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Chapter 20

Mother Confessor:

Ah, nothing could be much better than sitting, sipping tea and reading the rest of this fantasy collection. Imagining myself back into the flights of fancy. Rescuing a village from an evil magical being. Setting out on yet another quest of noble design. Sighing at the thoughts of grandeur, wondering what really went on in those simpler days over a millennia ago. Brushing my white hair from my face, and taking another sip of the strong tea. Still floating on my cloud since leaving the female barrack from my hot shower. Once again lost in the pages of another reality.

Marckus:

Standing here in the confines of an elevator cleverly hidden in the middle of the mad science lab. Waiting for it to deposit us at an indicated sub-level. Captain Graxis at my shoulder in the rear, Shadow Company up front forming a double row. It is rather annoying just how long the lift takes to descend into the under dwelling carved into the planetoids crust. In reality what was only a few moments, felt like an eternity. The heavy doors slid open once we hit bottom.

Shadow company fanning out once in the handmade cavern, making a triangular formation, with the Captain and myself to make the point in back. Weapons at the ready, we traverse the crude structure cautiously

It feels like a catacomb down in the dankness. The light was very dim here, so the two on the outside in front lit the way with flares. The acid green glow made the carved stone looks more distasteful than in the minuscule light of the scattered lanterns.

Coming upon a wider area at the mouth of the long sloping hall, a quick metallic glint flashes in the glow of the flares. Without a thought, the Private on front left catches the attacking object. Disarming the one wielding it with ease. By the looks of the object it is a crude pick-ax.

“Stand down, we are going to get you out of here”, I bark into the darkness beyond. A few seconds pass by, there is the sound of rustling in the void. Slowly filling the light of the flares are about a dozen other worldly beings. Making my count of thirteen in all. They look like hell, malnourished and morose. The strange creature from the intercepted message falls to his knees, pleading for the release of his loved ones. Stepping out of formation I offer the broken alien my hand. Taking the offered hand he rises, he grips my shoulders in his oddly fingered hands. His extremely large eyes begging me for answers as rust colored tears start to roll down his green gaunt face. The pleading gaze of the tormented alien reminded me what I stand for. Though I do not understand his language, I understood the meaning in his eyes.

In a defensive formation surrounding the scared and starved beings we made the long trek back to the cargo bay. To lose a comrade in combat as a soldier is to be expected, and drives the soldier to fight harder. To lose a familial member as a man, is to tear at his very soul. This thought struck my mind, as I have suffered both. Once off this tattered rock, I will take great pleasure in leveling this compound. This idea amused me, like a slap in the Confederations ugly face.