Connection Pt.1

Connection Pt.1

The pungent smell of vomit filled the air within the confines of the men’s bathroom. The sound of dry heaving echoing off the walls.

“who’d guess that your sea sickness would come in handy one day.”

Ki teased his older brother from beyond the stall where Locke relieved himself of what remained of his meal.

“I didn’t think.”

Locke stopped mid-sentence, relieving himself further. Ki laughed, shaking his head he crossed his arms. He leaned against the bathroom sink with his black ponytail draped over his shoulder.

“HOLY SHIT! HOW DID THEY GET LOOSE.”

There was a large commotion going on just outside the Bathroom that caught Ki’s attention. Standing straight up, he slowly approached the restroom entrance as the screams grew louder. Before Ki could get to the entrance’s archway the body of a soldier was hurled into the bathroom. Taking a quick glance at the mauled body confirmed only one thing. Somehow, someway, the beasts had escaped.

“ALERT THE LIEUTENANT!”

“DON’T LET THEM GET TO THE ARMORY”

Ki continued to listen to the array of shouting going on between the men and women on the ship. Soon bursts of fire started vibrating through the multiple corridors of the ship.

“This is a ship wide alert, all hands report, I repeat all hands report. The prisoners are rioting, secure the vessel, lethal force has been authorized”

Locke emerged from his stall to witness Ki knelt over the dead body of the soldier. Looking over his shoulder to take a good look at Locke, who was still green in the gills.

“Looks like our situation has changed a bit, you going to be alright?”

“I’ll be able to manage, thank you.”

he said, washing his mouth out.

“We need this ship to get to Busaya. What are we going to do with all this mayhem going on?”

Ki rose up from examining the dead body, facing Locke, who was looking at his brother through the reflection in the mirror.

“The only thing we can do, we are going to ride out the storm. In the meantime, I plan to help the prisoners, who are we to shy away when they show such courage?”

Another burst of gunfire echoed through the air in the bathroom, the two brothers finally ready to wondered out into the unknown. The two brothers, almost collided with a Sand dragon as it charged down the hall, On top of it a young woman. Taking a step back, the shirt of Ki’s uniform was torn from the razor-sharp steel like scales of the lizard. Locke and Ki watched on as the sand dragon plowed everything in its path. Close behind it was a bear that was mauling and attacking everything Atif, and the sand dragon hadn’t ran over.

 One of the soldiers staggered to his feet and raised his rifle to shoot the bear. Locke to intervene, grabbing the barrel of the gun and yanking it out his feeble grasp. Quickly bashing his elbow into the soldier’s face, sending him crashing to the ground. Seeing this, another soldier went for Locke, but Ki quickly assaulted the soldier. Catching a hard kick to the mid-section the man collapsing to his knees. Before Ki could strike again, the bear swipe at the two brothers. Locke and Ki swiftly dodged the giant bears sharp claws as it tore through the two guards. The two brothers stood firm before the furry monstrosity as it stood up straight, towering over both. Neither party moved before Autumn jumped from her bison onto the bear’s back, hugging its neck. Atif sensed this through her connection with the bear and eased up. The bear settled down and returned to being on all fours. Autumn now sitting on top of the beast looked at Locke and Ki, who looked back in return.

For a moment it was silent between the two parties, Autumn’s bison and bird approaching from behind her. The Bison came to a halt with the women and children in tow. Haiden, who was sitting on top of the bison, watched quietly, waving for the former prisoners to do the same.

“You guys would get into a lot of trouble for helping us.”

Autumn kept a composed demeanor, not knowing if the two brothers were really friend or foe.

“We are just hitching a ride to Busaya we don’t care for New Aurora, allow us to help you with the women and children.”

Locke explained, the universe seemingly working in his favor. But there was something else and Ki was quick to notice it written all over Locke’s face. Ki kept his composure, though he too finally seen what had Locke in a state of disbelief.

“I knew there was something off about you guys back in the cargo bay. Then the way you handled the soldiers.”
Autumn pointed out, getting off the giant bear and allowing it to go back on its rampage leaving the newly formed group behind.

“We can talk about that all later, what is the plan.”

Ki wanted to get to the point, they didn’t have much time to waste going over the pleasantries with one another. While Autumn and the two brothers went over the plan to escape, Haiden looked around on the walls of the crew quarters for anything that would point her in the direction of Lazard and the others. Jumping off the bison she walked over toward the group of women and assured them everything was going to be all right and to listen to Autumn and follow her lead. She didn’t have anything else she wanted to add only that she would accomplish her goal and free the rebels so they all could escape.

“Autumn, I’ll catch up with you and the others topside there is something I have to do first!”

She darted off down a corridor leading to the interrogation rooms. Her best guess as to where Lazard and the others were being held. Pulled away from explaining the plan, Autumn was surprised and was barely able to process what Haiden was saying. Quickly Ki darted off after Haiden, not once explaining himself.

“Be careful brother, we will see you both topside.”

Locke fully understood Ki’s thinking didn’t bat an eye as he ran off to back up Haiden.

“Hurry hop on we have to catch up to Atif, I don’t want her fighting them alone.”

Locke nodded his head in agreement and jumped on the back of the bison with Autumn taking the helm. The bison pushed onward with the women and children in tow, advancing on Atif, who was several corridors ahead of the main party.

Ducking behind the safety of the sand dragon’s scales Atif pushed through the small pockets of soldiers firing everything they had at the two. Their attempts were futile as their bullets bounced off the durable scales of the dragon. Her lion hung close to the cover of the sand dragon only jumping out to attack and mauling the stray soldiers trying to get the angle on Atif from behind. Taking the moment allotted to her while the enemies reloaded, Atif pulled off one of the Sand dragons’ smaller scales. Coming out from cover Atif hurled the scale like a throwing knife into the shoulder of one of the nameless soldiers. Throwing off her aim causing the soldier to accidently shoot her own comrade. The two of them were swiped against the wall by the tail of the sand dragon as it and Atif pushed on past them. Her Lion and now her bear not too far behind her.

Atif, ducking into cover once again, looked back to see Autumn and Locke. The distance between them considerable. thankfully there wasn’t too much in the form of resistance left to put up a fight against Autumn and the others. Her attention focused on the sudden sound of mechanical beeping and the appearance of a troop of mechs. Walking out of the freight elevator as its doors slid open, the lead mech’s optical lens focused on the sand dragon as it rapidly approached. Within moments it had a lock, its chest opening. Firing a single projectile outward toward Atif and her beast. Upon impact with the sand dragon’s steel plated forehead the special mixture of chemicals within the bullet combined. Causing a compact explosion that shredded through the sand dragon’s skull blowing it off completely. Escaping just in time to avoid the explosion, Atif ducked and rolled behind cover as pieces of the dragon’s scales were sent flying up and down the corridor like shrapnel from a grenade.

Scattered pieces of scales ripped through everything in its path including Atif’s bear and lion wounding the two fatally. The Sand dragon’s body slid to a bloody stop at the feet of the troop of mechs. Its blood and brain matter painting the walls of the corridors and the steel chassis of the robotic terrors. Autumn and the others avoided any harm all in part due to Locke reacting quickly and using the right amount of essences distribution. To see the scales flying toward him and the others, but the ability to quickly deflect a sizable portion of the shrapnel. Only receiving minor cuts on his hands and forearm, Locke stood firm and focused his attention on the troop of mechs that stood before him and the others. Autumn jumped off her bison as soon as it came to a stop beside Locke rushed over to Atif. Her sister didn’t escape the explosion completely unharmed, pulling a scale out of her calf and kept it in her hand. The troop of mechs pushed onward raising their rifles to the party. The last obstacle standing between them and the deck of the ship.

Moving swiftly and obscuring the mechs’ line of sight on him with the remains of the sand dragon. Locke pushed forward, closing the distance he jumped over the body of the sand dragon kicking the lead mech backwards into two of the others. Planting his feet and generating force from his hips, Locke threw a right hook that easily tore through the mech. Reestablishing his fighting posture a mech placed its cold hand on Locke’s shoulder and started to apply pressure. Its tight grasp on the man didn’t last, as another scale flew passed Locke’s face landing right in the mech’s optical lens. Autumn and Atif joined the fray, overwhelming the remaining mechs with essence infused attacks of their own. At times, they needed to double team the mechs to fully take them down, both lacking the raw strength of Locke. Who’s hardened body made light work of the mechs. With the threat eliminated at this level the group could take a breather and collect themselves. Now, the women standing as the last line of defense for the children started to pick up the guns of the fallen soldiers and arming themselves. Wanting to be prepared for whatever awaited them once they reached the top. Atif walked gingerly over toward her bear that lay on the ground howling in pain. Kneeling and holding its head in her arms, Atif looked back at Autumn.

“Can you give me a hand Auttie.”

The normal tones in her voice were absent.

“of course.”

Autumn walked over toward the lion and mimicked Atif. The Two tamers closed their eyes and started to breathe slowly. Together Autumn and Atif started absorbing what remained of the beasts’ essence granting them a peaceful death.

” Back to Aurora from which you came.”

The sisters whispered in unison, sending their fallen comrades off to the next life. Standing up from the side of the lion Autumn, commanded the bison to go off in the other direction its job completed. She would give it sometime, before she decided to release the beast to its own devices. For now, she kept the connection creating enough distance between it and the group.

“The elevator isn’t big enough for everyone we are going to have to go in groups. This could prove problematic if you don’t do this correctly.”

Locke commented as the two sisters regrouped with him at the elevator. With the women and children close behind the party had some decisions to make and little time to make them.

***

“TAKE COVER”

A solider screamed down a corridor to his fellow comrades, a gorilla charging right at them. Focusing their efforts on the gorilla, the band of soldiers took down the beast. Their victory meaningless as wolves jumped the group of men causing a frenzy of screams and howls. Hugging her back against the wall, Haiden saw the final moments between the soldiers and the wolves. Reaching toward the ground she picked up one of the many discarded rifles. Going through the motions she made sure her weapon of choice was loaded and ready to use. Ki, who wasn’t far behind watched Haiden keenly not saying a word. She was but a mere child handling firearms like a grown adult. Jumping out from cover just as more soldiers appeared, Haiden without a hint of hesitation feathered the trigger several times dropping the three soldiers in quick session. Falling back into cover Haiden closed her eyes and took a deep breath, the rifle shaking in her hands. Ki noticed this, opening her eyes Haiden looked at Ki who was staring at her.

“You going to help or are you here just to look at me.”

Haiden harassed, kicking over another rifle Ki’s way. He only looked at it and laughed.

“I don’t need that. Just cover me and don’t let these assholes shoot me. Now where are we going?”

he quickly pressed his body against the same wall as Haiden as a flurry of gunshots rained down on their position. Haiden poked the barrel of her gun around the corner and started to fire until she heard the clicking of an empty clip and discarding the rifle.

“Were looking for my leader, Lazard he is being held somewhere on this ship with other members of my group. If we free them.”

Haiden cut herself off mid-sentence and picked up another rifle and started firing around the corner into some more soldiers advancing on their position. Falling back into cover she continued.

“If we free them, we can kill two birds with one stone. We free Lazard and the rebels and keep the resistance alive and create the distraction we need to get us and the other off this ship safely.”

Ki did his best to reinforce this young girl’s resolve, watching her visibly shaken up by everything going on but still fighting through it.

“What is your name kid?”

“We don’t have time for that nonsense right now.”

“Now that’s the spirit.”

Fired up, Ki rushed around the corner taking full advantage of Haiden’s covering fire to advance on the soldier’s blocking their path. Once Haiden stopped firing Ki got to work. Throwing fast combinations of perfectly executed punches and legwork. Making quick work of them, Ki watched as Haiden rushed past him onward toward the interrogation room. Traversing the long corridor dodging soldiers and wild beasts. Ki and Haiden, two strangers working together to free the rebels.

To be continued