed, rising from the terminal. An exhausted looked Upriser, who hadn't found time to change yet, swooped in on the available seat. "Gotta call my student," he replied, monotone. "Make sure... he's okay."
"Good teacher," she murmured, walking back down the hall towards the regeneration room where Shil waited and Kaml lay. Neither female had left his side since their arrival to the "med center," which was just an abandoned robotics facility that had been converted for their needs. Halls were constantly being scrubbed clean for fear of contamination. It gave the place a temporary, phony feeling that only added to the nervousness one got from any med center. Lidge was stopped at the door to the ReGen room by Shil, who looked pleased.
"They moved Kaml to recovery!" the tiny female all but cheered. Lidge found her hands clasped by an Irken with shining green eyes. "We can see him!"
"Let's go then!" Lidge had to smile. Shil's emotions were contagious. "Hope he's doing okay."
The two of them headed down the hall, boots tapping importantly against the sanitary ground. Other Irkens skirted out of Lidge's way, flicking their antennae down in salute for the taller female. Shil kept hers down the entire time. There were too many Irkens taller than her for her to keep flicking them. Both females kept close together, both unnerved by the med center. Kaml's room was guarded by two Uprisers, in case there was ever a raid done on the place. Lidge greeted them with the Upriser salute; right arm up in a threatening fist, as if she were about to strike. They saluted back and let her pass. It was good to have respect among one's Class, Lidge reflected.
Several Students were in the room. All were unconscious, hooked up to various life-supporting machines and fluid drips that hung from the ceiling. It was nearly dead silent, save for the various muted beeps from machines. Everyone who was hooked up had their back pods removed and the multicolored objects now sat in rechargers beside their owners. A few conscious Students sat beside their loved ones, concerned. Pushing the need to aid their fellows away, the two went to the side of the one they could easily recognize as Kaml.
He was pale, looking only as if he were asleep, fluid drip stuck in his wrist and life systems activated. The notes suspended over his bed told them he'd suffered internal injuries to a few major organs. The blankets were pulled back to show the ugly wound blasted into his torso. It no longer seemed to bleed, but the remnants of the rush of life-giving fluid were still stuck to the bandage. For a moment, all they could do was stare at the frail Student who was usually so full of life... so warm to those he loved...
Shil stayed back, allowing Lidge to be the first at her teacher's side. The magenta-eyed female moved slowly, almost frightened of what she'd see, closer to him, reaching tentatively out to grasp his hand with hers. Lidge choked, her eyes filling with tears that were impatiently rubbed away. She had to be strong, she was the leader. It was her responsibility to keep strong and not show her grief. She had to be strong... always. For everyone who needed her.
Fighting both tears and her trembling, Lidge Tikem sat on the edge of her teacher's bed, clutching his limp hand to her chest. Shil stood attentively beside her, not hiding her grief. Lidge barely glanced at her. It was her duty to be strong for Kaml, not Shil's. It was also her duty to keep her teacher safe, as it was his to protect her while she was young. It hurt to know his injury was the cause of her own blind cause. Her teacher was oblivious to her turmoil, unconscious and trying to heal. Humming quietly, more to soothe herself than anything, she stroked the seemingly lifeless fingers in her hand. How many hours she would wait for those orange eyes to open, Lidge didn't know, or care for that matter.
"I love you Kam..." she whispered, kissing her teachers fingers lightly. "And I'll be here with you... until you wake up and tell me everything's going to be okay again..." Again, the Student choked. The enormity of what had happened that day was finally hitting her. And it hurt. So much life... gone or almost snuffed out... all in one battle... how much more would be taken away?
"I need you to tell me this is all going to be okay..."
* "Ro i Kaalae! Ro i Shrig! Ro i Etiaz!" means "For the Kaalae! For the Shrig! For the Student Class!"
V
Just a Freedom Fighter, No Remorse...?
It had started out as a routine, late afternoon patrol of the area. Nothing special. Just a patrol, something any Soldier was glad to do. It got one out of the confines of the barracks. In casual formation, the full squad from South Shakra marched down one of the walkways reserved for those patrolling Irk's streets. Their leader, Rikea at their head. Things would have gone fine, if the smallest of their ranks had not tripped.
His blunder caused a something of a domino effect in the ranks, an effect which caused Rikea to become the bottom of the pile. Her cry of rage made the tiny Soldier freeze in horror. What had he done...? "WHO IS RESPONSIBLE!?" the captain shouted, kicking her squad off her. "WHO!? Report to me NOW!" There was an insane frenzy in her eyes that made even the bravest Irken back away.
"Him!" one of the heavier members of the squad reported, a gloved finger jabbing in Zim's direction. For a moment, the little one could only freeze, petrified beyond reason of his superior's wrath. Then it dawned on him. He was sprawled on the ground, like the rest of his squad, but behind him... Zim turned his head. A Student stood there, gazing down at the squad with startled yellow-green eyes. The Student, a male, wore the uniform of a robotics engineer and was scrawnier than most of the Students Zim had come across. It occurred to him, that this was the Irken Rikea would hold responsible for her humiliation. "It was that Student, Rikea Sir!"
"That's CAPTAIN RIKEA, Skoodge!" Rikea barked, glaring at the overweight Irken. "And for that insult, you maggot, you're running laps for an hour!"
Skoodge hid his disgust. A wise move, in Zim's opinion.
"As for YOU, you pathetic Stoooodent!" Now her anger was focused on the unfortunate engineer. Her hand went for her blaster. "You are NOT authorized to be here! What do you think you're doing!?" The blaster came out.
The Student froze, holding up his tools in explanation. He'd obviously been repairing one of the robots that monitored this walkway. If Rikea noticed, she didn't show it. The blaster remained in direct line with the engineer's head.
"ANSWER ME!" Rikea barked. "Answer me NOW or you'll regret keeping your stinking noise tube shut!"
"Re-re-repairs..." the Student stammered, shaking. His antennae fell down in submission. "The-the secur-security was... b-broken... I-I-was a-assigned this... by-by-by my sup-superior!" His trembling had gotten so bad his antennae swayed on his head, their motion a blur of black.
By now, the squad was on its feet, hands menacingly on their weapons. They had formed a circle around the unfortunate Irken and were leering smugly. Zim stood beside Skoodge, barely an inch shorter than the hefty Irken, almost trembling himself. Too vivid were the images in his mind from the last time his Squad had done something resembling this. What confused him to no end though, was why this mattered to him so much. He had matured greatly during his time on Devastis since that incident, and was even being considered for a promotion to Invader by the Tallests themselves! So... why did harassing this one engineer disturb him to a great extent? Soldiers should be proud of their prowess!
Zim wasn't sure who threw the first punch, but in moments, the Student was down, shuddering under the attack of more than multiple fists. He was shoved into the fray, boots and fists occasionally connecting with him, not all by accident. "Release ZIM!" the little Soldier ordered frantically. "I am ZIM! Irken SOLDIER ZIM!!" No one backed off. If anything they hit him harder. Both Zim and the engineer were crying out now, both trying to defend themselves, neither succeeding. Things were getting hazy for Zim, when a hand grasped his wrist, hauling him out roughly. Being smaller, the Soldier was able to scramble free, hastily thanking his female rescuer. "Deepest thanks, Taller Azel!"
"Just help me get them back!" the purple-eyed female snapped down at him. "We've got company..."
"We what?" Zim glanced around, his antennae flicking. The midget's shout of surprise broke the beating circle faster than Azel's frantic tugging on elbows and waists. Hands froze mid blow as their owners' eyes shot up to see what had startled Zim so. A moment or so passed before realization dawned, causing blasters to snap out. But before the thirty Soldier safeties could come off, fifty more clicked.
The squad was surrounded. While their attention had been on the engineer, ten or more voot runners, all black, had swarmed around them, running silent. Within each black voot, were around five black-eyed, black-clothed Irkens of varying heights and both sexes. A blaster was in every pair of gloved hands. "Get away from the engineer, or you will be shot," a male with a fair baritone ordered, his blaster getting CO Rikea's head in its sights.
"Drop your weapons!" said a female at his side. She must have been someone of importance, for over the left side of her chest was the Student symbol, blazing in gleaming white.
As one, the Soldiers stepped back from the unconscious engineer, but did not drop the blasters. "Who are you fools?" Rikea snarled, staring into the barrel of the baritone male's blaster coolly. "And how dare you threaten my squad!"
"Uprisers," replied the baritone.
"Students who are sick of you brainless drones dominating everything, killing us with defects, and attacking us for no good reason other than you're bored," hissed an unbelievably short female.
"Sure, it's treason, but how're you going to arrest us? You don't know who we are and..." a male with a dead antennae smirked. "we seem to have the upper hand here."
"This is our formal announcement to you, and the rest of your stinking Class," the first female said. "We're taking a stand! Starting today, Students are fighting back until things change!" Her blaster aimed at Rikea now. "I suggest you obey us before we take first blood in this war."
"Do as we tell you! Drop your weapons!" a scrawny male ordered, leaping down from the voot he was in, landing clumsily on one foot. His blaster went off as a result of his awkward footing, its blast grazing the side of Rikea's head. The Soldier growled, her voice filled with hate, and leveled her own blaster.
"Soldiers will never obey you, you pathetic worms..."
The battle began with those words. In this fight, the first to fall was the last Student to speak. Rikea fired at him, point-blank, her blast hitting him in the lower torso, felling him instantly. Student fire rained down on the Soldiers, who retaliated with blasters not set to stun their victims.
It was hell. Student and Soldier cries mingled in commonly felt agony as Irkens of both Classes crumpled. Rose-colored blood that could have belonged to either Class mingled in pools and rivulets on the thin walkway. Despite the stun settings, the blaster bolts still opened wounds, knocking the victims unconscious before they could barely blink. Voot runners zipped around the squad as Rikea frantically radioed for backup. Few Students were downed, although most were now fighting with their hands alone down on the walkway. Zim could barely see, so buried was he in a living sea of Irken life struggling to stay alive. Shouts of, "Ro i Kaalae! Ro i Shrig! Ro i Etiaz!"* echoed from Student lips. No Soldier understood the language, but all recognized the tone as a battle cry. A battle cry they longed to drown out. Blasters fired in rapid succession, filling the air with a thin layer of smoke. This made it even harder for the Soldiers to see. Their shots became wilder, hitting their Student targets less and less often. The Students, their eyes more attuned to the smoky light for a reason none could grasp, faired much better. Soldiers fell more and more often around Zim, as he tried to duck and fire around milling, attacking bodies. He climbed over the unconscious Skoodge, aiming his blaster at the short female. Her blaster was smoking from overuse, her gloves possibly melting onto her small hands from the heat, and a maniacal grin was plastered to her pale green face. If her eyes had been purple, and her uniform the same as Azel's, Zim would have mistaken her for one of the Soldiers in his squad.
He took careful aim and fired.
She ducked the blast, whirling to face him. Zim darted away. More Soldiers were arriving, as were more of these so-called Uprisers. The walkway was slick with blood, crowded with dying or unconscious bodies. Noticing this, the voot runners engaged the cruisers, striking with surprising weapons. None of this made any sense to Zim. Where had Students gotten these weapons? This training? How could they be fighting so well?
Someone engaged him with fists. Their blaster was missing. Zim dropped his back into its holster, crouching warily in case this Student decided his plan of attack faster. The Student swung with a right hook. Zim countered, bringing up his left arm to block the other's swing. He then tried a sweeping kick to knock the Student of his feet. Zim's foot was grabbed and twisted, causing his little body to flip over onto his face. He felt the hot barrel of a stun blaster press into the back of his neck. Struggling, Zim's mechanical legs shot out of his back pod, throwing the knee off his diminutive spine. With a cackle, he tackled the taller Student, causing him to slip in a slick pool of silver-pink blood. He perched on the Student's chest, removing his blaster and lining up the glaring face in the sights. Like the other Uprisers, this Student had black eyes. But unlike them, this one had a jagged line of gray running through his left eye, marring the black depths.
Gray eyes...? Why did those eyes seem so familiar to him...? And why did they appear black? Before he could speculate further, a call Zim never thought he'd hear rang out from a Soldier's lips.
"RETREAT!"
Instantly, the mass of Irkens was depleted by a little more than half as the Soldiers fled into transports and voot cruisers. Their wounded were dragged off the walkway, while Student causalities were ignored with disgust. A few Soldiers were left, deemed unfit to be brought back to Barracks for treatment, as they had "disgraced" themselves in the eyes of their superiors. The Students were left to clean up the mess. Varse runners appeared, black-garbed med workers swarming out. The wounded were quickly assessed, those who were too close to death for even their back pods to save them were gently eased out of their current life with a single injection. Fortunately, these cases were few. Only three Irkens died on that walkway. The rest of the casualties were packed up and shipped off to Upriser med centers.
Seeing their wounded leaving safely, those leaders who were still in working condition rounded up their units. Even with their disguises, Lidge Tikem could still recognize her group. They were the Uprising's prime force, and Lidge its top female leader. Min, Regert, Shil, Cerol... Kaml...? "Where's Kam?" the female asked, frightened. "Where is he?! Has anyone seen him!?"
"Check with the head med!" called Min, already on the move. Shil was close behind him, flanked by Cerol and Regert. Lidge outdistanced them all, grabbing the nearest medical worker by the collar. The shorter Student looked up at her and slicked her antennae back in submission.
"Mechanic. Kaml Tikem," Lidge snapped, never releasing her hold on the smaller female. "Where is he? Is he dead? In a varse? Where is my teacher!?"
Min carefully pried her fingers off before they dug into the other Irken's neck. The med worker shot him a grateful look before speaking, as Lidge grabbed the gray-eyed male's hand for reassurance. "We loaded him on the first wave out, Miss Tikem," the med worker replied, straightening her collar. "He had a wound from a blaster in the lower torso, possible damage to internal organs..."
Now Lidge clung to Min, not just his hands, but his shoulders as well, holding her dearest friend close to her. He was trembling too. "Is.. he going to be all right?" he asked politely, retaking one of Lidge's hands for mutual comfort. They hadn't noticed the rest of the unit come up behind them, as they kept quiet for their own respective reasons.
"Should be. You all just go home. Get some rest." There was a faint smile on the med worker's face. "You front-liners have more respect from us than anyone, now that we've seen what you can do."
"Thank you..." Lidge murmured numbly. Her antennae drooped. "May... may I... ask you something, Miss?" The med worker turned from leaving, nodding to permit the request. "May I come with you? I need to make sure my teacher is all right."
Another gentle nod. "Of course Miss Tikem. It's good to see teachers are still so loved by their graduated students." She motioned Lidge after her, heading to her transport. Lidge followed. But when Min tried to accompany her, the West Jihi boss turned and stopped him.
"No Min," the magenta-eye ordered, holding him back with an upraised palm. "Go home... please."
"Nothing on Irk would make me!" he snapped, clenching his fists. "Kam was my teacher too, blast you! I need to see him just as much as you!"
"Nothing?" echoed Lidge. "I can't believe you said that Min! What about Pira!? Did you think of her? Mother blast it, you're almost as bad as Jendai was when it comes to a student of your own!"
Min stepped back, stunned. "Fine," was all he said. His antennae flicked in, his back rigid as he stalked back to a black voot, Regert and Cerol following him reluctantly. Shil stayed behind, eyes trained nervously on her boots. After a moment, the tiny female spoke up.
"Lidge... do you... are you... requiring me... to.. go too?" Her voice was smaller than her stature.
"No Shil..." Lidge replied, sighing. She knew all about her old teacher's so-called love for Shil Haye. She knew almost everything. "You can come. Provided you don't try and kiss him in my presence." If anything, Lidge could never accept Shil as her teacher's lover. It felt... wrong. She tensed, feeling Shil hug her in impulsive gratitude for the action. With a sigh, Lidge disentangled the wry arms and made her way towards the varse.
It was stormy that night. On Irk, stormy classified as windy, with a heavy drizzle of rain. In the apartment district, stormy meant Min got off the elevator drenched, exhausted, and smarting from small injuries he didn't know he'd had. Silver liquid dripped off of antennae that were plastered to his green head. His back ached the worst.
Blasted Soldiers...
The corridor echoed with his footsteps. All he wanted to do was to get home and into bed. Thoughts Kaml, combined with the images from the battle, clouded his mind. Sleep... sleep always comforted him. As did his home. Although, tonight, when he stepped through the door after pressing his access code in, he was assaulted by memories.
...Hello, Teacher Kaalae... ma'am. I hope it's all right that I'm drinking this. You told me I should find something to eat, but there was nothing so I drank this...
... It's fine Min...
Warm silver water, filled with dirty dishes...
... Food and excitement does that to you. Night, shortie...
... Night, Teacher Kaalae...
Min shook his head hard, not caring that his vision swam a bit afterwards. There were times... especially since Pira, that he'd begun to regret moving into Jendai's apartment after graduation from Kaml's care. He kept remembering the too-brief times with his original teacher. And they hurt. Worse than his back did now. Exhaustion set in, as he finally found the couch and flopped down with an audible groan. The décor and furniture of the apartment had not changed a bit, remaining that bizarre blue-gray combination that suited him fine. Most of Jendai's things remained as well. His plans for inventions, mechanical books, cooking things, holographs... pretty much everything had stayed. Except for the door between his apartment and the next. That he'd removed. Removed and torn it apart. Kaml had told him what the Irken who had lived behind that door had done to Jendai.
He rolled over onto his stomach, feeling his spine crack. Mother of... what had that midget done? Ah, well. He'd just get his computer to check him over later. Right now what he needed was a good drink... and sleep. These thoughts were shattered when a sleepy-eyed Pira appeared in the doorway that led to her room. Her wide turquoise eyes were dull with sleep that had not yet been shaken off. A blanket from her bed was clutched in her hand. Min looked at her, sighing heavily and shaking off his own sleep urges.
"Pintsize... you're supposed to be in bed," he groaned, holding out tired arms for her. "You hear me walk in or something?"
"Uh huh," the little one replied sleepily. She came over and buried her face in Min's shirt, her thin arms wrapping tightly around his waist. Min carefully hefted her into his lap. "You're loud."
The gray-eye hugged her in return, humming to himself. He'd always liked the smell young Irkens had. It was strange, sort of a spicy-sweet, almost like female Irkens, accept with less spice and more sweet. By most standards, Min was too young to have a student in his care, about three years shy of the age most deemed appropriate. Dear little Pira would never have come to him, had Jendai not given him the Kaalae name all those years ago. "Kaalae Talent" as it was called, was considered too precious to waste waiting for three years. "M'sorry, Pintsize," he murmured, hugging her tightly and trying not to wince. His arms hurt. "I'll be more quiet next time. I promise."
"Where'd you go, Teacher Kaalae?"
Now Min did wince. That name... that title... he had not heard them in the same sentence since he'd spoken them years ago. He didn't think it would hurt so bad. "I... I can't tell you now, Pira," he answered. Her arms tightened around him. "Everything'll be explained someday, but I can't tell you right now. But..." He leaned back, rocking the tiny Irken in his arms. "I'm gonna have to be coming and going for a while... okay? Don't worry though." There were tears in his eyes that Min impatiently brushed away on Pira's curled antennae. "I'll always come back to you though... I promise."
Pira purred under the attention, snuggling into Min with a sigh. "Okay," she murmured.
Still rocking her, Min rose, ignoring the aches in his own body in an effort to be a better teacher. He carried her to bed. Pira was already asleep by the time he lay her down in the warm turquoise sheets. For a long time after, he stayed by her side, just watching the tiny chest rise and fall as she slept. Was this, Min wondered, how all teachers felt around their student? Had Jendai ever, during the one night he'd been healthy enough to, watched Min's breathing? Had he even cared like this? Or had that Gymar been right all along...?
Had... had Jendai... even loved him? The blue-eye had never said so. Never acted like it either. Remembering the last time he'd seen his teacher hurt more than Pira calling him "teacher Kaalae" did. Jendai had abandoned him, he thought bitterly. Left him in Kaml's care without a single word to tell Min if he cared or not. Hands trembling, Min ruffled his student's antennae, smiling a heartsick smile at her purring. "I love you, Pira," he muttered. "I love you so much... and I swear to the Mother of Irk... I swear I will never be to you, how Jendai was to me."
Without another word, Min left, heading for his own bed and his own dreams.
"What was the final death toll?"
"Five. Three Soldiers and two Students, including Captain Rikea of the Soldiers."
"Good. That rat's dead."
"Sixteen are seriously wounded: six Students and ten Soldiers."
"Including Kaml..."
"We won though, Lidge. I thought that was all you wanted."
Lidge Tikem fiddled with her gloved hands. "I did..."
"Until Kaml was shot," Regert said, nodding slightly. The Uprising's male co-leader was responsible for collecting distributing information of the casualties after the battles, and had been contacted by Lidge for an update. They were using the Uprising Med center's terminal to speak, as it was the only one programmed to eliminate those hacking into the system. "How's he doing, anyway?"
"They've got him in a ReGen pod," she muttered, still examining her hands. "He can't be in too long, because there's others who need it more. But... they think he'll be fine."
Regert nodded. "Good. Last thing we need is him dying on us." A casual glance over his shoulder at a clock. "I need to get some sleep. We do have work tomorrow. Not on rotation."
"Yeah, let the 2nd unit go out tomorrow. We've got so many volunteers we could give everyone a day off and still be formidable," agreed Lidge, massaging her temples. "More of us are tired of those drones than I'd thought."
Another nod. "Hopefully I'll see you tomorrow, Lidge. Good luck with Kam... and tell Shil hello for me." The red-eyed face faded from view as the connection was severed.
Lidge sighed, rising from the terminal. An exhausted looked Upriser, who hadn't found time to change yet, swooped in on the available seat. "Gotta call my student," he replied, monotone. "Make sure... he's okay."
"Good teacher," she murmured, walking back down the hall towards the regeneration room where Shil waited and Kaml lay. Neither female had left his side since their arrival to the "med center," which was just an abandoned robotics facility that had been converted for their needs. Halls were constantly being scrubbed clean for fear of contamination. It gave the place a temporary, phony feeling that only added to the nervousness one got from any med center. Lidge was stopped at the door to the ReGen room by Shil, who looked pleased.
"They moved Kaml to recovery!" the tiny female all but cheered. Lidge found her hands clasped by an Irken with shining green eyes. "We can see him!"
"Let's go then!" Lidge had to smile. Shil's emotions were contagious. "Hope he's doing okay."
The two of them headed down the hall, boots tapping importantly against the sanitary ground. Other Irkens skirted out of Lidge's way, flicking their antennae down in salute for the taller female. Shil kept hers down the entire time. There were too many Irkens taller than her for her to keep flicking them. Both females kept close together, both unnerved by the med center. Kaml's room was guarded by two Uprisers, in case there was ever a raid done on the place. Lidge greeted them with the Upriser salute; right arm up in a threatening fist, as if she were about to strike. They saluted back and let her pass. It was good to have respect among one's Class, Lidge reflected.
Several Students were in the room. All were unconscious, hooked up to various life-supporting machines and fluid drips that hung from the ceiling. It was nearly dead silent, save for the various muted beeps from machines. Everyone who was hooked up had their back pods removed and the multicolored objects now sat in rechargers beside their owners. A few conscious Students sat beside their loved ones, concerned. Pushing the need to aid their fellows away, the two went to the side of the one they could easily recognize as Kaml.
He was pale, looking only as if he were asleep, fluid drip stuck in his wrist and life systems activated. The notes suspended over his bed told them he'd suffered internal injuries to a few major organs. The blankets were pulled back to show the ugly wound blasted into his torso. It no longer seemed to bleed, but the remnants of the rush of life-giving fluid were still stuck to the bandage. For a moment, all they could do was stare at the frail Student who was usually so full of life... so warm to those he loved...
Shil stayed back, allowing Lidge to be the first at her teacher's side. The magenta-eyed female moved slowly, almost frightened of what she'd see, closer to him, reaching tentatively out to grasp his hand with hers. Lidge choked, her eyes filling with tears that were impatiently rubbed away. She had to be strong, she was the leader. It was her responsibility to keep strong and not show her grief. She had to be strong... always. For everyone who needed her.
Fighting both tears and her trembling, Lidge Tikem sat on the edge of her teacher's bed, clutching his limp hand to her chest. Shil stood attentively beside her, not hiding her grief. Lidge barely glanced at her. It was her duty to be strong for Kaml, not Shil's. It was also her duty to keep her teacher safe, as it was his to protect her while she was young. It hurt to know his injury was the cause of her own blind cause. Her teacher was oblivious to her turmoil, unconscious and trying to heal. Humming quietly, more to soothe herself than anything, she stroked the seemingly lifeless fingers in her hand. How many hours she would wait for those orange eyes to open, Lidge didn't know, or care for that matter.
"I love you Kam..." she whispered, kissing her teachers fingers lightly. "And I'll be here with you... until you wake up and tell me everything's going to be okay again..." Again, the Student choked. The enormity of what had happened that day was finally hitting her. And it hurt. So much life... gone or almost snuffed out... all in one battle... how much more would be taken away?
"I need you to tell me this is all going to be okay..."
* "Ro i Kaalae! Ro i Shrig! Ro i Etiaz!" means "For the Kaalae! For the Shrig! For the Student Class!"
