Natsumi and Giroro both felt their hearts sink deep into their stomachs. Part of them knew it would only come to this, still they had foolishly allowed themselves to hope for a chance at making it out alive. They turned to one another the sadness and fear reflected in each other's eyes.
"Surely there must be some other option?" Giroro pleaded, he cleared his throat when he noticed the pair of yellow visors move forward from behind the group of commanding officers. He wanted to say something about them and the keronian wearing them, but he was interrupted by one other higher ups.
"Corporal Giroro we have examined the efforts you have taken to tame this Pekoponian and in light of any potential she may have she is too dangerous to be left alive." One of them spoke whilst sneering at Natsumi, she held back the urge to kick the nasty little creature in his big, soft, round face.
"What about making her a soldier? To fight for us? She has great combat skill and potential." Giroro implored.
"Oh yes quite the potential, to betray us and kill many of our kind in the midst of a deadly battlefield? I think not!" the most insecure and squirly of the commanding officers screeched loudly in fear and anger.
"Corporal Giroro, if you couldn't tame this Pekoponian what makes you think that she would submit her will to any law or order required to exist in Keronian society? She would be like a mad dog kept in a cage whose release would only lead to heavy casualties on both, if not mainly our side as well as the enemy." a more reasonable commander responded whilst silencing the noisy one with a slight gesture of his hand.
"But she-" Giroro began to speak again before he was cut off.
"Enough Corporal! We have made our decision. It is apparent that you have indeed been compromised by this Pekoponian female and are incapable of responding rationally. Therefore we shall give you the chance to redeem yourself. You will carry out the execution of the Pekoponian." One of the higher ups pointed at Giroro. He froze, the shock turning his blood to ice. Sensing his hesitation another higher up spoke quickly.
"We knew that it would be too difficult for you to do Corporal, however it must be done. So instead we have given the duty to Lieutenant Garuru." when Garuru stepped forward Giroro felt his heart stop, if his blood had been ice before then it was stone now.
"Lieutenant Garuru reporting for duty Sirs." Garuru saluted, his eyes were hidden by his visors, but Giroro knew they held a cold and hard gaze that was locked onto him. The disappointment was almost as palpable as the tension in the air.
"Brother." Giroro spoke with a shaky breath. Natsumi studied the Lieutenant closely, his features hidden by his visor it was hard to tell what he was thinking or to even gain an opinion on him. However Giroro's obvious tension and fear made Natsumi feel very uneasy. If Giroro had been able to read her moves and take her down when she planned her escape, just how skilled could his older brother be?
"We're on duty Corporal, you would do well to remember to address me properly. However seeing your obvious disregard for duty I can see how you could make that mistake." Giroro stiffened at the harsh tone his brother had taken, saying he felt he was walking on pins and needles would have been an understatement, it was more like slipping on a quickly melting path of ice above a fiery volcano filled with pent up rage ready to swallow him whole.
"You have one hour to make your decision Corporal. Either she dies by your hand, or the Lieutenant's." They turned and walked back down the corridor before heading out again. The feeling of danger passed but the smell of the impending doom lingered in the air, refusing to dissipate before the hour was up.
"What are we gonna do Giroro? I thought I was prepared to die when I tried to make my escape but now….. Now I'm afraid." Natsumi spoke rapidly tears welling in her eyes, her fear woke Giroro from his frozen stance. She slumped to her knees on the floor, her legs at her sides. Giroro caressed her face with his hands wiping away her flowing tears. He shushed her repeatedly till she looked at him and could no longer hold back.
Her tears flowed stronger and she cried out knowing that her end was coming and she would yet again lose all that she loved. Giroro could only hug her and remain silent as she let out all her emotion into the silent echoing hall. They stayed like that for quite some time before her wails turned to soft sobs. When she was able to catch her breath she looked at Giroro and sniffed softly, wiping her own eyes.
"I'm sorry Giroro, the last thing I'm sure you wanted was to spend our remaining time together listening to me cry." she tried to chuckle but to no avail. The weight of what was to come pressed down too heavily upon her chest to allow even the slightest moment of joy.
"It's alright Natsumi. I'm here, and I will always be. I promise." He hugged her again, this time a bit more tightly as if to tell her that the strength of his arms would support her to the end of time itself. Natsumi and Giroro stood and walked back to the room hand in hand, first thing Natsumi did was wipe her face with tissues and then made some tea to calm herself down. They sat in silence across from one another at the table whilst sipping the tea and calming down.
The sound of the clock ticking away was the only thing to fill the room, but it also signified the continued passing of time. Each precious second was another closer to Natsumi's impending end. Her breath was shaky, she had never imagined to be filled with so much fear and sorrow. Natsumi realized that the only thing that had kept her from feeling that way when Earth was invaded was her rage and hatred towards the Keronians. Now however, with no hatred to be felt she was left to be crushed by the weight of her own sorrow and despair.
Natsumi was deep in thought when she was drawn out of her self wallowing by the gentle touch of Giroro's hand on hers. She looked at him and felt his sorrow match her own.
"You know, I thought that maybe I could change their minds like I changed yours. Perhaps it was too much for me to hope." Natsumi smiled sadly.
"Not everyone is moved by a warrior's heart like I am. My father and brother never falter when it comes to their duty. I'm sure they would kill anyone if their duty called for it." Giroro spoke as if his own words tasted bitter on his tongue.
"Giroro, no matter what happens to me… I want you to make sure you don't do anything to get yourself killed." Natsumi looked him dead in the eye and seemed to press the seriousness of her request into his mind.
"Natsumi I… I promise, I won't do anything to make them kill me." Giroro lowered his eyes. He didn't want to give her any more worries beyond what was to come. They remained in silence, for a few more minutes.
Natsumi began to hum a tune, something Giroro hadn't heard before. It was sad but soothing, like a lullaby. He rested his head on the table, listening to Natsumi hum. He questioned why they were spending their time not doing anything. His mind wandered to what possibilities remained. If he dared to try and speak out against the higher ups decision he knew they would not think twice about commanding his brother to execute him then and there for insubordination and treason.
They heard the ding of the elevator arriving, Natsumi looked at Giroro and once again showed him a sad smile. They rose to meet the superiors as they walked down the hall.
"Corporal, Prisoner." the commanders acknowledged them individually.
"Have you prepared yourself for the execution?" One of them asked, as if anyone could ever truly prepare themselves for their own death. Natsumi nodded preparing to take a step forward. Giroro stepped in front of her and spoke to the commanders.
"Before we begin I would like to just take a moment please." Giroro requested, saluting his superior officers. They nodded in agreement.
"You asked me if I could retain my sense of duty by executing the prisoner, but I wanted to just clarify one thing. I do not refuse to do my duty because of weakness, I do it because the strength of my heart prevents me from hurting someone I love. I love Natsumi, and that's why…" Giroro pulled a large blaster cannon from his hidden arsenal and grabbed Natsumi's hand.
"I won't let you execute her!" He fired at Garuru's weapon in his hand and made a dash for the corridor behind the superiors. Garuru quickly recovered his stance and fired at Giroro and Natsumi before they turned the corner. Giroro returned fire throwing off Garuru's aim.
They reached the elevator; the doors began to close as Garuru rounded the corner firing a few more shots before they closed completely. Natsumi panted heavily before looking at Giroro in complete and utter surprise. One of the commanders came on the intercom.
"Attention all personnel! Corporal Giroro is attempting to escape with Dangerous Pekoponian Slave X814 whom is scheduled for execution. The culprits are believed to be armed and dangerous. Shoot them both on site!" The intercom screeched off and Giroro exhaled deeply whilst Natsumi caught her breath.
"Look, I know what you're going to say. I promised not to do anything that could get me killed, and I intend to keep it. I'm not dying here, and neither are you. So you can yell at me lat-" he was cut off by Natsumi's lips suddenly meeting his.
She kissed him long and hard before letting go. She looked him dead in the eye and spoke while smiling, tears in her eyes.
"We're going to make it out of this alive; together." Giroro nodded in response to her words. The elevator dinged, announcing they had reached their destination. Giroro handed Natsumi a small handgun, knowing she prefered hand to hand combat. They stood side-by-side as they prepared to rush the doors. When they opened they were greeted by a group of armed Keronian guards. When they had their chance they charged forward beginning their battle for freedom.
-To Be Continued…