"Orders, Sir?" Corr requested of his superior, watching the reflections of eyes…Vortian eyes looking back at him, fear and confusions etched into them. He wanted to raise his weapon in instinct…but it was clear these weren't soldiers, a threat even.
They were civilians.
Easily close to two hundred, most of which consisted of women and children, some had their mates at their side, and even a few of the elderly were present. These weren't soldiers, far from it…didn't change the fact that they were incredibly outnumbered and all it was going to take was for something to tip the scales in favor of panic.
By the way things appeared, they seemed to be relocated refugees from the frontlines, their belongings of necessity and sentimental value in luggage ranging from suitcases, all the way to simple bags. They were trying to find haven away from the war raging on their world between them and the very thing that stood before them.
"No sudden movements," Vult calmly ordered over their comm. links, motioning to Rha and Sula, Aero in dire pain between them still. "Find somewhere to set her down and get to work. We can't stay here too long."
The Medical Officer nodded in understanding, looking around, pointing to a bench against the wall of the open office lobby.
"Come on, Aero, we'll get you patched up," Rha encouraged, trying to heft the larger Irken's weight, the movement causing a renewed yelp of pain as she clenched her teeth, seething. "Easy does it…"
Vult turned from the three soldiers to the room once more, the curious, frightened eyes still staring back. He points to the corners of the lobby.
"Captain, fan out and secure the perimeter, make sure these are just civies and no surprises."
"Yes, Sir," Corr obeyed, turning to his squadmates, giving hand signals to do so. "You heard him, hop to it."
The Vortians seemed to stir restlessly at the ordered troop movements, on the verge of panic. Vult acted fast to prevent the deterioration of the situation, his visor and mask sliding and retracting into his helmet, revealing his face.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if I could have your attention please," he began, loud enough for all to hear without sounding forceful, the murmuring and whimpering seemed to die down somewhat….until a male spoke up.
"The Irken demons are here to slaughter us all! We're all going to die!"
Panicked cries began to pick up in crescendo…until they were aptly silenced as Vult fired a single round from his rifle into the air, hitting the tall ceiling above, demanding absolute silence.
"We are not here to hurt you, it is not our intentions, do not force our hand," he assuredly said, making it known that he would not hesitate if given no other option. "…please remain calm and follow any of our orders if need be, cooperation will be most appreciated." Vult sighs, hesitant to say anything, but given the situation, it may work in his favor. "…I have wounded soldiers, we are only stopping temporarily to rest and heal, then we will be on our way and leave you be. In the meantime, I only ask that you cooperate and remain calm."
Even Corr was surprised that he appealed to them in such away as opposed to using intimidation and force. It proved that almost anything could truly be accomplished without the use of violence….which was almost dynamically opposed to the way the Empire operated regarding enemy combatants and species.
The decision to do so seemed to work in his favor as the quivering civilians focused more on one another than the Irken Spec Ops in odd uniforms.
"Wh…what's the Commander t-talking about?" Aero managed, her side feeling like it was set ablaze, Sula cutting through the temporary fix of bandages around her torso. "Where are we?"
"Don't worry about it," Sula responded as she worked, focusing, "we're safe for now, and I need to fix you up before you bleed out or run the risk of puncturing your spooch with bone fragments."
She removed the bandages, revealing the sharp protrusion of emerald-stained bone just below her breast, the bandage and her clothing saturated heavily with blood. Rha grimaced at the sight, knowing it had to be painful, looking to the Medical Officer as she began fishing out a pair of sanitized gloves from her belt.
"…how are you going to fix her?"
She sighs, looking at the wound still as she places the gloves on her hands, one-by-one.
"Unless that fall we all took did anymore damage, I should be able to slide it back in place and set it…should be able to anyways."
"What do you mean should be able to? This is smeet's play for you…isn't it?" Rha questioned, slightly concerned, watching Aero's blood begin to lightly drip to the floor.
"What I mean is," Sula continued, adjusting the sterilized gloves on her hands, "is that if there's more damage than just this rib, or even crushed ones…I don't have any painkillers left or the tools to do surgery. Battlefield medicine is for temporary fixes, not delicate procedures."
The Medical Officers placed her hands on the exposed bone, beginning to apply pressure, trying to push it back in place. Aero's reaction was instantaneous as she cried out in pain, flailing her arms, striking Sula in the face spasmastically. The smaller female fell from the force with a yelp, rubbing her face.
"Aero, hold still!" Sula ordered as she climbed to her feet once more, motioning to Rha, "Hold her down!"
"What are you doing over there, killing her?" Haxx jested from across the lobby over the comm. link, huffing a laugh as Rha went to pin her arms down, despite the size difference.
"Shut it, Haxx," Corr ordered, "no time for games, keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Civilians can be just as dangerous if left unchecked."
"Yes, Sir," he responded, noting his commanding officer's seriousness.
Aero continued to howl in pain as Sula applied force to the jutting bone, fresh blood still coming from the wound. With grit teeth, she pushed harder, nearly straight down, the protrusion finally sliding back into place wetly.
"There we go," Sula commented as she drew breath from her straining, looking to Aero, "still with me?"
All she could manage was a nod, still in pain, faint streams of uncontrollable tears out of her eyes. Sula pats her shoulder gently with a smile. "You'll be fine, just lay there and get some rest…you're in good hands."
"The Commander wasn't kidding when he said you were the best," Rha chuckles, smiling lightly at her.
"Everyone serves a purpose," she answered modestly, looking to him as she began fishing out more bandages from her dwindling medical supplies. "Just serving mine and what is expected of me," smiling faintly as she begins laying the sterilized bandage over the wound, the emerald fluid soaking into it.
"Y-you should get a medal," Aero managed with a weak smile, giving her a thumb up.
"I don't know about that…but thank you for the compliment," Sula answered with a weak chuckle. "I need you to sit up and take your jacket off so I can wrap it."
"Normally, I would…without hesitation," Aero spoke, sorely sitting up, nodding behind the Medical Officer, "but you've got an audience watching."
Sula glanced over her shoulder, taking notice to a dozen or so pairs of Vortian eyes watching as she worked, awe written on them.
"Just ignore them and take your jacket off," Sula reiterated, getting the proper length of bandage ready.
"I'm not giving them a peep show."
"Aero, we don't have time for this, just do it."
"Tell them to quit watching me first and I'll think about it," She made clear, crossing her arms, only to cringe in pain from her newly-set bone. Rha stood up, weapon on his back, holding his hands up as he approached them.
"Nothing to see here, folks, please go about your business," he ushered, trying to herd them away.
"There…happy?" Sula sighed, annoyed slightly, "now take your jacket off so I can finish dressing your wound."
"Are they still watching?"
The Medical Officer tried to remain calm, pinching the bridge between her eyes, letting out an exasperated sigh.
"No, Aero, they're not. You've never had a problem walking around naked in front of us on the ship, nor cared what we saw in the field, why you so self-conscious all of a sudden?"
She shrugs, uncertainty on her face. "I don't know, I just don't feel comfortable with a bunch of strangers looking at my half-naked body is all…the sooner you do this, the better." The Vehicle Technician spoke, undoing her already taught jacket, slipping out of it, letting it fall wetly, still saturated with blood.
"Probably has something to do with your hormones more than likely," she mentioned as she began wrapping. "…all part of being a mature woman, I'm assuming."
As Sula finished up with Aero's wound, Vard was in communication with both Command and Captain Saro's unit, formulating a plan.
"What's the sit-rep, Sergeant?"
"…Understood, Command, stand-by, over," Vard spoke into the radio, turning to his commanding officer with a sigh. "Not good, Commander…not good at all."
Vult sighed with discontent…nothing was ever easy, that seemed to be a day in their lives.
"What are we looking at then?"
"Well…Sir," He began, clearing his throat, wary of his tone, "Supreme Commander Grimm is still ushering us to "get our c'hurtas in gear and stop screwing around" for starters, he wasn't pleased at all with our progress thus far…and Captain Saro's unit sustained heavy casualties en route to our position from those enemy forces we encountered."
The Commander's nerves were at their end as it was.
"First of all, Grimm can shove it up his c'hurta and secondly…how heavy?"
Vard, though surprised at Vult's fervent response, accessed the information on his visor, scrolling through it.
"Initial figures are reading approximately 67% mortality rate, only 43, including Captain Saro, are alive. As for their combat effectiveness, it isn't listed. Last transmission with them was about…10 minutes ago, they're en route to our position to continue on-task."
"All the more reason to get out of here and stay ahead of them…"
"Actually…we can't…Sir." Vard hesitantly spoke, unsure of what his commanding officer's reaction would be. Being the messenger had its ups and downs…the bearer of bad news was one of the worst aspects of it.
"Do elaborate, Sergeant," Vult requested, not upset at him specifically, but the morons running things from Command, muttering under his breath "…feel like Zim's in charge half the time".
"I was specifically ordered by Supreme Commander Grimm to inform you to stay put and wait for Captain Saro." The Communications Officer rattled off, then slackening somewhat, "…doesn't make a lot of sense to tell us to hurry up when he wants us to stay put…does it, Sir?"
"No…it doesn't," Commander Vult sighed, aggravated even farther at a "superior" officer, seeming more by rank only and not intelligence. "…just keep me posted if you hear anything and be ready to move out, I'm tempted to defy orders on this one."
"Understood, Commander," Vard nodded, completely understanding of where he was coming from with his last statement as he went about his duties, keying Command once more to continue the usual transmission of information of what was going on and what to do next.
"There," Sula stated, finishing the last bit of taping on the bandages, "done…now you can put your jacket back on."
"About time, I thought we were on a date there for a second," she responded jokingly with a laugh of amusement as she put her arms through the sleeves, trying to button it back up, "…thanks for patching me up, we'd all fall apart if you weren't around, you know that?"
Sula huffed a laugh, smiling softly, "I wouldn't say that, but I do feel like I get my fair share of use around here, I'll say that much. Can't have anything bad happening to my friends, now can I?"
"Wouldn't be a very good friend at all then," Aero lightheartedly responded as she stood, picking her rifle up as she did so, opening a link to Vult, "I'm vertical and ready to go again, Sir, little sore, but no worse for wear."
The Commander nodded to her from across the room.
"That's good, Sergeant," He answers warmly, looking to his soldiers, motioning, "alright, wrap it up, we're moving out."
Vard pressed his radio remnants to listen closer, looking to his commanding officer. His visage was one stunned in disbelief, trying to formulate a response, shaking his head, looking to Vult.
"Uhh…Commander?"
"Yes, Vard, what is it?" He responded, glancing to the shorter Irken.
The Communications Officer swallowed nervously, preparing to speak, only to be interrupted as the doors slammed open with enough force to shatter the plate glass in them, Irken Elite soldiers, clearly exhausted from battle, several carrying wounds as a result, some in such bad enough shape were carried by comrades. The few dozen Irken filtered in, nearly collapsing in the remaining open space. To top it off, their commanding officer rounded out the new arrivals, partaking the scene around him with disgust, instantly focusing on Vult as he approached.
"Good to see you're not dead, Captain," Vult sarcastically responded, unperturbed as Saro's claws latched onto his collar in anger. The mere inch or so height difference wasn't enough to lift him off his feet, but the Captain possessed impressive strength.
"You left us to die, you ikveda murata!"
Vult merely broke his hold off his collar, knocking his hands away.
"Touch me again and you'll lose your hands," he warned, straightening his uniform once more. "I told you before, you fall behind, you stay behind. We work alone, can't keep up…not my problem."
"Awfully gutsy talk coming from some cowardly smeet wanting to run back to the robot arm," Saro sneered, looking past him to the Vortian civilians, stirring more with the new arrival of even more Irken. "…why aren't these murato dead?"
"They're civilians, not soldiers," Vult answered, making it clear, "they present no thr-"
"How can you be so sure?"
Vult leaned forward, keeping his back to the civilians in case anyone was eavesdropping, "I'm sure because if you would just look for a moment instead of opening your mouth, you'd see they're just scared refugees, they mean no one any harm. Leave them be and we'll go about our business."
Saro leans back smugly, crossing his arms.
"Leave them be, huh?" He comments as he motions for his communications officer, looking to him. "Tell Command we've linked up with Alpha Centauri again…and how to proceed with these "refugees"."
"Yes, Captain," he nodded, queuing his radio to do so, despite the Commander's wishes. He didn't want to invoke Saro's wrath.
"There's no need to get Command involved, Saro." Vult made clear, motioning to the civilians. "We leave; they'll go about their business as we go about ours, end of discussion."
"Regulations are regulations, Commander," Saro smirked as he used Vult's own integrity against him, feigning surprise, "a man like you always follows the rules, doesn't he? Standard procedure clearly states to inform Command of these…situations, await further instruction, and proceed from there."
Corr's attention was finally grabbed as the two officers seemed to argue amongst one another, the rest of the Shadow Strikers able to hear plain as day over their helmet comm. links. Despite their personal feelings and wanting to back their commanding officer up…it was best they minded their own business as they kept a wary eye over the civilians whom were already further placed on edge with the arrival of even more Irken.
"What's the problem, Commander?" He asked politely of Vult, having every right to being the same rank as Saro was to begin with, a man that was already testing his last nerves.
"Tell your lackey to stay out of this," Saro pointed to Corr, earning a hard glare from Vult's second-in-command. The Commander could almost feel the tension to retaliate in the air around his obedient Captain. He didn't blame him at all one bit, either…it was what provoked himself into assaulting Saro years ago.
"My "lackey" is more competent than you'll ever be," Vult made abundantly clear as he shoved him back, more so for his own safety. It took a lot to push Corr to the brink of acting out…Saro was already toeing the line as it was. "Unless you want to find yourself on the wrong end of a weapon, you best watch your words."
Saro simply huffed as steadied himself, tempted to lash out at Vult, hesitant from their prior "meeting" and its result. "…big talk coming from a Vort-sympathizing coward. Even if you had the guts, you're still outnumbered."
Commander Vult simply glared heavily at Saro, grinding his teeth to not entice him into insulting his soldiers again. He could handle anything he send his way directly, but to insult his hard-working men and women beneath his command was a step too far.
"What's the matter, Vult?" Saro grinned smugly, a parted sliver of a mouth revealing his teeth. "…nothing to comeback to something that's true?"
"I'm not going to stand here and bicker with you like we're a couple of smeets, drop it before you get dropped…permanently," Vult finally threatened, his visage assuring he would make true on such a statement if Saro kept going.
The Elite Captain waves him off as if he were nothing, looking to his communications officer. "What's Command's response?"
"They want us to search and question anyone who might have ties to the Vortian Defensive Forces, anything to provide intel on troops' whereabouts."
Saro cracked a wicked smile, clasping his hands together with a sigh of content. The Elite Captain was a distasteful individual as it was, his expression didn't help his case any whatsoever.
"Some good, ole' interrogation…my favorite."
Vult clenched his fist tightly, finally coming to a conclusion.
"We're not interrogating these civilians, plain and simple."
Saro looked to him amused upon his statement.
"Oh, really? You, the most animate individual about following rules and regs I have ever had the severe displeasure of sharing the same space with…wanting to defy orders from Command? Quite the rebel, aren't you?" He sneered, chuckling as he brushed past Vult, shoving him aside as he did so. "If you'll excuse me, Commander…I've got orders to fulfill."
Corr watched with a scowl of discontent for Saro as he approached the civilians, placing a hand on Vult's shoulder in camaraderie, only to have it shaken off…something very uncharacteristic of the Vult he knew. He looked before he spoke to the Commander's face, seeing a blind rage building within his eyes, trying to suppress it.
"…Sir..are you okay?"
"Not now, Corr," Vult sighed heavily, trying not to sound angered to him for not deserving it. "…just…just round everyone up, we're moving out."
"What about the civili-"
"I said we're moving out, Captain, I gave you and order, hop to it," Vult reiterated clearly, disgusted with the situation.
Aero simply watched on, shaking her head, muttering to herself as she turned back to keep overwatch of the civilians until instructed otherwise.
"…I really hate that guy."
Something bounced against her leg, garnering her attention. A small, bright-yellow ball rolled to a stop between her feet. With a smile of amusement, she knelt down to a single knee, picking it up to inspect it; her sight attracted the small Vortian boy that had dashed up after it. He came to an abrupt stop, fear in his eyes at the much taller Irken, but stayed still. Looking between the ball and the child, Aero cheerily smiled, offering it to him.
"Here you go, little guy," she said brightly, holding it out insistently, "go on…take it."
A Vortian woman dashed forward, scooping who was apparently her son up away from Aero before she could hand him his ball.
"Duro, don't run off like that," she scolded before turning an icy glare to the Shadow Striker. "Don't you dare touch my son, you monster!"
She blinked in shock for a second before formulating a response.
"Whoa, easy lady," Aero shook her hands, ball still in hand, pointing to it, "I was just trying to give him his toy back."
"All of you Irken are the same, a bunch of blood-thirsty, ravenous beasts! Everywhere you go, you leave destruction, death, and devastation in your wake! For what? For your precious Empire and "almighty" Tallest?" She scorned, clearly carrying a vendetta, looking her up and down. "…you disgust me."
"Now wait a minute," Aero spoke defensively, having struck a nerve, "you can't form an opinion like that just from a few instances, just like your kind and any other across the universe, we aren't all the same."
"You compare compassion and peace with a war machine bent on universal conquest. You really have no clue, do you?" The Vortian mother spoke venomously, revealing small, sharp pointed teeth in a defensive near-snarl, the teeth a characteristic of their race, as were the double-jointed legs and horns that curved backwards from their heads.
Aero angrily turned her back for her to show the Vortian woman, son still in her arms, thumbing to the artificial attachment. She wanted to make it abundantly clear that the Irken aren't how they are perceived.
"You have any idea on what PAKs do and what they're for? Half the time, I'm not even thinking my thoughts or doing actions on my own accords, it's all this. We're slaves to our own people, controlled and maintained to an unnatural level by technology, all for the sake of efficiency. I'm a special case, but us "monsters" as you call us never mature to adulthood, never reproduce, never truly feel emotion…we're denied the most base of needs by our "precious" Empire.
I'm sure you're wondering why we don't rebel…I'll tell you why.
First sign of resentment or a hint of distaste for the regime," She animatedly motioned with a lateral slice across her throat. "Doesn't even have to be in person, either, that's right lady…they can remotely kill us with a push of a button when and where they please, I'm probably pushing it right now telling you all this. Let me tell you…life doesn't really seem worth living when someone else holds it in their hands and can end it whenever they please, so just like good, obedient little drones, we follow orders and stay alive. You truly think I enjoy what I do? I was on the chopping block for being "defective" because I constantly defied orders, I got lucky.
Anything that doesn't fit the mold the Empire has deemed perfect is disposed of and "deactivated"…I'm sure you comprehend what I'm saying by that, oh, but it doesn't end there. Killing "defectives" isn't enough…they are completely erased from the database, no longer existing whatsoever in this universe. Do NOT even think you even know what we Irken are and what we contend with on a daily basis…I would gladly trade your predicament for ours."
The woman was clearly taken back from Aero's fervent defense of her people, making sure this Vortian woman truly understood the nature of their existence, the sad, depressing truth of it.
"…I…I apologize…I had no idea," she finally managed, setting her son down.
"Sorry for blowing up on you, just a little stressed out," Aero stated with a sigh, running her hands down her face, fatigued and in pain from her wounds. "I don't want you to think I'm defending the Empire's actions, far from it…I just do as I'm told to stay alive, that's all."
"I didn't know that's the kind of lives that you live," she embarrassingly admitted, ashamed, "forgive me for insulting you."
"I've heard worse and you're entitled to your opinion with the way things are at the moment," Aero lightly replied with a wave of her hand, smiling faintly. "Think nothing of it…" She looks to the boy again, who's clutching his mother's leg in fear. "…how old is he?"
The mother patted his head gently, looking to Aero without a glare, more of an expressionless gaze, unsure of her intentions.
"…4 cycles."
"He's cute. I like his eyes; they're really bright and colorful."
She smiles very faintly at the Irken's compliment of her son.
"They're his father's, he's serving on the front." She informed, remaining vague for various reasons.
The Irken soldier bites her lip, hesitant, but curious.
"…c…c-can I ask you something?"
The woman nods, intrigued by her sudden lack of confidence in her voice.
"Wh-…what's it like…to have children?" She nervously asks, rubbing the back of her neck, slightly embarrassed at her curiosity. "I'm a little different from the average Irken if you couldn't tell…lots of things floating around in my mind that I never thought about before…that's one of them." She turns slightly, avoiding showing her flushed cheeks, "sorry…don't have to answer if you want to..."
Despite the situation, the Vortian woman manages a weak smile seeing the pure innocence and curiosity in Aero's large, vibrant eyes.
"It's…difficult to explain, really, it's an evolution to the next stage of life and maturity. It feels wonderful, despite the pains of birth, the feeling of bringing life into the universe…" she attempts, letting a small laugh out, "…I'm sorry, I can't really explain it, it's something a woman must experience firsthand to truly grasp…do you have a mate or something looking for you to bear children?"
Aero's eyes went wide at the question, blushing even more furiously, "no, no, no, nothing like that," she chuckles nervously, glancing to Vard across the room quickly, almost without thought on the matter, something that seemed out of her logical control. She tried masking it best she should. "…I'm just curious is all…besides, I don't know of any males that are fully matured anyway."
"Not that it's any of my business," she began with a light smile, "…but you have feelings for someone…don't you? Someone you're around on a day-to-day basis?" She smiles, laughing lightly to herself, "…I apologize…I don't mean to pry…you…you really do seem different from other Irken…a lot different even." She chuckles.
"Yeah…you could say that."
Aero squeezes her hand without thought, realizing she's still holding the hornling's ball, holding the ball out to the mother, "here's his toy."
"You can give it to him if you like," The Vortian woman said, looking to Duro, "get your toy, it's okay."
Aero kneels once more, holding the toy out to him again with a pleasant smile.
"The scary Irken lady isn't going to hurt me, Mama?"
"No, she's…nice. It's okay, go ahead and take it."
He hesitantly reaches forward, resting his hand on the ball before quickly snatching it away, clutching it between his hands at his chest, still shy and scared.
She smiles as she stands to her full height once more, caught off guard as the Irken Elite Captain she absolutely detested shoved the woman back, falling on her behind. Hurt and frightened, she gathers her son in her arms again, whimpering as she joins the collective once more.
"Stand with the rest of the lot, don't step out of line! Bunch of filthy mongrels…" He ordered before turning his hardened glare to the much-taller Aero. "What the Irk do you think you're doing?"
"Not being a c'hurta like some people," she emphasized, referring to him as she motioned. "These people have done no wrong, I'm reassuring that by showing compassion…try it some time, you'll be surprised at the results."
"Compassion is for the weak, you defective freak," Saro growled, sharply jabbing his finger into the center of her chest to make his point known, "Command wants them interrogated for information regarding Vortian operations, their prisoners for the time being. You're supposed to be an example of the Empire's elite; the best of the best…all I see is that Vult's bleeding heart for our enemies has infected and contaminated the rest of you like some disgusting disease."
With grit teeth, she balled her fist up, doing everything within her not to belt Saro right in his mouth, but unclenched her hand, relaxing. "I take orders from Commander Vult and no one else. Touch me again and we're going to have problems…by "we", I mean you."
He simply chuckles, amused. She couldn't stand his disgusting, cold smile he possessed. The only thing that stopped her from socking him right in it was the respect for Vult's orders to try to get along with him and his soldiers, the sooner this mission was completed, the better.
"Problems? If I didn't know any better, it just sounded like you were threatening me, I could be mistaken." Saro began, sharply ramming his right hand in a fist straight into her wounded side of freshly-set bones.
She instantly dropped to her knees with a yelp in blinding pain, tears forming in her eyes as she clutched at her side. Feeling fresh blood coming forth from the impact, soaking into the dressing, Aero knew he managed to open the puncture again. Her body shuddered in agony, finding it extremely difficult to breathe from the seizing up in shock, feeling Saro grasp her antenna, sharply yanking her head back, looking down on her, his eyes dark, full of such deep-seeded anger and rage.
"You'll learn respect one way or another, vodeta," He growled, pushing her to the ground on her back with a boot on her chest, causing another cry in pain as he slammed her into the floor, even going as far to grind the heel of his boot into her dressed wound. "…even if I have to beat it into you." He chuckled.
"Captain, I'm not going to argue the matter with you, I gave you an order, follow it."
"With all due respect, Sir," he continued, motioning to the crowd, "We can't just leave that…that monster here, especially from what you said he's responsible for. Ignorance doesn't solve the matter."
Vult looked up from his near-argument with Corr on proceeded on mission and leaving Saro's unit to deal with the civilians, hearing the commotion on the other side of the sea of Vortians, Saro's menacing stature with a sick, pleasurable smile. The painful cries belonged to a more than familiar voice. Haxx's voice cut into the comm. channel as he began approaching them in a half-jog.
"He's hurting Aero, I'm going to break my foot off in his c'hurta," he angrily informed, only to be blocked by one of Saro's men, his Lieutenant.
"Mind your own business, Speckie." He sneered, shoving the weaponless Haxx back with a push of his rifle between them with a smirk. The Shadow Striker got back in his face once more, letting him know he wasn't playing.
"This IS my business, unless you want to find out what it is, get out of the ikvedu way before I MAKE you," Haxx growled, balling his fists up. Taller and outranking him, he didn't care; it would be completely worth it to help one of his own.
"Stand down, Sergeant," Corr ordered, trying to quell the situation that was escalating out of control.
He turned to Corr, exclaiming unbelievably without using the radio as he pointed to Saro.
"You're just going to stand there and let him hurt her?!"
About that time, Haxx caught the Elite Lieutenant's rifle butt across his jaw, knocked on the ground in a daze from being caught completely off guard.
"No need to get hostile on us, Speckie," he chuckled, watching as Haxx spit a mouthful of blood out, lazily pointing his rifle in his direction to keep him at bay, "just doing our job, trying to help you out is all."
"What's the matter, Sergeant?" Saro snarled a jagged smile in sick pleasure at Aero, now sobbing in pain as tears run from her eyes, getting renewed, sharp screams as he placed more pressure on her broken ribs. "…I thought you were going make true on your threat. Not wise to threaten someone like me idly, now is it?" He feels the fragments shift sickeningly beneath his foot, followed by Aero's painful cries. "IS IT?!"
"S-s-stop…please…s-stop." She managed through her seething pain, collected tears streaming down her face as she shakily placed her hands about his foot, trying to alleviate the pressure.
"What was that? Speak up…" The Irken Elite Captain smirked, amused, gritting his teeth, "…I can barely hear you." He emphasized with another sharp push.
Control seemed to escape the Irken Commander, fleeting fast at that very moment. Saro had always been a thorn in his side for years, ever since Drevin, and only continued to further enforce that very notion. It was one thing to do things of such a horrible nature, the boundaries pushed to the limit in his presence…but the unnecessary pain and torment of that the infamous "Vortian Nightmare" was known for was a step too far. Something had to be done.
Vult, sheer anger clouding around him as he stepped forward, his embodied person focus on that of Saro and making him pay for one travesty after another. It donned on him that it was a mistake to let such a terrible individual live when he had the chance then to end the suffering of many for the cost of one tainted soul. His second-in-command stepped in front of him, arms outstretched to hinder, hoping he could appeal to his senses.
"Sir, please calm down, don't do anything drastic," Corr attempted to reason, only to be on the receiving end of the Commander's strength as he essentially swatted him aside, pushing him with a single arm to the ground. He fell to his back, landing on the hard, polished floor.
He looked to Vult as soon as he was able to, on the ground, only to watch as the very same gauntlet that shoved him aside, their trademark plasma blades came to life, the other quickly following. The light magenta-whitish hue as the glowed highlighted and reflected off of his well-worn and battle-damaged uniform. He couldn't see Vult's face from his perspective, but he could only imagine what was written upon it.
Corr had never seen the Commander truly upset or angered…he witnessed first-hand as Vult's seemingly compassionate nature was shattered; giving way to an inferno of rage…he had truly lost control.