Chapter 15: Revelation (Part 1)

We pushed through the forest, ignoring the painful scratches from the dead bushes but I didn't care. The scream from Rory kept echoing in my ears and the thoughts of him being hurt were unbearable. I have to find him!

Lar'ja was running next to me, glancing towards me once in a while. His mask covered his eyes and I couldn't tell if he was worried about my well being or the fact that we might be facing something dangerous while the alien dog was just in front of us. I kept my focus in front of me, hoping that I could make myself run faster. Every minute that passed by, something bad might be happening and in our case, it is worse than normal.

After some time, I could hear the sound of gunfire and men screaming in the night. The voices were all scrambled and I couldn't make out a full sentence but who they belonged to was unmistakable. McKenna was crying out to Nebraska to hold something down while Baxley and Coyle sounded like they were arguing. It was all I could hear until the dog stopped in his tracks just before hitting the edge of the bush. Lar'ja and I got closer and stopped as well, kneeling down to keep cover.

"What's going on Lar'ja? What do you see?"

"Hold on . . ."

He began to press buttons on his wrist gauntlet and the sound of his mask activated came to life. He turned his head slowly back and forth until it stops in one direction. I was about to ask him something until he began to growl low in his throat, obvious that he was upset.

"It's those fucking bastards that you call Stargazer."

"What?"

"They have Rory."

To confirm his words, I peeked through the bushes and saw a soldier with an arm wrapped around Rory's neck, pointing a gun at the opposite side where I could see McKenna, Brackett and the rest of the group popping their heads over the wall of rocks that was shielding them. My heart was pounding like a beat of a drum, causing me to clench it with my fist.

Then, I felt a hand press on my shoulders and looked to see Lar'ja staring me with his cold mask, attempting to reassure me.

"Don't worry. We'll make sure to save Rory."

It wasn't that I was doubting his words but rather, I was doubting myself that we could pull this off. I was beginning to feel scared.

"How?"

Lar'ja raised his head back up to look and after a few seconds, comes back to me.

"I have an idea but you need to trust me. Anya?"

I raised my head up to look into his mask but somehow, I could see his golden eyes through it and from my perspective, he sounded very genuine.

"Yes."

"Okay. I need you to go and distract them for a bit."

"Wha—"

He pressed a finger on my lips in a gesture to show to stop speaking. It became distracting when I could feel the heat radiating from his skin on my lips.

"I know it sounds crazy but I need to do something before we can attack. I need you to go out there and convince then to let Rory go. I don't know if it'll work but I just need a few minutes to prepare. Can you do it?"

I had to take a few moments to register what he was asking. I could get killed out there! I could start another fight that could end in more deaths or worse, get Rory killed!

But I knew that Lar'ja wouldn't send me out there to my own death. He had many chances to kill me before but never did. Especially after what he said to me when we were alone in the forest together.

There are many planets out there that are unique in their own ways . . . and the most beautiful one I've seen in all my life is the one we are standing on right now . . . there's a part of it that makes it appealing . . . you.

The words echoed in my mind and in my heart, I knew that he wouldn't have said something like that out of nothing. I needed to trust him . . . more than ever.

"Okay. I can do it."

We didn't move for what it seemed like forever until I felt his hand move from my lips to cup my cheek in his hand. The warmth of his heat spread through my face and I could have sworn that I was blushing. It didn't help me to stop it when he began to purr again like when we were in the forest but quieter. I just stood there like an idiot.

"Alright. I'm going. You can do it."

And before I could say any more, he released me and jumped up into the tree above me, turning on his invisibility and disappearing from my sight.

I groaned from how little courtesy he had but then again, it wasn't the time for such things. I rubbed my face where he touched me before I let go and watched the scene unfold.

I was thinking fast to come up with a plan. I glanced back and forth from the soldiers with Rory to McKenna and the rest of the guys. Then, I decided to just go for it since I wasn't smart enough to think of a plan. Apparently . . .

The alien dog was still by my side, still tensed by the current situation and bearing his teeth at the Stargazer soldiers but I didn't need him to go jumping in and causing more chaos. So, I decided to calm him down by stroking his dreadlocks and it had an immediate effect. The dog slumped and laid down on the ground, making the same purring noise as Lar'ja did. I'm starting to think that it's a sign of comfort but not completely sure. Either way, the dog became still.

"Alright, boy. Just stay here for me. Okay?"

He just huffed at me and placed his head low on the ground. It assured me that he wouldn't move from my spot. What a good dog.

Then, I turned to see the current situation before me and with a push of courage, I stepped out, revealing myself to everyone around me and raised my hands to show I didn't have my weapons on hand towards the soldiers.

"STOP!"

It all became eerily quiet on both sides of the battlefield. I could see the shocked expressions from McKenna and the group on one side while the soldiers holding Rory just looked at each other as if they were confused as to what I was doing. Just stick to the plan that Lar'ja told you. Give him time!

"Let Rory go! He's just a child!"

Again, the confusion spread all over the Stargazer soldiers until the one gripping Rory spoke out.

"Do you think we are stupid? You're probably just trying to trick us with your actions. All we want is the specimen that is with you. So hand him over to us and the boy comes to you unharmed."

I didn't buy a word that he was saying. I knew these lapdogs like the back of my hand. They say that they will honor the agreement but when you're vulnerable, they'll shoot you right in the back. Disgusting . . .

But this time, I needed to cooperate with them. I had to get Rory out of this mess and buy time for Lar'ja to do the something that he said would do. I just hoped that he would hurry.

"I don't where the specimen is. He's long gone now so there's no point in this. Just let him go and we will leave. We don't have anything that you are interested in."

"Oh? Are you sure about that?"

Everyone, including me, turned towards the direction of the voice that called out behind the soldiers and when he appeared from the darkness, my voice was caught in my throat and my heart skipped a beat for a moment. It was Traeger. That fucking bastard!

The way he walked with a cocky demeanor made me sick to my stomach. He had become a thorn in my side that I wished I could be rid of but I couldn't do anything right now. He had Rory and he would definitely use him to his advantage.

Traeger removed his glasses, staring right into me with a smirk on his face. The way that his eyes looked at me, it was like he could see through my soul and it sent a chill down my back.

"Seems like we keep meeting each other like this. With you against me while I have my army beside me. I'm having a little deja vu here."

I cut him off before he could say any more.

"What do you want? I told you that the alien is not here!"

"I know that but I figured he's still close by. After all, we did try to experiment on him so we can learn more about his kind. He will come back for revenge."

I didn't want to listen to any more of Traeger wanted to say and I was just about to grab the gun that was attached to my hip until his next words made me freeze.

"But the other reason why we are here is that I found out some pretty interesting facts . . . about you."

My heart dropped at the sound of his words. Whatever Traeger had found about me, I had a gut-wrenching feeling that it was about my past that I didn't want to reveal but I had no idea how to get to him without getting shot. Plus, Rory was still in the soldier's arms, looking terrified and struggling to find the release from his captor. I just stood still like a statue.

"What do you mean?"

Traeger just casually takes a container out of his pocket and took out a mint, placing it in his mouth and returning the container to its original place.

"Remember when you killed the soldier that was in the trailer with you, the kid and the predator?"

"Yautja."

His eyes widened in surprise a little.

"Anyway, when he was with you in the trailer, he had a small camera on him that showed everything that he was seeing. You gave us a great performance on your fighting skills. Pretty amazing . . ."

I was starting to not like where this was going but the little voice in the back of mind was telling me to keep stalling and that this would help Lar'ja with his plan. However, I was beginning to regret this.

"So, when he saw your arm and the numbers that were tattooed on in, we ran some research on it and guess what we have found."

My eyes widened to the point that I believed my eyeballs would come out of their sockets. Don't do this Traeger! Don't!

My inner plea fell on deaf ears when Traeger continued on.

"You're the missing experiment that disappeared on us more than ten years ago. We thought you were dead but it appears otherwise."

At that moment, the world around me felt like it was coming apart. Everything was moving slowly around me and I was feeling the dizziness inside my head, threatening me to topple over onto the ground. This was not supposed to happen! This can't happen!

"Anya . . . what is he talking about?"

I knew that it was McKenna who was speaking out to me but I didn't dare to move and look at him. The thought of seeing the group's expression terrified me and it didn't help when I saw Rory's face filled with shock beyond anything I've ever seen.

"Oh . . . so you didn't tell your little group of friends. Did you?"

I gasped out to Traeger, trying to say anything to make him stop but my body wasn't obeying me. I was helpless to stop this.

"Well then let me tell you all. This woman was part of an experiment that we had started more than twenty years ago. She was part of it as a puny lab rat and in fact, she was the very center of it. The core of Project Ironclad."

"Project . . . Ironclad?"

I didn't need to look to confirm that it was Brackett who asked the question but in her voice, it almost sounded like she knew of it. It shouldn't have surprised me but then again, I thought I was long dead history to Stargazer.

Traeger looked past me and towards Brackett.

"Yes. I know that you have been looking into that when you shouldn't be. It's one of the reasons why we wanted you dead but it doesn't matter now. I'm only interested in Anya."

My eyes widened larger than before, shocked that Traeger addressed me with my name. It only confirms that he knows who I am now.

He smirked at my reaction, almost glad that he got something out of me other than anger. I tried to hide my fears but the more he talked about my past, the harder it was to cover it from prying eyes.

"Anya, Anya, Anya. I remember you now. You were the little fucking brat who wouldn't stop whining in agony when I gave you the boot, beating you until there was nothing left and you crying all over. I have to admit that I missed it so much. The feeling of causing great pain to you . . . it brings me such pleasure."

I couldn't stand it anymore. I didn't want to hear it. All I wanted was to run. Run as fast as I could, even if it leads me to the ends of the Earth. I was beginning to feel my chest sting in unbearable pain. My stomach lurching and making me want to vomit. And then, the headache came back ten-fold, causing me to grip my hands on my head and whine quietly. I was hoping that it would stop but nothing.

The memories were coming back but they were stronger than ever. I could see Traeger again, slamming his boots on my tiny body, repeating it over and over again. I could feel the pain of torture growing all over my body as if I was getting beaten right now. It's impossible! I can't do this! I don't want to feel it again! PLEASE!

"And when the time I used that burning whip on you . . . those were the best memories I had with you. Just the feeling of gripping that whip and lashing it out on your back."

No more . . . please . . .

"Shut up . . ."

"And seeing the long marks stretching all the way down your back."

"Shut up . . ."

"Not to mention seeing your skin burn from it."

"Shut up!"

"Oh . . . that was a good feeling."

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

Everything went silent but I knew that Traeger was relishing in this. Torturing me as he did a long time ago but it was worse. I couldn't stop it from coming and I was just as helpless as I was before. Nothing has changed . . .

"Don't worry, Anya. After all, it will soon be over. We will free you from your pain and you never have to go through it again."

By the time I raised my head to look up, the whole group of soldiers pointed their guns at me with the lasers targeting my head and chest. Normally, I would put up a fight against them but the pain of my memories and Traeger's words froze my body in a cocoon, unable to break free. I stared blankly at them but towards Rory most of all. The look of despair on his face tore my heart apart even more. There were tears streaming down his cheeks and I believed that I was the reason for him crying.

Traeger raised his hand high into the air as a signal to his men.

"On my mark, shoot her."

I heard the cocking of guns, the movement of multiple triggers and the smell of impending death. There was nothing I could do but submit to my fate. It's over . . . Over . . .

But then, another sound begins to grow louder and louder but I couldn't make out what it was. It was some kind of rumble but it was too far for my ears to hear. But it could be that my senses were numb to me.

After a few seconds, the rumbling gets, even more, louder until I recognized what it was. The sound of an engine. And then, an overwhelming light comes crashing through the trees and into the direction of the soldiers.

No one had time to react other than turn our heads into its direction and I realized that it was the trailer. I was shocked but more about who was driving. The last time I checked, all the guys were with McKenna and I glanced over to see everyone accounted for. So, who's driving the fucking trailer!?

There was no time to answer when the trailer comes passing through and I had to jump to the side to avoid crashing into it. I grunted when I landed on the hard dirt but then I lifted my head to see that the trailer was aiming for Traeger and the soldiers. Some managed to jump out of danger, including Traeger and luckily Rory but some were unfortunate as either some got run over or crushed when the trailer pinned them to the huge boulder behind them.

The crimson blood streaked all over the ground where the trailer ran through. There was intestines spread all over and a severed arm lying next to the trailer. When I looked to see where the trailer stopped at the boulder, I saw the face of a soldier with half of his face gone, revealing an eyeball just dangling out of his socket and his skull crushed, oozing all of its contents on the nearby ground.

The trailer was completely trashed beyond repair and I wondered what would McKenna and Nebraska think about this.

I was stunned and confused at the same time. Who did this? Who's this fucking stupid?!

I walked a little closer until something began to move inside the trailer. Instinctually, I grabbed my handgun and pointed towards it, preparing for some kind of fight. Suddenly, the hood of the trailer shot out, making me jump a little as it slammed onto the ground a few feet away.

But the next thing I knew, the frame of a huge, seven-foot, black Yautja leaps and lands a few feet in front of me, stunning me beyond belief but it was the least of my worries.

I was stunned but then began to feel the anger boiling inside me.

"Lar'ja!? What the fuck is this?"

He just strolls towards me, grunting a little bit as if he was annoyed but I was too angry with him.

"I told you. This was my plan with a few minor changes so I used the ooman vehicle you call a trailer."

"You almost got everyone killed!"

"But it worked. See?"

As if on cue, Rory comes running towards us, embracing me while I did the same. The anger before was gone and I kneeled down to hug him tightly as if he would float away if I faltered for just a moment.

"Anya!"

"Rory . . . Thank goodness."

We stayed like that for a moment until I looked up to see Lar'ja looking down on us. I couldn't read his emotions due to his face being covered by the mask so I had no idea what he made of this. But I wanted to let him know of my appreciation.

"Thank you."

His body shook for one moment in surprise or at least I thought it was but he composed himself quickly and gave a small purr in return.

"You're welcome."

I chucked towards him as it has become so natural to me when I'm around him but he didn't get annoyed anymore by it. I was wondering if he was getting used to it. Either way, the happiness inside me grew.

"By the way, how did you know to drive the trailer?"

All he was raise his shoulders up in a gesture that told me he just knew.

"I'm a pretty fast learner. I can use ooman objects if I had no choice but I rather not use them. It's disgusting."

Again, I chucked once more but then he growled a little. Guess he's back at hating my chuckles.

I heard lots of footsteps coming close behind but Rory's face lit up so I knew it must be McKenna and the others. I let go of Rory and he rushed passed me to hug McKenna just as tightly as he did with me. Everyone else came behind with Baxley, Coyle, and Nebraska in a row while Nettles was close with Brackett and Lynch a few feet behind.

"What the fuck was that?"

Coyle yelled out, trying to ask me for an explanation as to what just transpired here and I couldn't blame him. Even witnessing it, it's hard to comprehend it.

"Uhhh . . . escape plan."

"Well, that is some plan then. Almost got everyone killed."

"It worked though."

"You could have warned us."

McKenna's voice comes in as he stands up with Rory right behind. The look that he was giving almost reminded me of a child being scolded by their father and that is never pleasant.

"I didn't know. Lar'ja was the one who came up with it. If I knew, then I would have stopped him."

Lar'ja gave a huge growl, turning to face me with fury emitting from him. His body tensed a little.

"Can't you be grateful? I saved all of your asses!"

"And almost killed them at the same time . . . but I appreciate it Lar'ja. Everyone does."

He relaxes again, almost believing my words but I assumed that he didn't believe that everyone else was feeling the same way as I did.

Before I could talk, McKenna steps up and comes a little too close for comfort and with a serious face on him.

"So what is all the bullshit about you and Stargazer?"

My whole demeanor changed in an instant. I stopped moving and looked into McKenna's eyes. He didn't look too happy but I didn't want to spill the beans about what Traeger was talking about earlier.

"I don't know."

"Bullshit! You were part of Stargazer and you didn't fucking tell us!"

I raised my hands out in defense. I was backing into a corner and I didn't want to fight about this. I wasn't ready to tell them just yet. I was still recovering from my mental crisis that occurred recently.

"I don't . . . I don't . . ."

McKenna was coming closer to me and I started to back up until I bumped into a muscular chest that felt massive, which I knew belonged to Lar'ja. One of his arms wrapped around my shoulders, keeping me close to him. All of a sudden, he began to growl ferociously at McKenna, causing him to back off a little. The vibrations coming from him was very comforting and made me feel safe.

"Don't touch her."

McKenna raised his hands in defense.

"Got it. I'm sorry but I expect an explanation once we get out of this hell hole."

As much as I wanted to decline, I knew I didn't have much of a choice. Traeger said too much for me to deny any of it. But at least McKenna was giving me some time to think about my answer.

"Got it. We need to get out of here as soon as possible and without the trailer, we got very little time."

"What about Stargazer? And Traeger?"

I almost forgot about them with everything going on but when I turned to look back, they all had vanished without a trace, including Traeger. The only reminder that they were here is the dead soldiers that they left behind to rot away.

I should have known better. Traeger only thinks about himself and will take any men he had left to retreat but then again, we did hit him where it hurts. Still, it was the way of a coward. Son of a bitch!

"Why would they take off so suddenly?"

For once, I took Coyle's words into consideration. He's right. They wouldn't take off like that, especially with Lar'ja and I still around. So why?

McKenna strolls over and places a reassuring hand on Coyle's shoulder.

"Well, we don't want to stick around and find out. Besides we—"

All of a sudden, Lar'ja moves fast, curling his body around mine and wrapping both arms around my chest. Both of us fell to the ground in a fetal position. I didn't know what to make of his sudden action until he roared out to everyone.

"Get down!"

Once he said those words, everything up to that moment was never going to be the same.

Hi Readers!

This chapter became longer than expected so I split it into two: Revelations Part 1 and 2.

I tried to see if I could keep it as one chapter but when I took out some of the parts, it didn't flow with the story that I wanted it to be so I made the decision to split it. Good news is that this week, there will be two chapters posted instead but I can't guarantee that there won't be some cliffhangers :)

Anyway, I hope that every one of you is alright with this and I hope that it is all worth it since I want you guys to enjoy my story.

Thank you, everyone, for the support and stay tuned for Revelations Part 2!

Happy Holidays! :)))