AN: Here's more Niko/Zadan. A lot of people seem to want that. Let's just say trouble is something they're intimately familiar with. Enjoy! And don't forget to review and let me know what else you want to see!
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The halls were almost pitch black. The training base on Durix was a little less advanced than some of the others bases. It was far back in Kalix's territory, completely controlled and under no threat of attack. There were a few Dedians to stand guard, but no real active security measures. Therefore, two shadowy figures sneaking down a hall went completely unnoticed by everyone. Their intimate familiarity with the halls made it easy for them to maneuver their way down several halls and to the doors leading outside. One opened the door just enough to push a small seeing device through. Twisting it one way and then the other he found the guards gone.
"Let's go." He whispered softly.
"I don't know Zadan, this might be a bad idea."
"Don't be a chicken Niko." Zadan taunted in reply.
Niko clenched his jaw and silently followed his partner in crime out the door. He knew if they were caught they would be punished for being up after lights out. If Training Master Surun didn't punish them, then Dariv most certainly would, but most likely of all was that both of them would dole out the punishment. Niko wasn't looking forward to that.
As if sensing his thoughts Zadan shot him a mocking look. Niko glared back at him. The mood instantly shifted as Zadan held up a closed fist. Both trainees came to a stop and dropped flat on the ground. Seconds later a small patrol of Dedians started to pass within a few feet of them. One of the Dedians stopped. Niko didn't dare look at it, but he could guess it was a red trimmed Dedian, the bastards always seemed to be the ones to catch them. Niko held his breath as the Dedian stood still for several minutes scanning the area.
"Halt." The Dedian called to his comrades.
Niko tensed, sensing they had been found. The patrol came closer to their position. Niko hardly dared to breathe. One Dedian's boot was mere inches from his hand and he knew if the armored warrior looked down no amount of black clothing would hide him. All the Dedian had to do was take one more step and they would be found.
"False alarm." The patrol leader finally said. "Continue."
The four Dedians got back into formation and marched away. Niko waited a few minutes to make sure they were gone before sitting up and glaring at Zadan. His older companion grinned and Niko could tell that Zadan really enjoyed the thrill of sneaking out. He didn't, but he knew he would enjoy the fruits of their labor. Together the duo made their way to the wall where they faced the most difficult task. They could easily scale the rather short brick wall, but they had to do it without being seen and that would be the difficult part.
"I'll go first and make sure the other side is secure. I'll birdcall if it's safe." Zadan whispered.
"They'll hear you." Niko replied.
"It's that or I throw something at you."
"Fine, birdcall."
Niko watched as Zadan slunk to within a few feet of the wall and then took a running leap. He cringed as one of Zadan's hands slipped and then breathed a sigh when his partner got both hands on the top of the wall and pulled himself up and then over. Niko waited anxiously. He knew that if the Dedians saw Zadan they would immediately look for him. Just when he was ready to panic and head back he heard Zadan's distinctive birdcall. Niko instantly pushed himself up and rushed forward. He took a flying leap, caught the top of the wall, and pulled himself over much quicker than Zadan had. However, his haste gave him little chance to prepare himself for a landing, but was saved from a nasty fall when Zadan caught him.
"Fancy meeting you here." Zadan teased.
Niko squirmed out of his arms and gave him a heated look. Zadan grinned innocently before the two set out again. Now that they were away from the wall there would be very few patrols. They walked in a comfortable silence with a confidence borne of months of training on the planet. They knew the jungle just as well as they did the base and could easily make their way through the tangles of vines toward their goal. The planet's moons provided light, but they didn't need much of it.
Very shortly the two broke through the jungle into a sort of marshy, meadow. They could see for miles over the vast flat land and were pleasantly surprised to find their target so close to them. Sharing an excited look the two warriors in training stalked forward, their target blissfully unaware of them. Niko eyed the creature with a mix of awe and fear. Training Master Surun had told them that the creature was a gorath and that it was very dangerous. He told them to stay away from it at all costs. That just made the two rebellious boys want to get closer to it.
"Wow." Niko murmured.
Zadan turned his head and gave his friend a grin. "Pretty awesome. Bet those tusks could spear a Dedian clean through."
"Not to mention those antlers." Niko mused.
The gorath was massive. It was armed with four iron hard hooves, two armor piercing tusks, and a rack of antlers. It stood well above the two adventurous boys and posed a threat they should have known better than to mess with. They did know better, but that didn't stop them. The partners stopped a little ways away from the beast and tried to figure out how best to get atop the beast.
"I'll go around front and get its attention. You hop onto its back." Zadan said.
"I'll get kicked." Niko argued.
"You want to draw its attention?"
"No."
"Then stay here and wait."
Niko frowned at his older teammate, but didn't say anything in reply. He watched as Zadan skirted around the creature's side and then move in front of it. The gorath bellowed in surprise and took several giant steps back. Niko had no choice but to jump onto its back. Instantly the gorath began to buck and spin like some kind of crazed living top. Niko grabbed onto a handful of fur, but it wasn't enough. One mighty buck sent him flying into the air with a shocked and terrified yelp. With both hands out he cushioned his fall and felt one wrist give a little sending a sharp jolt of pain all the way up his limb.
"Niko!" Zadan was by his side instantly.
Both of them froze as the gorath gave another bellow of fury. As one they looked toward the enraged beast and found it with its head down and antlers ready to do damage. They looked back at one another and realized very quickly they had made a huge mistake. The gorath didn't give them any chance to prepare. It charged and Zadan quickly yanked Niko up. Niko leapt out of its path, but Zadan didn't get quite far enough and the antlers caught him hard in the ribs. He cried out as the antlers caught on the fabric of his sleeping shirt and pulled him along.
"Zadan!" Niko shouted in horror.
The gorath bellowed again and swung Zadan hard into the ground. Zadan rolled instantly and avoided being stepped on by those damaging hooves. The gorath spun quicker than most beasts its size could and came at Zadan again. Zadan got his arms up, but it was a weak defense. The unbreakable antlers nearly shattered Zadan's left arm and he was drove hard into the ground.
Not thinking properly Niko leapt at the gorath's side. The thought came to him too late that he was hardly strong enough to move the gorath and save his friend. The gorath seemed to sense his move and swung its head to the side. The impact sent Niko tumbling and the last thing he saw before his head came into contact with a rock was the gorath trying to gore his friend.
Zadan knew he and his friend were done for. He couldn't tell from his position if Niko was breathing or not, but he knew it wasn't going to matter. The gorath was about to turn its attention back to him and finish what it started. There was nothing he could do.
"Hey monster!" A familiar voice shouted from somewhere close by.
The gorath bellowed and spun to face the new threat. Three men were standing in a half circle and looked ready to fight. The gorath bellowed again and charged. The man in the middle grabbed the gorath's horns, leapt into the air, and used his strength and weight to shove the beast's head to the ground. The gorath stumbled, its front legs giving out from the awkward position. The two other men quickly lunged forward and kicked its back legs out from underneath it. The gorath gave a cry of despair as it hit the ground and became fully vulnerable. When no further attack came the animal shoved to its feet as quickly as it could and bolted away.
With the threat gone the three men turned their attention to their injured teammates. "You boys just couldn't resist could you?"
"C'mon Terik, don't tell me you weren't tempted." Zadan replied.
"Oh I was tempted, but I'm smart enough not to mess with things bigger than myself." Terik retorted. He kneeled beside the younger boy and shook his head. "You're lucky Training Master Surun called for a surprise training session or we never would have known you were missing."
"Is he mad?"
"Are you kidding?" One of the other men spoke up. "He's furious. You'll be lucky if he doesn't skin you alive."
"But maybe he'll take pity on your pathetic state and go easy on you." The third man said.
"Dariv won't." Terik added. "Expect a full, brutal dress down for this."
Zadan bit back a cry of pain as he was helped to his feet. His ribs burned like fire and his shattered arm gave him agonizing jolts each time it was jarred. Despite his own pain he quickly looked to where the other two men were checking on Niko.
"Walker? Alexi? How is he?" Zadan questioned.
Walker frowned and looked over at the younger man. "This head wound is serious. We need to get him back quickly."
"The Doctor isn't going to be too pleased with you boys either." Alexi added with a smirk. "He's going to tear you a new one."
Zadan groaned, but didn't say anything else. The trip back to the training base was made in relative silence. Everyone once in a while Alexi and Walker would say something to each other, but for the most part no one spoke. Upon passing through the gates Niko regained consciousness and insisted he walk on his own. Alexi and Walker complied, but helped any time he stumbled or faltered. Very soon they entered the infirmary.
"Bloody hell lads what have ya done to yourselves?" Dr. Radkee exclaimed.
"They decided to try and ride a gorath." Terik replied.
"Bloody foolish thing to do." Radkee muttered. He glared at his two new patients. "Make yourselves comfortable lads. I have a feeling you're going to be here a while."