I want to expand on Tyler and Jia here, so it's a long chapter. Some reviews would also be nice. I'm depressed IRL so I could use some cheering up...
Disclaimer: Plot and Chars equals mine. Blizzard stuff equals Blizzard stuff.
Chapter 5: Sacrifices
Joey Linaw's face was contorted in rage and disbelief. Admiral Ivanovsky stood still, above Joey with stony faced emotion. Joey glared at the Admiral, his eyes burning an imaginary hole right through him.
"Well, Doctor…" said the Admiral, his face remaining emotionless.
"You're sick" hissed Joey in return. The Admiral smirked.
"Doctor…" he repeated, mockingly.
"You bastards…" he said with emphasis on the last word ", you knew about these – these…things…. all along?"
"Yes, doctor. Like I told you before; the zerg have been in the classified records for the past two years"
"And you still didn't even warn us – me? You let four of the best surgical operators in the Directorate burn in that room…for a cover up!" he said, still in apparent disbelief.
"Yes, doctor. It was unfortunate, but keep in mind that if they were 'the best surgical operators in the Directorate', then they would've used some tack so as not to perish" said the Admiral, still unmoved.
"Don't you dare mock me, Admiral; those were good men in that room. You locked us in a room with a time bomb when you told us it was an apple pie. How deranged can you people be, in not even considering to warn us of the danger?"
"The creature was dead… even you could agree that there was little chance of danger"
"You're sick" he repeated, once more.
The Admiral scanned Joey, who was sitting on a chair below him. This doctor was apparently still recovering from the shock of the incident. There would be little reasoning with him for now.
From Joey's point of view, he despised the Directorate. They had kept an enemy, an enemy far more powerful than any Earth has ever faced, secret. For whatever reason it might be, in Joey's eyes the Directorate had just condemned millions of lives to death because of their decision.
"Just tell me why…" said Joey
"Why what? Why we kept the citizens of the Directorate from galaxy-wide panic? Why we kept the economy running, without any burden of knowing that there was some kind of 'evil monster' out there going to eat them? Would you like to know why we kept the livelihood of the millions of innocent lives preserved, instead of ruined by the thought of the coming Apocalypse?" he replied, confidently.
"Preserved? Would you call the hundreds of families who lost their sons and daughters on the Tamerlane preserved? How about the 'millions of innocent lives'; are you talking about the people on Vega? The people who were caught in the orbital facilities when the zerg came? What about the trillions of people on the surface? The one's who were caught in the streets, holding shopping bags, instead of guns or evacuation tickets? Are you talking about them?"
"Vega was not caught unprepared. We -" he was cut off
"Ha! Look around you Admiral! The UED fleets are here! They were waiting for an enemy that's just come through the back door! Now they're scrambling back to Vega. How many cruisers were assigned as Vega's defense fleet, five of them? Now, if your commanders had been warned of the nature of the zerg, we could very well be on the offensive right now!"
"You are just a doctor, doctor. You're not a military Admiral like I am, and you can't comprehend the consequences of your theories"
"You know it's a fact that the Directorate could have been well prepared for the zerg, if only they had been warned before-hand!"
"Admiral Gerard DuGalle, Commander of the UED Expeditionary Task Force, General of the Tactical Surveillance and Intelligence Division, winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor, and leader of more than fifteen million enlisted men and women, was forced to turn tail and run when the zerg chased him out of the Koprulu Sector"
"So what are you saying?" said the doctor, who was calming down "That there's no hope?"
"I'm saying that there was nothing else we could do" said the Admiral, who was winning in his task to subdue the doctor.
"I'll let a patient die of tooth decay before I believe that"
"Doctor…" said the Admiral, containing his impatience "We are in a war. In every war decisions must be made, and in every decision, whether good or bad, people get killed. Now, if the body count is more than necessary, then we regret it, but we can't change it" the doctor was looking at the Admiral directly eye to eye now.
"The Directorate will pull through, like always. But now, doctor, I need you to tell me whatever it is you found out about the zerg in your autopsy."
Tyler stared, open mouthed at the bell-hop. The bell-hop was sweaty and pale. Outside the room, more bell-hops could be seen knocking on the doors of the other rooms.
Did Tyler hear this bell-hop right? Did Vega, a system that was fifty sectors away from Vraxia, just come under attack?
"Sir…" said the bell-hop, nervously.
"There's a military dropship outside going to take everyone to the evacuation site" he said, hoping that Tyler could still hear him.
Fortunately, at the word 'military', Tyler's senses had come back.
"No, wait…." He said.
Vega was under attack. SOP stated that any soldier on leave must report to the nearest military facility, should the planet be attacked. However, technically Tyler wasn't on leave; he was supposed to be on Vraxia. It was just kindness that the Admiral had granted him some R and R, because technically Tyler was entitled to it, since he had been shot down.
"Where's the nearest airbase?" he asked the bell-hop. The bell-hop frowned at the question.
"Sir, we there's a military dropship outside that will take us to the evacuation site" said the bell-hop, slowly, so that Tyler might understand.
Tyler cursed at himself for not being clear.
"I'm enlisted" he told him "Where's the nearest airbase?"
"Fort Pollux, sir; about a hundred fifty miles east" replied the bell-hop, who was good at adapting to the ever-changing circumstances.
A hundred and fifty miles would mean about five minutes in a wraith, probably thirty to an hour in a civilian vehicle. Tyler cursed again silently, but he had no alternative.
"Do you have a car I can use?"
"The dropship outside will definitely head back to Fort Pollux once everyone is on the evacuation site"
"I can't wait that long" said Tyler, considering the possibility "I need a bloody car"
The bell-hop bit his lower lip for a while, and then came to a decision.
"Take mine sir" he said, while pulling out a swipe card from his pocket. "It's in the garage level, sir; the green asp."
"Thanks" said Tyler, taking the swipe card.
"What about Ms Tsong?"
Tyler had nearly forgotten about Jia. What was he going to do with her? He considered letting her be evacuated in the dropship outside…
"How is Vega under attack, exactly?"
"Sir?" asked the bell-hop, who didn't understand.
"Where's the enemy?" said Tyler, irritated
"The defense fleet is fighting them in orbit, sir."
Evacuation was too risky. The convoy of shuttles would have to beat out of the atmosphere and make a dash away from the planet, before they could engage their hyperdrive. He knew how the creatures flew; they could easily swoop in and intercept the transports, should the defense fleet leave a hole in their screen. Tyler wasn't going to risk losing Jia because of a stupid shuttle pilot who didn't know how to jink.
He could bring her with him. He could leave her under the care of whoever General was in command of Pollux, while he went off in his wraith and got more lightning bolts under his name. It was acceptable in the rules and regulations for civilians to seek shelter in military bases, should their companion be a soldier. Unfortunately, that also had risks. Should the fleet lose the space battle, the army bases would be the first to come under siege. He didn't want to lose Jia because of a stupid fleet commander that didn't know how to command.
He weighed the two possibilities in his head.
"She'll be safer with me" he told the bell-hop.
"You're sure, sir?"
"I bloody hope so…" the bell-hop raised his eyebrows in concern.
"Alright, sir…" he said, at last "Good luck, sir." Tyler nodded and the bell-hop turned to warn the other tenants in the building.
Tyler closed the door behind him and turned to Jia. She had apparently overheard the conversation between the two, because she was already putting her shirt back on. When her head came through the collar her eyes met with Tyler's. She smiled weakly and shrugged. They were both disappointed.
Two minutes ago, they were having the time of their lives. Now war and duty came before romance once more; and Tyler wanted to rip off his gold bar and wings for it. Tyler started to button his uniform again, while Jia stuffed whatever clothes she could in her bag. Soon they were both finished and Tyler stuffed his guitar back in its case.
"Ready?" he asked her, and she nodded. She looked extremely disappointed, but there was nothing Tyler could do.
He led her silently into the garage level. The bell-hop's green car was shiny and luxurious. Tyler guessed that its cruise speed was around 200 mph; he could get to Pollux in about half an hour or so.
Jia chose to look out the window as Tyler powered the anti-grav. Tyler felt the disappointment in Jia at that moment. It was like the days of torture after he had given her that dog. Now, she wasn't looking at him again. He knew she didn't mean anything by it, but he still felt crestfallen, nonetheless.
"I'm sorry about this, Jia…" said Tyler, wishing that she would look up.
"Tye…" was all Jia could say.
Tyler decided to let her have her silent time. He revved the car's main power online and drifted off into the highway. The hum of the anti-grav, mixed with the soothing air conditioner and air freshener made Jia feel comfortable. Tyler still preferred the seductive purr of a wraith, accompanied by the roar of 6.5 g's than this, however.
The sky was not wearing the usual deep-blue colors it used to; the Vega star was shining glowing amber on the surface. That signaled that there was unusual cloud cover tonight; Tyler made a note of that. But one part of the sky was burning red. Just visible through the Tyler's window was hundreds of streaking red bolts of laser from the fighting battlecruisers. The red laser bolts were mixed with orange balls, which signified the destruction of a wraith, and finally, the most miraculous of all was the Yamato Blast. Every now and then a battlecruiser would try its luck at vaporizing a clump of zerg with its gigantic cannon.
Jia was watching the display of lights in the sky. Her face was unreadable, as usual. Deep down, she was scared for Tyler. He was going to go out there and risk his life again. She would go between watching the extravaganza of battle overhead, and the focusing figure of Tyler, who was riding the car like a wild bull – a wild bull going at 250 mph.
"Tye…" she said, softly. Tyler eased off the gas as his attention shifted to what Jia was going to say.
"Whatever kept you alive in the Tamerlane…" she continued
"Do it again"
Tyler got slightly annoyed by her concern.
"Jia, it was you that kept me going" he said, as if it didn't matter.
"What?"
"I'm never going to break your heart by getting killed" he actually took a moment to look at her "Ever"
Jia pursed her lips and looked away again. Her fatigue was finally getting to her; her patience was already thin.
"Shi-bal!" she swore, in Korean "Tyler, how can I ever love you as much as you love me?"
Now she was getting emotional, Tyler hated it when she would do that.
"Don't doubt yourself, Jia; you're better than that! Honestly, if you didn't love me, then would you have…" he paused "…you know" She laughed.
"I enjoyed that" she said, grinning "You know how I like to be touched…"
"But were you really willing to do it?" he asked, before he could stop himself. Jia's smile faded and she looked down. Tyler wanted to smack himself.
"I guess… I guess… just love you" she said, without looking up.
Tyler's chest swelled at her statement. Jia was so sweet, and so beautiful; a girl as pure as her deserved more than this. She deserved a normal life; a life that involved graduating from school, going out on parties with hundreds of friends, having tons of boyfriends, falling in love at the right age, and finally she deserved a normal husband, with a normal family. Instead, she was in the middle of a war, with all her friends' light-years away, driving head-first into possible death, without any other relationship in her life, except for this sixteen year old terran boy, who made a life out of risking his life, every day.
She wasn't always this emotional. She was usually bright and cheerful, if not simply indifferent. Once Tyler and Jia had started going out, it would even sometimes be Jia who would break the silences. She would always be in a good mood, always ready to laugh at a joke, and always willing to brighten the day with her wonderful smile. Now it was clear that her experiences were changing her; a sentence as open as that would never escape Jia's mouth lightly. Tyler loathed the hellish creatures that were tearing Jia's life apart.
They would always laugh, always smile, always be consumed in an unexplainable bliss when they were walking hand in hand. They would always cheer up Denzer's Diner with their bright, record setting, six hour conversations. They would talk about their lives; civilian and military. They would discuss their views on music; Tyler was a guitarist while Jia played the flute. Other than that, they would talk about anything, from their favorite star system to even Jia teaching Tyler how to speak Korean. They would always get along, always be equal, unlike Jia's many male classmates who had to suck up and play servant to their girlfriends.
Erika would tease that Tyler was cheating on his Flight exams since he would spend so little time studying and so much time with Jia. In truth, Tyler was usually helping Jia study. He wasn't very good at all this advanced math and literature that they taught in high school, since his education was limited to the library books. But he knew a thing or two about physics, being a pilot. Jia's parents would be suspicious that the two of them were doing things in Jia's room, but Jia's rising grades in physics reassured them.
Now it was all over. Her parents and brother were on Vraxia, armed with gauss rifles. Her school was perhaps a military depot now. And Jia was no longer cheerful and bright. Her indifferent look was going overtime. Her head was hanging in anguish and stress. She wasn't even conscious enough to notice the hustle and bustle going on with all the dropships and APC's that were herding the civilians to the evacuation sites. Tyler couldn't let the girl he loved – any girl as sweet as Jia fall apart like this. He must do something. The idea came to Tyler like an unwanted injection through the posterior. He couldn't do that. No way. But, Tyler knew that if Jia were to have any chance of happiness in life, he must do it.
"Jia…" said Tyler, his heart thumping madly
"I can't do this…" he continued. Jia looked at him quizzically.
"Tye?" she said, and Tyler stopped the car so as to look her in the face; this was more important than getting to the airbase.
"I can't…" his lip was trembling. Jia's brows came together in concern. She was being the sweet and considerate girl that Tyler adored, and the 'sweet and considerate' look that Jia had on helped Tyler express himself.
"We have to stop..."
"Stop what? The car?" she said, still completely unawares. Tyler weighed his options again, but now, despite the lightning fast mind he had developed on the streets and in the skies, he still had to deal with hesitation after hesitation. Could he do it? Could he deal with it? Moreover, could Jia deal with it?
But that wasn't the issue; the issue was not whether she could handle Tyler's decision; that was immaterial at this point. The question was; could Jia handle her present situation? Obviously not, and Tyler couldn't live with himself if that was the case.
Tyler was caught in her eyes again. She forced herself out of her distress so as to express her concern for him. Her eyes were so soothing; they were looking at him with not only concern, but with interest, with patience. Ugh! It was killing him. The eternal question of true love kept ripping Tyler's mind in half. Did she love him? It was always that question. Tyler hated it! He wanted it to stop! But he reminded himself that it was neither Jia's nor Tyler's fault. It was those beasts up in orbit. They were doing this to them, and if this way of life continued, both Jia's and Tyler's life would be ruined. He had to end it now.
"Stop what?" she repeated. Tyler gulped down his stomach, which was creeping up his esophagus, and he choked down the heartbeat that was smothering him. He toiled to control himself, so as to only utter one word…
"Us" he said, weakly.
Jia's face stood still for a second, then her mind clicked and she gasped. Jia's insides rushed into her throat and the blood drained from her face. Did she hear him right? No, it couldn't be. Did Tyler just dump her? Why should Tyler want to end it? They were so good together. Nothing could ever come between them. Why was he doing this? He loved her. Jia knew he loved her! What was he doing? No way was he breaking their love! No way!
Her mouth was trembling, and her chest began to expand and contract at a dangerous speed. Her snowy white skin was white as a ghost. Her eyebrows were arched going upwards towards the middle while her eyes widened in horror. Tyler wanted to punch himself for making her like this. Jia looked into his face for some kind of answer. Suddenly it came to her. A while ago, Tyler's face was constantly turning to the overhead battle and back to Jia's hanging head Jia realized that he must be concerned about the effect of Tyler's career on her life. He was concerned about her ability to deal with all the madness of war going on around her…
Was that all! Jia couldn't believe it! She could handle herself in these situations. She was confident in herself! But then… she realized that she was not able to handle herself. She remembered that it was her who had voiced her concern for Tyler's well-being in the upcoming battle. It was her who let her fatigue show through her mask of indifference.
Oh my God! It was her that caused him to come to his decision! Why did she have to blab about her pointless concern! Why did her indifferent look falter! Why couldn't she keep cool, like so many times before, and prevent Tyler from realizing that she was in distress! Then Jia realized that Tyler's suggestion bore logic. It was true that this war would rip their lives apart. The best course of action was to break up… It wasn't possible; Tyler wanted to break up and he was right.
But Jia couldn't stand by and let this go; she couldn't let it go!
"Tye!" she said, warningly.
"Jia…" he said, trying his best to be soothing.
"NO! Tyler, no!" she was backing away to the edge of her seat, as if Tyler was a monster.
"We can't do this to oursel-"
"NO!" she screamed, her fists banged on her chair
"You don't deserve me!" he yelled, looking for a way out.
"Shut up!" she screamed again "You didn't say that! You DIDN'T say that!" her hands were grasping her scalp in frustration.
"PLEASE! Jia! You know we can't go on!" he said, getting desperate.
"NO!" she screamed again "You promised you'll never hurt me! You promised!" tears were running down her face now. Tyler was barely holding up as well. He didn't want this, he never wanted this. But it was for Jia's own good that he leave her.
"The dog!" she said, pointing to her bag "You said you'll always be there for me!" her voice was cracking now as she cried and screamed.
"Bloody hell… Not like this Jia…" whispered Tyler, unable to speak clearly with his insides swirling like a whirlpool.
"Ahn-ee-oh! Ahn-ee-oh!" she repeated over and over again as she was bent over, her tears dripping onto her skirt, and her hands threatening to rip out her hair. Tyler reached for her hands to get them to stop tugging at her hair. Upon contact she rose up and smacked his wrist.
"Ano shipal, geseki!" she cursed at him. Tyler retracted his hand in surprise at her reproach.
"Che song ham nida" he was apologizing. But she wouldn't hear anything of him. Her face was still buried in her arms, which were resting on the dashboard.
Crikey…
He had just done what he had thought impossible; he had broken her heart. He watched her, helpless, as she sobbed and wept onto her hands. He couldn't take it anymore. Tears streamed down his face as well. He looked away, keeping silent, trying to block out the sounds of crying from Jia. The battle was still raging overhead. He didn't want to go anymore, he just wanted to cry as openly as Jia was, but he couldn't do that, he was too hardened to allow that.
They sat in the car in silence for a long time. The only audible sounds were Jia's sobs. Tyler remained stationary, watching the dazzling lasers overhead as tears dropped from his cheeks as well.
The last tear fell from Jia's face. She looked up, her breath still stuttering and incoherent. Her eyes were red and her hair was tangled and knotted. She sniffed and looked at Tyler. He was looking away from her, out the window towards the fight. His cheek that was still visible was shining with tears.
"Tyler…" she whispered. Tyler sucked in his despair and looked at her. His eyes were red as well. He was having a much harder time than Jia. He looked on the verge of death and Jia wished she didn't have to force him to speak…but she mustn't stop fighting.
"Please…don't…" she whispered again. Tyler looked down and shook his head.
"I don't care about…this…" she said, hinting at his uniform "It can work out…" she knew it was a lie.
"Rubbish, Jia" he replied. Jia stayed silent for a while.
"Please…" she was begging him.
"You deserve a good life, Jia"
"Without you? You've been my whole life, Tye…"
"You're going to go wonkers if you keep talking like that, Jia" he said, although he couldn't look at her straight in the face anymore.
"Tyler…Please…"
"This is how you'll feel everyday if you stay with me…" that sentence kept Jia silent for a longer time.
"Tyler…" she said it in a commanding way, telling him to listen up.
"Look into my eyes and tell me if I care" Tyler was taken aback by her determination. Jia was not letting up easy. He did as he was told. Her eyes were cold and serious now, not a hint of humor, or shine, or emotion, just plain cold stare that chilled Tyler's spine.
"I love you" her face didn't falter a nanometer when she said it. It was Tyler who buckled under the stare.
"That doesn't matter…" Tyler whispered.
"Tyler!" she yelled and Tyler looked at her again.
"Look at me with your pilot's gaze and tell me if you can ever stop loving me" she said, unwavering. Tyler looked down again and shook his head.
"That's beyond the point"
"No! You're making it beyond the point. We can get through this together" her voice was growing more confident with every word.
"And then what? It'll never be the same after all this. We'll never be happy again" he said, and Jia knew it was the truth.
"We'll never be happy if we break up" she replied
"You'll find someone else, Jia" he said, his gaze faltering again
"Tyler! I am not going to let you go!" she yelled "You can survive with your wars, but you're leaving me with nothing except your stupid dog!" Tyler looked at her again.
"What other way is there?"
"We can love each other!" she said, still refusing to give up "Tyler! I love you! You know it, and I know you love me too!" Tyler's gaze was forced lower with every word.
"I'm the luckiest girl in the world to be in love with you. I've been blessed with true love in my first relationship and I'm not letting that go" she said, bringing her face closer to his. Tyler knew that she was utterly serious; he knew she would never stop. This moment was when Tyler realized the answer to the eternal question; Jia was in love with him. He knew he loved her; they were meant for each other. But he loved her too much to be as selfish as to let her stay with him. That would simply destroy the girl in Jia that Tyler loved.
"Kiss me, Tyler. I'll show you it can work out" she touched his shoulder and moved her mouth within inches of his…
"Good-bye, Jia."