Bitter-Sweet (installment 5)
A big thanks to all my readers! I apologize for being so slow about getting these out, but first I had trouble thinking about what to call something and then I've had some craziness at school. Including changing my college major senior year (long story) but I've got 5 up now, and hopefully it wont take so long to get 6 out.
Looking for all the universe as if she were asleep, Nalia watched through narrow slits of eyes. Several guards, including Grayson and Darrell, were scurrying about. Her body tensed as she heard a scuffle further down the corridor. All was suddenly silent.
Several moments passed before she heard the uneven scuffle of a non-human species. She closed her eyes fully to better attune her hearing so she might identify the being. She could not decipher the swish of a guard uniform, perhaps one of the prisoners was roaming the prison as she and Anton had done earlier. Few prisoners possessed her stealth, it as entirely possible they were missed and that is why the guards were more attentive.
The scuffle grew louder as the owner came ever nearer to Human Block Zeta. Raspy breathing became apparent. A bioluminescent glow announced the beings impending arrival. Nalia knew this was no guard; none of the terrestrial species in the intergalactic union were bioluminescent. In fact, the young woman could only think of one terrestrial bioluminescent species, and she found herself fervently hoping it was something else. She tightly closed her eyes as the scuffling rounded a corner and a glowing creature loomed.
Nalia had only ever heard of this species in hearsay. Never had she seen one, believing it a myth. Yet, here one stood. There was virtually no reason to doubt that she was looking upon an Ahware`. The raspy breath, the labored scuffle, the rough blue-green bioluminescent scales. Even Nalia was taken aback at how frightening the Ahware` looked. Beady black eyes peered around it . . . how did one determine the gender of an Ahware`? . . . jagged teeth showed as it leered. In its talons it clutched what appeared to be a stun-phaser, though it was much larger and more menacing than any she had ever seen.
The Ahware` clicked to itself before moving on. Whatever it sought would not be found here. Nalia found herself breathing a sigh of relief. Then she heard footsteps, an exclamation, and the expel of a super-charged stun-phaser. She jumped as the limp form of a guard tumbled into sight.
Without thought, without hesitation, she freed herself and leapt down. A quick signal to Anton to keep quiet and she silently approached the form. Her bare feet enabled her to be soundless on the Plutonian alloy, a combination of minerals and iron, most of which native to the dwarf planet.
The guard lay motionless, no breath was perceived. She felt for a pulse and could find none. His, for it was a male guard, neck lay at an awkward angle; his neck snapped from the careless toss. Whether the cause of death or post-mortem, she had no way of knowing. Nalia gulped as she rolled the guard over and had to clap her hands over her own mouth to keep from making an audible gasp. A young guard, barely old enough to work on Pluto: Grayson.
Nalia stumbled back, shaking her head in disbelief. This could not be happening, she did not want to believe. She was barely aware of her motions as she lowered Anton’s cell and freed him. Neither could speak. Several paces down the hall and a lowered cell lay open; its occupants motionless, dead or merely unconscious, Nalia could not bring herself to check. She only glanced long enough to recognize Darrell and the cell’s official captive Meig.
Subconsciously, their feet led them; though neither was surprised to find themselves standing before the kitchen. No one would be anywhere near the kitchen at this time. Both Nalia and Anton needed a break from the horrors they had seen. They sat in silence in the perpetual Plutonian night. They needed a break . . . they needed a plan.
Several moments passed before she heard the uneven scuffle of a non-human species. She closed her eyes fully to better attune her hearing so she might identify the being. She could not decipher the swish of a guard uniform, perhaps one of the prisoners was roaming the prison as she and Anton had done earlier. Few prisoners possessed her stealth, it as entirely possible they were missed and that is why the guards were more attentive.
The scuffle grew louder as the owner came ever nearer to Human Block Zeta. Raspy breathing became apparent. A bioluminescent glow announced the beings impending arrival. Nalia knew this was no guard; none of the terrestrial species in the intergalactic union were bioluminescent. In fact, the young woman could only think of one terrestrial bioluminescent species, and she found herself fervently hoping it was something else. She tightly closed her eyes as the scuffling rounded a corner and a glowing creature loomed.
Nalia had only ever heard of this species in hearsay. Never had she seen one, believing it a myth. Yet, here one stood. There was virtually no reason to doubt that she was looking upon an Ahware`. The raspy breath, the labored scuffle, the rough blue-green bioluminescent scales. Even Nalia was taken aback at how frightening the Ahware` looked. Beady black eyes peered around it . . . how did one determine the gender of an Ahware`? . . . jagged teeth showed as it leered. In its talons it clutched what appeared to be a stun-phaser, though it was much larger and more menacing than any she had ever seen.
The Ahware` clicked to itself before moving on. Whatever it sought would not be found here. Nalia found herself breathing a sigh of relief. Then she heard footsteps, an exclamation, and the expel of a super-charged stun-phaser. She jumped as the limp form of a guard tumbled into sight.
Without thought, without hesitation, she freed herself and leapt down. A quick signal to Anton to keep quiet and she silently approached the form. Her bare feet enabled her to be soundless on the Plutonian alloy, a combination of minerals and iron, most of which native to the dwarf planet.
The guard lay motionless, no breath was perceived. She felt for a pulse and could find none. His, for it was a male guard, neck lay at an awkward angle; his neck snapped from the careless toss. Whether the cause of death or post-mortem, she had no way of knowing. Nalia gulped as she rolled the guard over and had to clap her hands over her own mouth to keep from making an audible gasp. A young guard, barely old enough to work on Pluto: Grayson.
Nalia stumbled back, shaking her head in disbelief. This could not be happening, she did not want to believe. She was barely aware of her motions as she lowered Anton’s cell and freed him. Neither could speak. Several paces down the hall and a lowered cell lay open; its occupants motionless, dead or merely unconscious, Nalia could not bring herself to check. She only glanced long enough to recognize Darrell and the cell’s official captive Meig.
Subconsciously, their feet led them; though neither was surprised to find themselves standing before the kitchen. No one would be anywhere near the kitchen at this time. Both Nalia and Anton needed a break from the horrors they had seen. They sat in silence in the perpetual Plutonian night. They needed a break . . . they needed a plan.
Use the feedback form below to submit your comments.
Use the form below to email this article to your friends.
