History's Lesson
The married couple had entered the trees having heard the scream from Kahlua. "Let's go and see shall we, Dazin," the woman said as her hair bounced around her face as she had nodded in the direction of the scream.
"Oh alright," he conceded. "I doubt that our target is even here. I think the information was false Layla."
She grinned at him and threw her arms around him, "Thank you, you won't be sorry sweetheart. If nothing else we might get a reward for saving the person who screamed." She hoped he looked at the bright side of things. She loved him dearly but from time to time he annoyed her with his pessimistic attitude. She ran her hand lightly over his arm smiling at him.
"I hope we get something out of this or it will be a waste of time love," he muttered as they headed off into the trees and the source of the scream.
They walked quickly and checked their weapons to make sure they were fully charged and ready for combat. Only fools went into combat without a fully charged gun, and this pair of hunters were not fools. They were quite talented, and were well known throughout the galaxy.
"Do you think the . . .," he started but was cut off by Layla.
"Don't say it okay. I told you don't ever say it please. I don't like thinking that we might be too late on such things," whispered her voice across the distance to her husband who silently nodded.
She hated to think that they were late. It had happened once and she had never forgiven herself. She had been held up by a group of foolish bandits who tried to rob her. It had taken her too long to kill them and get to her assigned position. She had arrived in time to watch as a young boy had been killed. The image of his blood stained body lying motionless on the ground still haunted her. She never thought of the job only of the end of it and every time she did tears came to her eyes. Not this time though. She gritted her teeth. "We won't be late," she whispered to herself and intended for that statement to be true.
Meia and the others had entered the Nirvana and ran straight to where the Vanguards were held. Their dreads would be little use fighting out on land like this. Meia hated to admit it but she had never truly learned how to fight well with a Vanguard. She was passable but she wasn't an expert as she was with her dread. To this day it still grated on her nerves to know that she had failed at learning something.
"Alright everyone, it seems that our enemy is here as well. We won't run, and we won't hide. We shall fight them here do you understand," Magno yelled into the intercom system and everyone knew what their jobs were.
"Captain, he is still out there somewhere. I would like to look for him when we have defeated the enemy," Meia told the captain.
"Fine you can do that," Magno said and Meia's face disappeared from in front of Magno as the screen went black.
"Captain, I wonder why she cares about this man," BC asked curious.
"I really don't know BC but now is not the time for such things."
"You are correct captain. Everyone battle stations. We have a fight on our hands and we can't run because of the ship in space waiting for us. We have to fight here and now and win," BC yelled to the crew on the bridge and they all nodded their understanding.
Everyone fell into their jobs with ease. They had done it so much over the years that it was second nature now. Everyone knew what to do and when to do it. Duero was watching vital signs and Paiway had the infirmary ready. Everyone was ready as the Vanguards were launched to deal with the approaching threat.
Hibiki was in the lead with Meia to his left. She was still team leader even though she wasn't the best pilot of them. She had the most combat experience and the most experience as a leader. Dita, Jura, and Barnette were ready as well bringing up the rear. Each had their weapons ready even though none had a gun. Gascogne was working on that though. She figured just a while longer and she would have one figured out that would work on the Vanguards. It would greatly increase their combat effectiveness.
"Alright everyone, the enemy is here and we can't afford to let them get close to the Nirvana. It is time that we showed them what women and men can do together," Meia said through her comm system to everyone and she heard the assent of agreement crackle back through hers.
"You got that right. Those bastards are in for a rude awakening if they think they can beat us," came the ever cocky voice of Hibiki. He was always a little tougher when he had his partner with him.
"That's right Mr. Alien! We can beat them together," the ever cheerful voice of Dita rang out. Meia smiled slightly at those two. They had something special that she wasn't so sure that she would ever feel. It would be nice to know that you could believe in someone that much but to this day she found it tough to believe in someone absolutely. For her it was just difficult but she was trying.
"Oh this is such a bother, why can't they just leave us alone," Jura asked lazily. She hated using the vanguards as they lacked the beauty, and finesse of a Dread.
"Everyone ready," Meia commanded and they all readied themselves as large robots similar to the Vanguards only reptilian landed in the clearing across from the Vanguards. "This is it everyone."
"Right," They all cried as one and Hibiki led the charge to the enemy.
Kahlua was struggling with all her might against the Slythik but his grip might as well have been iron bands around her for the good it did her. "Little girl that sssscream may have cosssst you your life you know," the one holding her hissed in her ear and his tongue flicked out and caressed her ear.
She shivered in fear and disgust at the creature. Tears were falling from her eyes like so many diamonds. The Slythik ran his tongue over her cheek and tasted them. "SSSo filled with fear," he whispered to her and then started to drag her with him.
"No I don't want to, I don't want to go, help me," she said her voice barely above a whisper she was so scared. Her body didn't seem to want to obey her will. It was as if the fear itself were holding her in place.
The Slythiks walked through the trees for maybe ten minutes when they stopped again. "The battle mussst be joined sssir," a smaller darker green Slythik observed to his commander.
"Yesss that isss good. Crussshing the humanssss issss our priority. Thisss one I may keep and make my very own sssslave," he said this and laughed. His laugh sounded like fingers over sandpaper and made Kahlua shiver in his grip which caused him to laugh all the harder.
"Come we mussst go to the command center. It isss there that we sssshall watch the dessstruction of the pathetic humansss," he commanded and started to walk off dragging Kahlua again. Her foot got caught in a tree root but he didn't slow. When she didn't follow right away he yanked on her arm and dislocated the arm at the shoulder joint. At the same time he had pulled with enough force that the bones in her foot snapped and she screamed louder than she had ever screamed in her life at the shock of pain that lanced through her body like lightning.
The pain was like nothing Kahlua had ever felt before. It was startling in it's intensity. Kahlua had been shocked at the violence of the Slythik but the pain had followed right on its heels and took a hold of her. She had screamed in pain, pain like she had only heard described by the soldiers on the Nirvana. Now she knew what they had felt and it terrified her. She only wanted to go home, she only wanted to play with her dolls and to play with her friends. She only wanted to eat ice cream, and get dirty, like all kids. She didn't want to be a slave, whatever that meant. She only wanted to go home.
She screamed again and again as the pain wouldn't lesson no matter how much she screamed hoping that it would make it go away. She had no idea that screaming wasn't lessoning the pain. She only knew that when something hurt you screamed and cried and Duerro, or her mom, or someone would make it better. No one was there though to make it better, and she cried all the harder nearly choking herself she wasn't breathing properly.
"Ssstupid girl, ssstop ssscreaming," he hissed and backhanded her making her head ring and she bit her own tongue. Stars swam in her vision and she felt her eye close as that quickly swelling started to take over. She started to slump to the ground but the pain she felt came back in its intensity and she screamed again as her tears flowed even faster.
"I sssaid sssshut up," he said and raised his hand again to hit her his claws at the ready.
"We have to hurry honey," Layla said to her husband as they ran through the trees. She could feel her blood pumping faster and her stomach started to get that feeling it always got when the hunt was on. She hated to admit it but the scream they had heard had started to get her blood running. It meant that she was going to get to hunt. She loved that.
"I know hon," he said as he smiled at her. He too was feeling the blood rush and the hunt was on. They heard another scream, and another this time closer. They knew they were closing on their prey but they started to hope that they were already there. Those screams held so much pain and anguish, and Layla wanted only to hold the child that was making them. She knew now that it was a girl, and she just wanted to hold her and comfort her, but first she knew that the hunt must be done and the enemy killed. It had to be done.
Layla and Dazin kept running and they checked their weapons making sure they were ready. They heard a hiss and frowned and then they came to where a break in the trees could be seen ahead. They stopped running and slowly advanced moving through the undergrowth to stay hidden. They hid in some bushes and peered out of them to see the scene of many Slythiks dragging a human girl, or rather torturing her it seemed. As they watched she was backhanded across the face and her whimpering stopped for a couple moments. Layla started to rise to her feet but was pulled back down by her husband. "Wait, honey," he whispered to her.
"Why," she demanded her eyes blazing at her foolish husband.
They watched as the massive Slythik raised his hand again and was about ready to bring it down across the girl's face who was whimpering. The poor girl looked to have a dislocated shoulder and her foot looked broke as well Layla noticed. The girl had blood on her face and tears were flowing freely. Her heart nearly broke at the sight and her husband wanted her to wait. How could he be so callous? He knew better, he liked children too. She was ready to stand up and then she saw why her husband wanted her to wait.
The Slythik was ready to bring his hand down across the girls face when a cold voice cut through the clearing. "Harming my friend was a mistake lizard."
The massive Slythik turned and saw a human who looked as if he shouldn't even be walking. The man was covered in blood, his own and had abundant wounds. "You are a fool human. You can hardly walk and you threaten me?" The arrogance of this human was appalling. The slythik had never encountered anyone who had so much arrogance in his many years. He had killed his own men for less than the insult this human had offered him.
"Kill him," the leader said and two charged Akarik.
Layla was surprised to hear the voice a human so near and yet she watched as the man seemed to appear out of the woods. He was leaning heavily on a tree, blood covering his chest and legs. His face was contorted with pain and something else that she could have swore was hunger. His voice had been so cold and his eyes held hate. He pushed himself from the tree and stood there after he had spoken.
He was tall and quite handsome, she had to admit. If she hadn't been married she would have thought about trying to bed him. She was married though and so she contented herself with just watching the man. He was muscular as well and he waited easily for the enemy.
"What do you make of him Dazin," she whispered.
"I think he is very dangerous. Look at the way he stands even though he is so heavily wounded and has lost so much blood," Dazin answered back.
"I agree, perhaps we should watch and see what happens?"
"I think that is best for now."
They settled into place easing their weapons out getting ready in case they were needed. This man though was curious and they wanted to see what he was capable of before they showed themselves.
It had taken a great effort on Akarik's part to find the scream. He had lost a lot of blood now and his vision was blurred. Akarik though was a man who did things to the best of his ability. He would help whoever it was.
He had come to a clearing and saw that the scream had come from Kahlua. Kahlua the little girl who had become his friend on that ship. She had been so kind to him and had trusted him with a child's innocence. Akarik was scared as he saw her now, in the clutches of a massive Slythik. The slythik was a one of the hunters, the true soldiers of the Slythik empire.
Now his hunger was so bad he wasn't so sure he could hold it at bay. His friend had blood on her face and then two of the slythiks charged him. He looked to Kahlua to see that the massive Slythik took up her arm and bit down into it ripping a hunk of her arm off to eat.
"Damn you, I'll kill you all, I swear it," he yelled at the top of his lungs and as the first Slythik closed with him he stepped inside its punch. His hand came up in a straight jab and crushed the windpipe of the Slythik. It fell to the ground twitching trying to breathe but no air would come.
"Come foolisssh human kill me if you can," the leader taunted.
The second charged Akarik and he turned his gaze to the creature. It was full of blood, and Akarik could see the vein in its neck throbbing as the blood was pumped throughout its body to move the great creature. All that blood . . . Akarik gritted his teeth against the thoughts and the hunger.
It swung at him and he wasn't able to duck under its claws. They ripped into his face sending blood splattering the ground. It kneed him in the groin and picked him up in a bear hug. He cried out in pain as he felt a rib shatter. He closed his eyes against the pain and tried to break the hold the Slythik had on him. He opened his eyes again and saw the neck of the creature so close, as was the vein.
"Arrrawwww," Akarik growled and then with amazing strength he freed his arms and reached out to get a hold of the creature's head. He yanked it to the side exposing its neck more properly and then Akariks head came down. His canine teeth elongated slightly and then they sank into the creatures neck. The blood pumped from the vein and into Akariks mouth. He swallowed the hot blood as it filled his mouth. It was so sweet and warm, reminding him that he should be doing this more often. It tasted so great, and it revitalized him like no normal food could.
The creature screamed loudly as it was bite and tried to throw Akarik off him, but the humans strength was unlike anything that he had ever encountered. Akarik held on and continued to drain the Slythik of blood. Finally he let the creature go only to watch it fall to the ground dead.
Kahlua watched in horror as her friend bit into the creature and she saw him drink its blood. He had come to save her and she had been so happy and excited. She hadn't yelled to him though because of the pain. She wished that she had but now it was like he was a different man. She watched him turn to look and his eyes were almost completely red but they softened and cleared slightly upon looking at her. She was scared but strangely not of Akarik. She knew deep down that he wouldn't hurt her.
The couple watched from the bushes and were surprised by what they saw. He had killed a Slythik with relative ease which they had heard wasn't easy. This man then killed a second by biting it in the neck and draining it of blood. It was as if he was a myth come to life. He seemed to be possessed by something and they decided it was best to just watch and see how the scene played out.
Akarik was on his knees letting the blood fill his stomach and course through his body revitalizing him. A slow grin came to his face as he turned to look at the rest of the foolish Slythiks. His blood lust had been awakened and now it had to be sated. He could feel the blood flowing through their veins and his fangs glistened with wet blood as the evil grin remained on his face.
He gaze then fell upon Kahlua and his eyes cleared slightly and he realized what he had just done and what the poor girl had just witnessed. Kahlua had just witnessed the darkest side of human nature. She had witnessed her friend slay a creature with nothing more than his teeth and his hunger for blood.
The grin faded from his face and he stood up slowly to his full height, his arms hanging at his side. He turned his gaze from Kahlua ashamed of himself and then met the gaze of a Slythik. "You all die here and now. The undying has come for you," Akarik said slowly as he moved forward so fast it was hard to see. His hand caught the creature on the chin and Akarik pushed to the side snapping its neck and dropping it to the ground. He turned to see the others charging him, twenty more in all with more on the way thanks to the distress signal that the leader had just sent out. It was a sound that no human should have been able to hear but Akarik wasn't human, well not fully anyway. He was more and yet he was still human.
Meia downed another of the massive machines and turned her gaze to see that Hibiki was amongst a group of three. His blade sliced to his left with the skill that he honed in the year fighting earth and one of the machines fell into two pieces before exploding sending heated metal flying. In the same movement he had went to a knee in his mecha and sliced upward with his blade cleaving another in two as he rolled to the left to avoid a attack. He came up and stuck his blade into the power panel that they had learned were at the base of the head of these machines. Meia shook her head at his skill. She wasn't even close to his skill or to Dita's for that matter.
Dita was faring well to as she felled one with a slash from the massive axe hers carried for a weapon. Meia took a shot to the back as she had been unable to make the machine move fast enough. The shot rocked her forward sending her to her knees where another of the enemy moved into position its gun held at the ready to finish her.
Meia rolled forward bringing the feet of her mecha forward slamming into the arms of the machine in front of her sending the shot directly into the ground. She stood up and forced the gun upward in her enemies grip and fired the bullet taking the enemy machine in the head. In the same instant she turned and swayed back as a slash from another enemy cleaved through the machine she had just destroyed exploding it.
She heard an explosion to her left and saw that Jura had defeated another one with that same precision that she used with her real sword. Her machine fit her well as it used a sword similar to her rapier. Jura's blade flashed again and another dropped to the ground unable to move as she had destroyed the hydrolics in the joints.
"God is there no end to them," came Jura's bored voice.
"Don't get lax. We are winning simply because these are automations. They are not controlled by real pilots," Meia answered.
"Yes but, oh look I think we have defeated all of them," Barnette chimed in.
"Mr. Alien we did it," Dita yelled happy as ever that she was near Hibiki and she threw her mechanical arms around him in a hug.
"Oh what the hell are you doing? We don't have time for that sort of thing! We are on a battlefield! Damnit Dita," he yelled as he tried to disentangle himself from Dita who continued to chase him around the battlefield littered with mechanical parts.
Meia shook her head and laughed slightly at the comical scene. Two massive robots one chasing the other yelling, "Mr. Alien!"
"Don't those two ever stop," Jura commented as her head fell. She wanted a man to herself. She wanted to have a baby with one and none of the men back at the base met her criteria. She didn't know if she would ever find the right one.
"Righty right, it seems you don't need our help," a voice crackled into existence as Rabat landed near the Nirvana.
"Rabat, damn I hate that guy," Hibiki growled as he stopped running to glower at Rabat's ship. That was a mistake as Dita ran right into him and they both tumbled to the ground in a heap of mechanical arms and legs. Dita had cried out in surprise and Hibiki was cursing about hurting his partner, as the rest of them laughed. It was good to have something to laugh about now and then Meia realized as they all headed back to the ship. Her thoughts then turned to the man out in the trees somewhere fighting the enemy for them.
Akarik stood his ground as his chest was slashed by the claws of one of the Slythiks. Akarik kicked the creature in the side of the knee shattering it and then broke its neck quickly. The wound on his chest healed quickly as he ducked a shot fired his way then dodged another. He picked up another Slythik that charged and slammed it to the ground with enough force to shatter the bones in the creatures back. It lay there paralyzed.
"Itssss really him, itssss the undying," cried one of the Slythiks who died as the words left its mouth. Akarik had punched it in the heart his hand disappearing into the chest cavity crushing the heart. He yanked his hand free as he rolled back underneath the outstretched arms of another Slythik. He stood up quickly then grabbing the arms and yanking down breaking both arms leaving them at an unnatural angle.
He dove to the side as a shot was fired where he had been standing. He came to his feet and threw a large rock the size of a human head at the sniper. The rock smashed into the gunners chest shattering bone and puncturing a lung. The Slythik coughed up blood and fell to the ground. Another charged Akarik and he just reached out and caught it by the throat. It slashed him across the chest again and again. The claws made red trails across his face and closed around Akarik's throat. Akarik though wasn't scared he just twisted his hand and broke the neck of the Slythik in his grasp. He dropped the body to the ground and stepped over it only to break the arm of another who had swung its claws at him. He then kicked it in the leg breaking it. It fell to the ground screaming in pain where he left it.
He took a shot to the left arm and the wound healed but slowly now. He shook his head as for the first time pain hit him again. He picked up one of the dead bodies and hurled it at another the bodies crashed together on the ground and he was moving. As the Slythik pulled himself from under his companion he saw Akarik close with him. "No," the Slythik yelled only to have his scream cut off as his head was twisted nearly off.
Akarik felt teeth bite into him and he turned around ripping a hunk of flesh out of his shoulder. He saw the leader standing there blood trailing down his chin, Kahlua's blood mixed with his own. Two others charged at Akarik in that instant and he dropped under their attacks. He shot to his feet his arm outstretched. It slammed into he bottom of the jaw of the first Slythik snapping its head back breaking its neck as well, the other tried to bite Akarik but Akarik reached up and stuck his hand into its mouth yanking down on the bottom half of its jaw ripping it off. As the creature stumbled back Akarik kicked it in the knee shattering it. Akarik stepped over the body to fight his last opponent.
The leader stumbled back but Akarik charged forward with speed unlike anything a human should possess and caught him. The Slythik struggled in his arms but Akarik lifted him above his head and brought him down heavily onto his knee breaking his back. He dropped the body to the ground rolling it off his knee. He then knelt down onto the Slythiks back and reached behind him getting a leg. Akarik then yanked the knee forward snapping the leg and then releasing it. The Slythik was screaming in pain, "Pleasssse don't. Sssstop," it yelled over and over, pleading with this human who wasn't human.
"Did you stop when Kahlua asked you to," Akarik demanded as he broke the other leg. Next he snapped the Slythiks neck to end its suffering. "I don't take joy in suffering unlike your race," Akarik hissed to the body.
Just then he whipped around to see that Kahlua was in the arms of a woman who Akarik had never seen before. She was pretty but had a small scar above her right eye that most wouldn't even notice. She had a gun trained on Akarik as did the man standing next to her. Akarik's wounds weren't healing as well as they should but that only meant that he had used up all the blood he had drank. It also meant that the hunger would be back. He wasn't so sure he could resist it.
He noticed that Kahlua was unconscious and his anger started to rise. "Who are you and what do you want," he growled as he went down into a kneeling position ready to spring forward if needed.
"My name isn't important, but what is important is that we are taking the girl with us so that she will be safe," the woman spoke her voice hard as were her eyes.
"Is that so," Akarik said slowly moving forward.
A shot sounded and hit right at his feet and the man spoke, "Do not come forward any more or I will put the next one in your heart."
"That would be good if you could but you see, it wouldn't do you any good," Akarik hissed. The man was slightly scared now. Akarik was unlike anyone he had ever seen. The man had taken wounds that had healed and they didn't even slow him down and now they were the object of this man's aggression. Dazin wasn't so sure he liked that in the least.
"Honey I think we should be going," Dazin said as he turned his gaze to look at Layla. That was his mistake and he knew it the instant he did it. When his gaze had been turned Akarik had seen his opening and rushed forward with that surprising speed. It never ceased to amaze those who saw it no matter how many times they saw it.
Layla had watched this man kill a score of Slythiks and now she was making him mad. She had watched his movements and seen how strong he was. She had been curious about him and now she was even more so after seeing what he had done. What was more important though was getting the girl medical attention which was back at their ship. This man though seemed unhappy about the fact that they had the girl. She wondered why. The girl was obviously not a relative they looked nothing alike but then Layla had learned over the years not to judge things too closely without first getting enough knowledge.
Now though she wondered if they had been wrong holding their guns on this man. He was moving towards them and she did the first thing that came to mind as instinct took over. She fired, her body honed for survival after being a bounty hunter for so many years. The bullet rushed forward and took Akarik in the chest but he didn't slow and in another instant before she could fire a second time he had a hold of her husband Dazin.
"Now you will release Kahlua to me and I won't break his neck," Akarik said as he started to twist Dazin's neck and stopped at a point where he knew it would be uncomfortable.
Layla wasn't sure what she should do. She was surprised and she had to admit scared. She had never met a man like this one and no one had ever taken Dazin by surprise and held him so helpless as this man now was. Her gaze flicked from Dazin to the girl. "What is this girl, Kahlua, to you?"
"She is my friend and I will protect at all costs to myself."
"She is your friend? How odd. You aren't lying are you," Layla asked her heart racing as the man's gaze never wavered, never flinched. The look in his eyes was the look of a man who had seen death and lived with it for a very long time. She was terrified of him she had to admit.
"I am not lying. That girl befriended me when all others thought me a prisoner, they still do though I tried to help them with their fight with the Slythiks."
"You are a prisoner that is free and a friend of this girl? Where are the people that she belongs to, her parents?" Layla wasn't understanding this.
"Release her to me and I will tell you what I know, and I will release this man to you, his neck should really be hurting by now."
Layla looked to Dazin and saw that he was in a lot of pain. He started to life the gun slowly, in fact he had been moving it ever so slowly during their conversation. He pointed the barrel at the man and pulled the trigger but the man merely moved his head forward and then dropped Dazin to the ground his knee in Dazin's back. He wrenched Dazins arm around behind his back and jerked up yanking it out of socket. Akarik brought Dazin's other arm around behind and pinned it under his thigh where his knees were bent.
"Do that again and I will be forced to kill you understand," Akarik said his voice cold. Dazin nodded his head afraid to speak. He was so scared that he had nearly lost control of his bladder. He hated himself at that moment. An experienced hunter like himself scared like a rookie, but this man was something else.
"Alright," Layla said quickly as she watched Dazin thrown to the ground and his arm wrenched out of socket and his other arm moved to a painful position. She moved forward her gun still held out in front of her.
"Put your gun down, or better yet toss it aside," Akarik said as he gazed at her with those beautiful eyes of his. She shook her head unable to believe that she was thinking his eyes were pretty when he had hurt her husband like that. What is wrong with me?
She tossed her gun aside and moved forward slowly. "Here take her," Layla said holding Kahlua out at arms length. She hated to give the girl to a man like this especially one that had bitten an enemy in order to kill him. This man was brutish, and barbaric, but yet he seemed strangely . . . she wasn't sure.
"Thank you lady," Akarik said as he took Kahlua into his arms and cradled her close to his chest. He held her close and pushed the hair out of her eyes gently. "You are going to be okay. I will take you back to your mom and Duero will fix you up, don't worry okay." He knew Kahlua couldn't hear but he also knew that it didn't matter. He had to say the words to himself if for no other reason. He had to believe that the doctor could help her.
Layla pulled her husband away from Akarik and checked to make sure that nothing was permanently damaged. She then looked to Akarik, "What is your name?"
"I am called Akarik," he stated simply.
"Akarik? I know that name, it is the name of the man that has been killing Slythiks for a very long time," she said slowly shivering. This man was the legend. Many bounty hunters had been offered money to kill him but not a single one had accepted the job. He had never broken any laws, he was just killing creatures that many felt needed killed anyway. That is the worlds that knew of the Slythiks and weren't part of the slave worlds that the Slythiks controlled.
"I have been doing that for a very long time. Yes that is a good way of putting it. I am the only one that seems to want to do it. I am the only one that cared for this planet and its people, I'm the only one that misses them."
She felt her heart go out to the man. He was the lone survivor of an entire planet and that must be hard, especially when the Slythiks left you alive. She couldn't' even imagine what was going on in his mind. She understood now why he was so protective of the girl. If she was his friend then she might be all that he had.
"Honey, I hate to interject into this fascinating conversation but I could use some medical attention," her husband said his voice strained. She looked down and felt horrible for forgetting about him as his arm hung loosely and the pain was etched plainly on his face.
"Come with me back to the ship where I am a prisoner. They will help you there I am sure. They are good people, and they will thank you for saving Kahlua here," Akarik said as he stood up.
"Alright, but you give me your word that we won't be attacked?"
"I can't do that, I am just a prisoner after all," he said over his shoulder as he carried Kahlua in his arms. He stepped on one of the bodies and heard it moan in pain. He stood for a moment and then brought his foot down on the creatures throat killing it.
Layla couldn't help but laugh to herself. This man a prisoner! That would be like catching the fabled unicorn or some other such nonsense. He was a prisoner because he wanted to be. There was no other reason, than that. It did make Layla curious though as to why he was staying with them. What could make him want to remain a prisoner?
They continued on through the woods, Akarik picking his way through them as though they were his second home. They traveled for more than twenty minutes when he stopped.
"Captain, let me go look for him," Meia argued with her captain. It was one of the first times that Magno could ever remember Meia arguing with her. Magno then eyed the sword that was strapped around her hips. Obviously the sword belonged to the man but Meia was carrying it how curious Magno thought to herself with a smile.
"No I can't allow you to do that Meia. You know as well as I that there are stil enemies out there," Magno reasoned hoping to get through to Meia.
"That may be but that is also why I should go find him. We wouldn't have made it without him. I know that for a fact," Meia said her voice rising slightly which caused Magno to raise an eyebrow.
"He is just a man Meia. I know Hibiki and the others have changed you all some but he is still just a man and our prisoner at that. What is to say that he didn't take the chance to run and is glad that no one has come looking for him?"
"I . . . I don't know captain. If he ran then it is our duty to hunt him down again. He has information about our enemy and it would be best to have him at our disposal for future encounters with this enemy," Meia said hoping she would get through. She didn't know why she cared so much but she did. She didn't want to see this man get hurt especially because of her.
As Meia thought of him and those eyes of his and the way he looked at her, her heartbeat quickened and she grew angry at herself. What is this feeling she wondered to herself. I can't be having it whatever it is. I am a leader and must remain coolheaded at all times, I can't be having foolish feelings like this.
"Fine Meia you can go if you really think you need to," Magno said.
"What is it Akarik," Layla asked softly.
Akarik set Kahlua down gently and turned to gaze at Layla, and her husband over his shoulder. He didn't say anything but started to dig down into the soft earth. It took him maybe five minutes to find what he was looking for. A brown leather sack that was rotting tied with a metal string.
He untied it and unrolled it. He then picked up the three items. There were two knives in sheaths and another sword similar to the one he had given to Meia to safeguard. "Mother," he whispered running his hands over the blade lightly. He then looked to the two knives as well. "How did I know these were here mother?" He asked lightly as he pulled out a black leather belt that somehow survived the ravages of age. He looped the belt around himself and put the blade on and it felt right. Next he took the two knives and placed them on the small of his back securing them in place with the metal cord.
"Let's go," he said then as he picked up Kahlua and Layla silently followed him. He was a very different man than any she had come across. She knew she was pretty but he hadn't looked at her with lust filled eyes once.
"You are very interesting," she whispered.
"I am huh," he asked as he continued to walk and she blushed furiously at her foolishness. Her husband noted this and frowned, then turned his angry gaze on Akarik.
"Is he really that attractive honey," he asked his voice hard.
"No Dazin it is not that. Trust me you are the only one for me," she said and kissed him.
"Alright then ladies it seems that you may need a little help in the parts area," Rabat informed Perfet happily.
"Maybe but no more funny business okay. I want real parts," she told him her arms crossed.
"Righty right, then take a look," Rabat informed her his smile plastered on his face.
They were outside the Nirvana talking with some of the other crew gathered around. Utan was nowhere to be seen as she was off looking for her favorite droid. Peyoro was starting to understand how Hibiki felt and was sorry he had picked on his so much.
"Man I just hate that guy," Hibiki said and stormed off Dita trailing behind.
Duero watched them go and shook his head. "Those two are quite unique. It is good that they get along so well as it shows how it is possible for men and women to coexist."
"That may be true but it still seems to me that Hibiki runs from Dita an awful lot," Paiway said from where she was standing next to Duero. She smiled as she remembered something that Rabat had told her a few years ago. When she grew up she was supposed to look him up. Back then it would have been unheard of, after all he was a man and her enemy but now? Well she was grown and she had learned that men weren't all bad, just mostly stupid. Looking at Rabat though she didn't even consider herself and him like Dita and Hibiki and after what Dita had told her once she was waiting for that special feeling, hoping that she would find someone who would fill her thoughts all the time.
Rabat was once again selling things to the women such as make-up and other things that he knew would catch a young woman's eyes. Just then they all heard a scream and they looked up to see Ezra tears streaming down her face.
Jura ran up to her and put her arm around Ezra's shoulder, "What is it Ezra? What's wrong?"
"Its Kahlua she's gone, she . . . she ran away into the woods to . . . to find her friend, the man who is our prisoner," Ezra cried out and buried her face in Jura's shoulder for comfort.
Jura who was unused to such things wasn't sure how to act and so she just held Ezra close. "It's okay she will be okay. Trust me she is smart, she'll be okay Ezra."
"I am a horrible Fama," Ezra cried again. "I should have paid more attention to her, been nicer to her, been . . . " she couldn't finish as her shoulders were wracked by sobs.
"Everyone we need a search party now. We are all going to go look for Kahlua," Jura called to everyone who nodded their heads and went to get their battle gear on. It would take them maybe ten minutes tops to get everything they needed.
Meia came down and found out what was going on. Now she was torn. She felt she owed it to Akarik to go look for him, and yet she knew that a girl all alone out in the woods was bad news. "I'll help as well," Meia said and Ezra smiled weakly as tears continued to fall and she hugged Meia.
"She will be fine trust me," Meia said as she rubbed Ezra's back.
Layla stood with her husband at her side and Kahlua in her arms. She was stunned to say the least at what she had just witnessed. Standing with his knives in his hands and a pair of dead Slythiks at his feet Akarik looked like the Angel of death. He sheathed his blades and took Kahlua from Layla. His was covered in blood and he had even sustained another wound or two. This was the fourth such battle he had fought with groups of Slythiks.
They were in hunting parties and he seemed to know that they were there and so prepared himself for the fight. He always attacked first and he always won but once in a while he made a mistake and took another wound. Layla noted that his wounds weren't healing like they had been. "Why aren't your wounds healing?"
"Because I don't have enough blood in my system," he answered as they continued to walk. He knew that they were close now.
"You need blood to heal like that?"
"I need blood to survive in all honesty, it is like water to me, like food. Without it in time I will die. Normal food and water can sustain me for long periods of time but eventually I need blood. I know it makes me an evil person," he said sadly his voice soft.
"No it doesn't, a person's deeds make them evil or good. Your deeds speak highly of you," Layla said.
"Yeah besides its not just anyone that will care for a girl like you do," Dazin spoke up through his pain.
"Thanks but I am a monster there is no point in denying it. I have tried to do that for years. I know better now that I am older and wiser."
"Oh don't think that way you idiot," Dazin said.
After that statement Akarik fell silent as they continued on their way. Luckily they met no more hunting parties and Akarik led them with a surety that Layla envied. It was as if he were a born leader but truth be told Akarik was not that. He was not a leader, but a loner who had just forgotten that they were behind him as he had been left with his own thoughts.
Those thoughts turned to his past and everything that he had failed in. He wished that he could have saved so many people and that his wife would have loved him more. He wished that his sister would have gotten to grow old with a family of her own. He wished many things but that is just what they were, wishes. He knew that he was a monster and that monsters had no happy lives. He knew that monsters had only one option in life and that was to die painfully at the hands of his enemies. Now though he decided he would fight to protect the Nirvana. He would fight to protect all those women and he would fight to protect Meia.
She was such an interesting woman he thought to himself. She was so strong but he sensed in her a want to find someone to care about. He felt a kinship with her. He knew about wanting to be strong and showing an outward facade but on the inside being a little scared of things. Meia was such a person. She was a woman of many talents he had learned and a woman of untold strength but also of untold kindness. She was a woman with a heart she guarded too much. She was a woman who wasn't even sure what she wanted he felt.
They continued on their way until they say the outline of a massive ship through the trees. Akarik saw the Nirvana and then he saw people running around and the women putting on battle suits. "I wonder what is going on," he mused as they continued across the field where machine parts were littered.
Meia was ordering people into groups each group was given a section of the forest to search and nothing more. Each group was given ample firepower and they were ordered to keep in constant radio contact. Also they were ordered to not engage the enemy unless it was an absolute must.
As Meia shouted orders she waved the sword around like a general, and in truth she didn't even know she was doing it. The sword just felt right in her hand and she hadn't wanted to put it down earlier like she should have. It wasn't her chosen weapon and obviously she was not good with it and yet she couldn't bring herself to put it down. As long as she was carrying it she felt certain that Akarik would come back to her to get it form her.
She paused at that thought. Did she really want him to come back for the sword? Is that why she was keeping it with her? She didn't think it was anything else but Dita wondered. Dita had seen how Meia acted around Akarik. Even though Akarik hadn't been with them long and Meia hadn't been around him long she acted different around him. Dita noticed how Meia's gaze would linger on Akarik when she thought no one was looking. She noticed how Meia's cheeks would flush slightly when Akarik spoke to her and Dita smiled. Dita thought Meia wanted the sword with her so that no matter what she would get to see Akarik again. Dita thought Meia wanted Akarik to come back for her, for Meia even though Meia would deny that. Dita wanted so much for Meia to find someone to care for that she wondered if maybe she wasn't having wishful thinking for Meia.
"So you are all going to look for the little girl huh," Rabat asked as he sidled up next to Paiway who he had noticed had indeed gotten the assets he had informed her she needed to be as beautiful as the others so long ago. In fact she had indeed become quite beautiful.
"Yes we are, are you coming," Paiway asked as she turned her gaze to him and stared at him.
"Well I think I will just stay here, you know I'm not a fighter," Rabat said smiling.
"Lying bastard," Hibiki grumbled as he walked by.
"Boy he is never going to get over that is he. Maybe he and I should have another little scuffle and see if he has learned anything," Rabat said chuckling and Paiway glared at Rabat.
"Why do you have to be that way," she demanded her hand on her hip and Rabat couldn't help but notice how pretty that hip was.
"It's just the way that I am," Rabat said.
No one seemed to have noticed that Akarik was walking towards the Nirvana with Kahlua cradled in his arms and a couple trailing him. At least none noticed him until he was only a few feet from Rabat who was standing a ways away from the Nirvana with Paiway. It was no wonder they hadn't seen him as they were still some hundred yards away and everyone was busy with preparations.
Just then Barnette noticed him and pointed. "There he is and Kahlua too! Over there Meia, Ezra. Akarik is over there and he has some people with him."
Meia looked and her heart skipped a beat at seeing him covered in blood and an unconscious Kahlua in his arms. "He's safe," she whispered and sighed in relief. She was glad that Kahlua was safe as well.
Everyone started to run towards Akarik including Duero when he saw Akarik covered in blood and Kahlua unconscious. "Boy what did we do," Rabat asked innocently. He had his hand on Paiway's shoulder and had been leaning in close to her. She had started to pull away but Rabat hadn't let go and she was getting ready to yell at him when they noticed everyone running at them, and Rabat removed his hand which Paiway was glad for.
"Rabat, the sheepdog. You owe me the lives of an entire planet, but for now I will settle for just yours," came Akarik's cold voice from behind Rabat.
Authors Note: Okay sorry for the wait everyone. I am especially sorry to Tifa Lockheart, and Strawberry Eggs my two favorite readers and reviewers. I am very sorry to the two of you for this wait. I hope it was worth it. I promise the next chapter won't take as long.
To Strawberry Eggs: I don't plan on stopping this story till its through I give you my word. I'm just glad that you and Tifa Lockheart like it so well.
Please let me know what we all thought. Don't be shy about giving me a review tell me what I am doing wrong or whatever. Any pairings you might want to see. I need votes on pairings. Well I hope everyone enjoys the chapter.