Chapter 8
Sateda fall - part 1.
"-…Faster! - Moonlight threw, running as strength.
Several bolts with the soldiers guns hit in the trunks of trees, between which they maneuver, trying to avoid them.
And suddenly the road ended. They stopped abruptly, waving his arms to keep balance. They stood on the edge of a high escarpment, the bottom of which flowed wild river. They looked each other. They ran faster than men, but still had on them too much advantage.
Mo looked around, but she no saw other way out. For a moment she looked carefully examined the other side - was less uniform than that, for which they stand. Many rock shelf were at different heights. But one of them, the most extensive, was at the same level as they were. The above was just sticking out the side of big rock.
- We jump - she said.
- To river?
- No, on the other side - she gestured head.
- Are you crazy? It's too far. We can not do it.
- We can do... Take a running start and hard to knock out - she threw, gave him a wink, and then stepped back a few feet.
For a brief moment she preparing to run, and then she took a deep breath and jumped up. Sunblaze watched with disbelief as she rushes to the edge, and the last time she jumps out up. For a few seconds she glided in the air, waving her arms and legs as if it would help her fly away. And then she started to fall down.
She was struck the belly of the rocky shore, trying to catch anything, but she began to slide down. He almost held his breath, eyes of imagination seeing as she fall down into the river, when suddenly she stopped. He strained eyes. Mo was holding her fingertips firmly protruding piece of rock, pulling slowly. He breathed a sigh of relief, when the larger part of her body already lay on the ground safely, not pull in down their own weight.
Then she got up and looked at him.
- Now you! - she shouted. - Undress your coat, because will be only disturb! Wrap it with a rock and flip here! - she waved her hand.
He nodded and quickly found a enough big rock, to do as she said. He swung and threw it. Coat fell next to her. She held him to not rolled into the river.
- Jump!... Just take a good running start!
He still was not convinced to this idea, but sounds approaching humans not give him a choice. Besides, he trusted her, when she told him to jump out of the fighter, so, what this time he has to lose... except his life... again.
He positioned himself in the place where she started, took a deep breath and... when he just wanted to move, one of the bolts hit his thigh. He growled in pain and fell to the ground.
He looked at the female. She walked to the edge. On her face was anxious. She wanted to help him, but she was already on the other side... and from the trees just emerged human soldiers... She moved into their her eyes, snarled under his breath... and then fled into the woods.
He watched with disbelief as she disappear between trees.
He could not believe that she left him.
He looked at the humans and growled a warning, trying to get up.
They just stopped. They were clearly pleased overlooking the wounded Wraith, smiling contemptuously.
- Look what we have here - one of them sneered. - Wounded predator.
- Carefully - added a second, when they began to surround him.
There were three of them.
Sunblaze stepped back, but the only way left to him, what would jump down to the river, full of boulders. He growled again, and prepared to fight. There were only three, he thought. So he had a good chance. It's just humans, and he is a Wraith... The humans armed with guns and knives... He was already dead.
Trying to preserve the remnants of the dignity of the Wraith, he measured their grim eyes, snarling. But they only smiled maliciously, cautiously approaching more and more.
Somewhere behind him, he heard silent sound of someone's feet running the rock. Unwittingly he looked in that direction. On the highest rock appeared just figure in a short black coat. The four of them watched with disbelief as she strikes up to soar high above the forest canyon.
The female landed right next to one of the soldiers, hitting him on the way her shoulder. Both fallen. He fell hard on his back, gasping for breath, but she gracefully rolled over her shoulder and stopped a bit further. For a moment she squat, to reach for something in her shoes. Then she jumped up, and started with impetus towards the central soldier.
Metal stick, which she held in her hands, lengthened. She was struck him with one of them, but he could block her blow his rifle, wrestling with her. She glanced quickly over her shoulder for the eye, when to her ears reached sound loading rifle. She grabbed for the gun the soldier and pulled, to cover him. Before the third soldier realized what she had done, the bolt fired from the barrel, hitting straight into the chest of his companion.
He opened his eyes wide, realizing what he had done... and what will happen soon. Keeping with soldier's body as a shield, Mo raised his rifle and pointed. The bolt pierced the thigh of the third soldier. He screamed with pain and fell to the ground.
The first of the soldiers got up and was also carrying his gun. Female Wraith turned to him, still hiding behind a dead man.
- Take him gun - she instructed, gesturing head sentenced to wounded man.
Sunblaze moved slowly, limping. He saw the soldier lying on the ground reaching for the rifle, but his hand suddenly froze, even though he had a gun right in front of him. The pilot looked at the young female. She had to control his mind, he thought. He had never seen anything like it.
Targeting all the time in the direction of the last man, Moonlight moves in parallel with a young Wraith, shielding him from a possible shot. Sunblaze growled a warning to lying on the ground and raised his gun. Only then Mo freed him from telepathic bond. She breathed deeply. It was evident that it was not as easy for her as it seemed.
- You can not escape here alive - said contemptuously standing soldier. - Gates are at the center of our capital city. They'll kill you.
- That's our concern - she said calmly, with a sarcastic smile. - Drop the gun.
- Why? And so you will devour me.
- I'm not hungry, and to him remained still your friend... so you have some chance of survival.
- Are you crazy? He shall report to the rest - threw Sunblaze.
- It's already probably all know. There's no way that they were the same ones who hit your fighter... It's a completely different team.
He hesitated. She was right, he thought. His fighter was hit far away. No human would not have reached here so quickly, and he did not see their flying machines.
- What's gonna be? - she asked the soldier. - We just stand, or you throw a weapon and you save your life?
The man thought for a moment, glancing at her once, and once for his companion... and then threw the gun in front of him.
- Kasdek? - exclaimed with disbelief of his wounded comrade.
But he does not answer anything. Moonlight smiled.
- Thank you... He has already started weigh heavily to me - she scoffed and let go of the corpse, keeping his rifle.
Still pointing to the soldier, she walked over to his guns and kicked it away from him. Then she made her lance and hid the shoes.
- You can go.
- You let go of him? - said with disbelief Sunblaze.
She looked at him coldly.
- I promised him - she hissed. - I keep my word... But if you think otherwise, please. Shoot him.
The man hesitated, waiting for what will happen. But the young Wraith just snapped, angry, and turned to the lying soldier.
He opened his eyes wide, and tried to run away, but the wound would not let him. He tried to crawl away, calling a friend for help, but the Wraith pressed him to the ground the rifle, quickly turned around, and put his hand to the human chest, starting feed on of him.
Moonlight turned.
She did not like the view.
She looked at the last survivor.
- You want to look how he is slowly dying? - she asked.
The man looked at her. He was also surprised and horrified by what he seen. The first time he saw the Wraith feed on man... and he did not understand why the female turned her back, with a grimace on her face. However, he do not discuss with her on this. He just turned on his heel and ran, quickly disappeared among the trees.
Mo looked at fighter pilot. He just finished his... meal. Then he stood up, satisfied. Now the wound is not bothering him anymore.
- Can we go? - she said, passing him.
He looked after her and caught her.
- You're strange.
- This is a professional opinion? - she scoffed under her breath.
He smiled corner of his mouth
- I am Sunblaze, of the Clan Silverdracon - he introduced himself.
- In your dreams - she snorted. - I met Sunblaze. First, he did not look like you, and secondly, he's dead.
- I know... He was my father - he said. - He died a week before my Eulerus, so I decided to take his name.
Sneer on her face immediately disappeared. She stopped.
- I'm sorry - she said, and she nodded head. - Your sad is my sad - she said gravely.
He smiled slightly.
- You practice the old customs, like my father - he said.
- My father was also an intelligence officer of the Council. I think most of them are practicing it - she said, and she added immediately: - I am Mo.
- Mo?! - Wraith snorted. - This is your name?!
She stopped and gave him a grim look.
- Something you do not like? - she snapped, pulling at to him.
- No... Just... You know... Its kind funny - he added a little apprehension.
- It short for Moonlight, genius - she said and walked away.
- This is a very pretty name - he said, and caught up with her again. - And Clan?
- Nightwatchers.
- Uuuu, Clan related with the Grey Council... no bad.
Again she looked at him uncomfortable, but this time he ignored it. He was in a very good mood and he was not going to spoil it himself.
- How long you are such?... Well, you know... - he shook his hand.
- What, you want to write my biography?.
- Why are you angry? - he asked.
She stopped again, this time suddenly, so he had to turn back.
- For your lingering unnecessarily killed two humans, and you're stupid asking me why I'm angry? In addition, our Clan will be now be wondering why we do not go back and will send a hive here... and probably this end up with a great feasting - she ended with irony.
He snorted, amused.
- It's just humans. Why are they so worried about?... Besides, that's why I'm here. I had to see how far they are developed.
- Well, it turned out badly you - now she scoffed.
He growled, angry. She ignored him and walked on.
- I do not understand. You are Wraith. From where this sympathy for the humans? Because of this, that you can not feed on? - he continued, but Moonlight only smiled. - What's so funny?
- The fact that you called me WRAITH... Most of the Wraith, when they find out who I am, defines me as THIS or Protheu. They treat me more like a worshipper.
- Apparently they're idiots - he said, and she looked at him in surprise. He grabbed her arm and stopped. - Listen to me. For me it does not matter... what do you eat. You were born Wraith, so you're Wraith. Simple... Anyway, today you have proven me this a couple of times... This jump... WOW... It was amazing - he said excitedly. - I would never have decided on something like that... And use the rock to return was brilliant.
She cocked her head slightly, looking at him intently, then smiled slightly.
- You're strange - she summed up and moved on.
- This is professional opinion?! - he said with a hint of irony and caught up with her. - What you're doing here? This is not areas your Clan.
- I was going to visit someone.
- The humans? - he surprised, and just said, seeing her gloomy look. - I ask, because it is rather unusual, as the Wraith.
- This is family my human Keeper. She returned to the Sateda some fifty years ago... Sometimes I check what's going on with them.
- And they just accept you?
- No… And they do not know, that I am arrives here... Mia husband... um, how to say?... Not very like me - she smiled wryly. - How for all her past relating with the Wraith. The last time they saw me, when Mia died - she said sadly.
- She must have meant a lot to you.
She did not answer. Only nimbly jumped from stone to stone a small mountain stream. For a long moment they both were silent.
They just arrived at the crossroads, and the young Wraith turned left when he realized that the female goes in the opposite direction.
- You do not have to go to the city. I know another way to back - he said.
She looked at him and smiled suddenly corner of his mouth.
- Back Gate?
- Do you know about them? - he surprised and immediately added: -...Yes, your father - he said.
- You go. I have to do something - she said, moving.
- You go to these humans? This is crazy. Surely they already prepare the defense.
- I have to warn them - she said, without stopping.
He caught up and grabbed her by the arm, turning facing each other.
- You out of your mind... I will not let you in there.
- I am going. You can come back - she said firmly.
For a moment they looked into each others eyes. Finally, a young Wraith sighed and let go of her.
- Alright. I'll go with you - he said.
She shrugged her shoulders and turned on her heel.
- No one is forcing you.
- Somehow the vision of confrontation with your mother, when they kill you, not suits me - he muttered.
She smiled sarcastically under her breath.
They went to the city a few hours, try to avoid the main roads of the forest. Sunblaze inquired with curiosity about what Mo doing on hive, about her father and her relationship with his father. She answered him calmly to all these questions, but he saw that her thoughts wander elsewhere.
It was almost dark when they reached the place. City lights could be seen from afar. Everywhere was spinning the army - as he thought, Sateda already was preparing for defense. It will be a miracle if they do not get caught, he thought.
- Their house is on the outskirts of the city - said Moonlight, when they observed the vicinity of a small hill. - We enter them in groves - she pointed out the vast expanse of trees.
- Even a nice place on my grave - he said teasingly.
- As I said, you do not have to go. This is none of your business.
- You're kidding! I do not miss the action - he said. - How the spy stories of my father - he added with a grin.
- I see that narrate the story to their children is a tradition among intelligence officers - she snorted and stood up, moving on.
Sunblaze glanced again at the city and caught up with her..."
.
…He smiled under his breath at the memory of that day. Fly into the hive hangar, he wondered how went to their lives, if on then forest path any of them went their own way. And if he had not insisted on later to begin the service on Skyfall hive.
Sunblaze set his darts on one of the platforms and headed for the bridge.
The room was very unusual, as on Wraith hiveships. All control panels are located on the sides and in the middle stood a tall seat for the Commander. Towered over it four arches, and on the right side was positioned a small, handy panel.
Similar arrangement of equipment were most ships famous them races, and what he learned from Mo, Wraith ships before the war. And it was her idea to go back to that...
Anyway, the whole ship was very unusual. Ever since her mother died at the hands of humans, they were on our own. And as a scientific entity, held in his memory banks knowledge of many different civilizations... and now they started to implement them in their hive.
Most of the Wraith on board did not have nothing against mixing different technologies - they were scientists, so answer them the idea.
They had no such qualms, how other hives, to keep "clean technology". Times have changed, and it very much. It was necessary to begin to make changes in the ongoing mentality for thousands of years. And they, as outcasts, they could not afford to waste such knowledge.
Sitting in a Commander chair Stardrift glanced over his shoulder at the young Wraith.
- You can't sleep? - Sunblaze snorted.
- Someone has to work wish someone could sleep - cut, although the tone of his voice did not indicate that it was a joke. - You're already bored searching?
- I found the wreck of her fighter...
He did not finish. Navigation officer looked at him sharply. On his face there was a mixture of fear and panic. Sunblaze the first time saw that this Wraith took over with what has happened with Mo.
- Take it easy. There was no body - he calmed him. - She had to eject before... I understand that Skall... I mean, Commander, asleep?
Navigation officer clearly relaxed on the message and went back to his job. Sunblaze smiled to himself.
- Yes - he said.
- Then I'm going to take a nap. I'll talk to him this morning. I will not upset him now what I found out.
- What's that?
- Oh, nothing... From a reliable source I know who shoot down Mo fighter.
Stardrift looked at him with mild interest.
- Starburst fighters - said a young Wraith.
The officer raised his eyebrow.
- Are you sure?... What's that old sneaky Wraith plans again?
- I do not know… but the message comes from his hive.
Elder Wraith grinned sharply corner of his mouth.
- I do not even ask about the details of your informant - snorted.
Sunblaze bared to him his teeth, and then turned on his heel.
- See you - he said, leaving the bridge.