Chronicles of Terrus Chapter 1: An unlikely trio
7 full Yeerk cycles ago.
Hork Bajir homeworld. Yeerk Pool/training facility 790
I had endured another 4 horrid months of training courses,made even more horrid by my two distractions because of a Vissers insistence that however much of a hot shot I thought I was, when the time came I absolutely WOULD NOT go into combat alone. At the time I thought "Shows how much he knows" but really it was "Shows how much I don't know".
Today I was moping around the Pools perimeter, sitting on the edge, legs hanging off, staring into the trees. Something caught my eyes out there, a rustle of movement, however I quickly dismissed it because nothing hostile could get close without being disintegrated. I heard approaching footsteps, I knew who it was and in spite of myself I looked behind me. Of course, it was my Distractions on approach. I tried to trip them with my tail and they laughed at how stupid I was acting.
Serri spoke first "Happy to see us miss?" I couldn't help but smile at that. "Of course I'm happy to see you. Why wouldn't I be happy to see the two Distractions that plague me and constantly succeed while I fail? Good luck with being a bug fighter pilot Serri, Eliza good luck with whatever it is your so happy about. I don't even know what you tested out for." Eliza was worried about me and asked "How long have you been here doing nothing? That can't be good for you. I mean this isn't the end of the world, yes you failed on all counts but at least you get a second chance! Remember what happened to Betta 193? He was starved to death. We're still together, we're still a team." I went back to staring at nothing again, not really paying any attention to them or their useless words.
At some point I tuned back in and just told them "Stop distracting me because that's all you are:Distractions. Go crowd Heyo triple two I'm sure he'd love all this attention. Maybe his head will explode." Serri had had enough of this, he reached down, grabbed me by the shoulders, yanked me to my feet and started speaking to me. "Look Terrus I know you're mad because you failed, but it's like Eliza said, at least you get a second chance. You can be angry all you want but it's not right that you're taking it out on us!"
I noticed he still had a grip on my shoulders. I didn't bother telling him to get his filthy claws off me, I knew he was right.I glared at him for a few more moments and then sighed "I'm sorry for being this way to you two. Now let go of me".
That just seemed to make him angrier "I didn't want an apology for the way you've been treating us this whole time I wanted a sign that you're your old self again. We need you." Eliza didn't want a real fight happening so she stepped in and said loudly "What's this? Fraternization within the ranks? How cute!" It seemed to do the trick, as Serri quickly let go of me and stepped back.
Unfortunately a few other controllers and, speak of the devil, Heyo triple two started over to see what was happening.
Eliza smiled again and whispered "Maybe I shouldn't have said that so loud hmm?" I smiled back and replied "Darkap on your part Eliza, Fallanna for letting go of me Serri." He smiled too and tried (and failed) to still sound angry "You're lucky she intervened or I would have thrown you into the Pool." We all started laughing but shut up quickly when we realized Heyo and his entourage had us sourrounded.
Heyo himself took a single graceful step forward and was face to face with me. I would have killed him then and there, except that I noticed one of his minions had a dracon beam pointed at me. I refocused my attention on Heyo. "What do you want this time?" I asked.
He faked a look of surprise and said "Nothing this time. I just couldn't help but notice how familiar you three are with each other." As me and my two Distractions formed a back to back triangle formation, Heyo really WAS surprised and said to his people "Look at this, I think they've actually learned how to be a proper team! Do you feel confident with these two backing you up Terrus?" As his circle of Hork Bajit got closer Eliza asked, "Is there any way we can get out of this without losing limbs? That's why you're really here isn't it? You want to get rid of us because we're the only other team here that can be competition for you."
Heyo considered her for a moment before finally saying "No. I don't believe there is any way you can get out of this without injury or death. I always thought Serri was the smart one. You have me all figured out Eliza."
Serri seemed offended and directed at Heyo "All three of us are the smart ones. Know why? Because the training indicates that the three of us are able to kill all 8 of you. Whereas your training..well you need 8 friends with you to even confront us."
Heyo actually looked angry and spat out "You three have real attitude problems. This is no way to talk to a Visser."
Fortunately (Or unfortunately) I was angrier than him. I was impatient. "Serris' stupidity aside, we know we aren't getting out of this without a fight so why not start early?" I lunged at Heyo and feinted a slash for his neck, he raised his wrist blade to block but instead I ducked down and slashed for his legs and missed. As he jumped back two Hork Bajir moved into place to take me on. In the few seconds it took for that to happen I glanced around for my Distractions. They were already distracting me! I shouldn't be worrying about them! My Distractions were taking on two opponents at once, as I was. I saw Eliza knock the Dracon Beam from her enemies' hand. I noticed two none engaged Hork Bajir running off. What cowards! My battle analysis completed I returned to my own two enemies. They both slashed for me at the same moment.
As I had done with Heyo moments ago, I ducked down, but instead of slashing I brought my left leg sweeping in and caught one of them with my leg blades, causing him to go down with nothing to stand on. The still standing Hork Bajir sliced for my throat but Serri shoved his own opponent into my path, sealing his fate. With that one down and the attacker off balance and for a split second, confused by the turn of events, I rushed toward him, grabbed his left shoulder, sliced his right arm off with my right wrist blade, spun myself around his body and drove my elbow blade into the back of his skull. Perhaps not neccessary, but fun, I decapitated him with my still free right wrist blade.
I looked down to see where the legless Hork Bajir from earlier was, unsurprisingly he wasn't where I left him. I assumed he had fled or died so I made my way over to my Distractions. I felt and heard a Hork Bajir blade go through my left foot! As I went down I flipped over and saw the legless Hork Bajir raising his blade to decapitate me. He never got the chance, Eliza fired, the beam was so close to me I had to shut my eyes, when I opened them again there was the Hork Bajir with a hole between his eyes.
My Distractions ran over to me, Eliza had been sliced in the back of the shoulder, had part of her tail cut off, and one of her leg blades was missing. Serri didn't appear to have any injuries. We all smiled and laughed for a few minutes until Eliza spoke up "Did you see those two Hork Bajir run off? And Heyo too!" We only laughed more from that until we stopped. And began again because WE had won.
Serri flashed me a stupid grin and said to me "Do you still think we're Distractions miss?"
I didn't even hesitate in saying no. They weren't Distractions. They had saved my life twice.