Lyssa Thorne's
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“INSURRECTION”
EPISODE 32 – TRIAL
BY: LYSSA THORNE
FADE IN:
INT. VAGAKTA STATION HALLWAY
Sannaro and Gavasno were at a stand-off armed with stunners in the hallway.
SANNARO
I hate for it to come to this. I really respect you, Gavasno.
GAVASNO
I’m glad you respect me, San, I respect you, too.
SANNARO
Then let me through. I can’t let Verano get away again. Don’t you understand the agony he has put me through? He means to wipe out every Gonkacha including me and my baby. I can’t allow that.
GAVASNO
No, you won't.
SANNARO
I will do it and you can’t stop me.
Sannaro prepared himself to fire.
GAVASNO
I said you won’t allow that and neither will I.
Gavasno lowered the stunner.
Sannaro raised up and his hand wavered.
Gavasno turned around.
GAVASNO
Are you coming?
SANNARO
You’re one brave danunka for turning your back on me.
GAVASNO
I’ve done a deep scan of your mind. I know you have too much integrity to attack a person’s back. I can help you avoid my colleagues, too.
SANNARO
You may get an official reprimand for this.
GAVASNO
I’ll live. I see it didn’t take you long to get your own weapon.
SANNARO
Actually, I have two, compliments of two of your colleagues who weren’t careful enough.
GAVASNO
Sloppy.
SANNARO
I was following Verano’s trail when they caught up with me.
GAVASNO
You’re almost as good as a tracker, San. Lead the way.
Sannaro went ahead as Gavasno protected his back.
They walked unimpeded through the halls until Sannaro stopped at a door.
GAVASNO
He’s here all right.
Gavasno crouched outside the hatch and Sannaro nodded.
They heard the clank of glass bumping against glass and some clatters coming from the room.
Gavasno moved to the other side of the door and pressed himself against the door frame. He nodded toward the door.
Sannaro nodded back.
They both tripped the door sensor together and rushed into the room.
Verano whirled around and a glass beaker crashed onto the floor.
VERANO
No! I must not be stopped! You don’t understand. The Humans have brought diseases among us. I must find a cure! I must save the Saili from themselves.
GAVASNO
That’s not the problem. A cure for Gonkacha would certainly be appreciated for restoring the Saili genetic code in fetuses. It’s your methods. You can’t use unwilling Gonkacha Saili to conduct your experiments and you're definitely not allowed to restrict any Saili from living their own lives as they choose. That's why you are under arrest.
VERANO
No, I must continue my work!
Verano ducked under the table and threw a vial.
It smashed on the floor in front of Gavasno and Sannaro.
When the contents mixed with the air, smoke billowed in front of them and cut off their view of the room.
As Sannaro wiped the tears from his face from the irritating smoke, he extended his telepathy to sense Verano. He brushed Gavasno’s mind that was also searching for Verano’s location.
SANNARO
Fausa, my eyes hurt.
GAVASNO
There was an irritant in that smoke. He’s gone. Let’s get out of here so our eyes won't be irritated further.
Sannaro backed up until he heard the door whoosh open. He turned around and stepped into the hall. He propped his hand on the wall as he sneezed explosively three times, then blinked his eyes to clear his vision.
GAVASNO
He was ready for us. Was he this crazy five years ago?
SANNARO
He’s the same Verano, a self-righteous, arrogant megalomaniac. We’ve got to stop him before he escapes again.
Sannaro forced himself not to rub his eyes.
Gavasno slammed his fist against the wall.
GAVASNO
If we could see!
SANNARO
We need to go to Zhad.
Sannaro gasped as he felt another sneeze building.
They staggered down the halls to the Gonkacha suite.
As soon as the doors opened, they were surrounded by Meturato, Devasru, Zhad, Varanani and Cherna.
Sannaro gratefully took the proffered chair and watched Zhad through blurry eyes as he was pulling the retinal scanner from a pocket.
He held it in front of Sannaro’s left eye.
ZHAD
That was quite an irritant.
SANNARO
He was ready for us!
Sannaro sneezed.
Zhad checked Sannaro’s nose and throat, then repeated the examination with Gavasno.
ZHAD
Usually I'd treat this kind of irritation with eye drops and inhalers, but I don’t have any on me and I’m not sure they'd work on Saili.
Kinetiko walked in with a circle of burly guards at the door.
KINETIKO
Can I be of use?
SANNARO
We can trust him. He restored me to my natural state.
KINETIKO
About that, I thought, with all that's happening right now, I may have better luck coming to you with the final treatment than to wait on you.
Kinetiko pulled out an injector.
METURATO
No tricks.
KINETIKO
I assure you, I'm only here to aide Sannaro’s recovery.
Meturato stepped aside to allow the doctor passage.
Kinetiko nodded at him and approached Sannaro.
Sannaro arched his neck to accept the injector.
ZHAD
I wouldn’t yet. Verano's effected Sannaro and Gavasno with an irritant.
Kinetiko set down the injectors, then examined Sannaro’s and Gavasno’s eyes, nose and mouth.
KINETIKO
This is not good. The irritant Verano used is the kind that continues to irritate once it's absorbed until a neutralizer is administered.
GAVASNO
Do you have the neutralizer?
KINETIKO
I can have a trusted assistant bring it.
METURATO
No, too many people know where we are. I'll have no more unknown people.
KINETIKO
Then I will have to get the neutralizer myself. I'm ashamed that I turned a blind eye to Verano’s practices, but I want to return to my original objective to help the Gonkacha be healthy.
EXIT KINETIKO.
GAVASNO
I sense honesty in that statement.
METURATO
When someone believes in their mission without doubt he can be sensed to be honest.
SANNARO
I agree. That means Doctor Kinetiko has committed himself to help the Gonkacha. I believe him or he wouldn’t have restored my Gonkacha DNA code.
GAVASNO
I hope he can return quickly so I don’t have to deal with this irritant much longer.
Gavasno blinked his eyes and dropped his hand when he realized he was about to rub his eyes. He sneezed.
Sannaro paced drunkenly and blinked his eyes, but it felt like the more he blinked, the more his eyes burned. He leaned against the wall as he felt a large sneeze building and sneezed four times successively.
SANNARO
Fausa, my throat is raw.
Kinetiko walked into the room with eye drops and a sprayer. He administered them to each.
They both blinked their eyes.
SANNARO
That’s better. It worked quickly.
GAVASNO
Now we must get back to the search. Verano already had twenty minutes to try to get off this station.
SANNARO
Right.
Sannaro joined the Gavasno.
KINETIKO
I need to administer the last treatment, Sannaro.
SANNARO
It might disable me this time, Doctor. I have to find Verano.
ZHAD
Sannaro, I strongly suggest you accept the treatment.
SANNARO
Father, I know you mean well. But I must defeat Verano so we can leave this station. Stand aside.
ZHAD
Your cellular structure could resume deterioration if you don’t take the final treatment.
SANNARO
I’ll take it after I capture Verano.
ZHAD
You may not live that long.
CHERNA
You have to take the last treatment, San.
SANNARO
Don’t you see that if we don’t take Verano and he sets off those seranium vapor bombs, we'll all die?
KINETIKO
He is right, we would all be exposed to seranimite poisoning and those who already carry the disease would become advanced in the disease and possibly become psychotic. A blood bath could ensue. I will wait to administer the last treatment until after Sannaro helps to apprehend Verano.
ZHAD
You’re the specialist.
Zhad moved away from the door.
Sannaro noticed that Cherna was almost in tears as he walked from the room with Gavasno.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I’ll be back, Cherna, I promise.
They cautiously moved through the station until they stopped outside of another door where they sensed Verano.
SANNARO
I don’t sense Verano's ready for us this time.
GAVASNO
We must hope.
Gavasno moved toward the door.
Sannaro followed with his stunner in hand.
The door swept open and they rushed in again.
Verano was working inside a box.
GAVASNO
Verano, you are under arrest. Stand back from the box and put your hands behind your head.
VERANO
I don’t think so. This box before me is a seranimite vapor bomb and I just triggered it so if you don’t want to be exposed to seranimite, I suggest you set down your weapons.
SANNARO
That’s crazy, Verano, you’ll be exposed too. Don’t you realize that we Gonkacha could go into a murderous rage if you set that off? You’ll contaminate yourself!
VERANO
Since the police erroneously think they have to detain me, I'll still achieve my objective to eradicate all Gonkacha from the Saili race. When this bomb blows, I hope I die with my hands around your neck, Sannaro!
Gavasno slowly sunk to the floor and laid his stunner in front of his feet.
Sannaro also laid his stunner at his feet.
VERANO
The other one you’re thinking is in your waistband, too.
Sannaro took the stunner from under his tunic and set it down.
GAVASNO
There's no need to do that, Verano. If you'd continue your research without testing your theories on unwilling subjects, your research could be accepted by the community.
VERANO
You are so shortsighted. The Gonkacha are a plague, sub-Saili! The longer we allow those parasites to live their lives uncontrolled we’ll just have a larger population of them before my cure is supported by those fools.
SANNARO
I’m not a parasite! I'm a Saili being with the right to live as I choose.
VERANO
You have no right to exist!
Sannaro rushed across the space between them, grabbed Verano’s arm, then kneed him deep in his abdomen.
Verano doubled over.
Sannaro slammed his elbow into Verano’s back.
Verano hit the floor hard.
SANNARO
That’s for trying to kill me and my baby!
Sannaro swung his foot to kick Verano over.
Gavasno grabbed Sannaro’s arm.
GAVASNO
No more, San, he’s defeated.
Sannaro glared at the crumpled heap for a minute before he tore his arm from Gavasno’s grip and stepped back.
Gavasno rushed to the bomb. When he saw the complicated wiring, he backed up.
GAVASNO
I’m sending for a bomb squad.
Gavasno returned to Verano and put hand cuffs and ear shackles onto Verano’s unconscious form.
Sannaro slipped backwards to the door.
SANNARO
Thanks for being so understanding, Gavasno, but I’m not going to allow myself to be arrested.
He rushed out before Gavasno could respond.
INT. VAGAKTA STATION GONKACHA HIDEOUT
Sannaro was met by a large crowd as he entered the suite.
METURATO
You did it, San! The Doctors are giving up and asking that we stop our attack!
The recently withdrawn Gonkacha cheered.
SANNARO
I'm glad.
Sannaro gave them a small smile as repressed fatigue rushed through him. He drunkenly walked through the sea of celebrating people until he came to his family. Sannaro took Cherna into his arms and laid his head on her shoulder.
Devasru rushed over to Sannaro, took him by the armpits and lowered him to the floor.
DEVASRU
He’s exhausted.
Zhad and Kinetiko rushed in with separate scanners humming.
ZHAD
Cellular Degradation is starting again.
Kinetiko dropped the scanner and pulled out the injectors with the final treatment.
Sannaro looked fearfully at the injectors as Kinetiko brought them to his neck.
Cherna sat down on the floor and put his head into her lap as the injectors were pressed to his neck.
He tensed as he felt the liquid fire deprive him of the control of his muscles. Tears streamed down his face as the seizures wracked his body.
The celebratory noise silenced as Captain Tongoro walked through the suite with Gavasno at his side.
Gavasno stopped between the captain and Sannaro as the crowd of Gonkacha cowered behind the Police.
GAVASNO
Captain, I beg you, don’t arrest Sannaro. He did what he felt he had to for his and these people’s survival.
Sannaro was relieved to feel the spasms dissipate as he leaned in the comfort of his mate’s arms.
SANNARO
I can’t be taken to Sailia because my lungs are too damaged to survive the atmosphere.
KINETIKO
I can verify that condition. I can lead you to the monastery I took Sannaro from where Verano was intending to incarcerate Sannaro for the rest of his life. I can show you Verano’s case notes on his DNA replacement and every experiment he had done on any of these Gonkacha you see around you. These people are victims of unethical experimentation by Verano and a few of my colleagues.
SANNARO
I'm too tired.
Cherna’s kissed Sannaro on his forehead as he slipped toward unconsciousness.
Sannaro woke up alone in the room he'd shared with Cherna days ago and picked up his arms to verify he had no cuffs binding his wrists or his ears.
The door swept open for Varanani and Cherna, but Sannaro also saw there were Police guards standing beyond the door.
Cherna rushed to Sannaro’s side and hugged him.
CHERNA
Finally, you’re awake.
SANNARO
Did I miss the excitement?
VARANANI
The Doctors who were Verano’s accomplices have been arrested. The seranimite vapor bombs have been disarmed. A trial is being organized here on the station. As you noticed, you're under house arrest, but because of your precarious medical condition, they've allowed Doctor Kinetiko to continue your treatments.
SANNARO
Treatments?
VARANANI
You've needed more injections than Doctor Kinetiko expected because you dangerously exhausted yourself. In other words, brother, you nearly killed yourself with your insistence on taking personal vengeance on Verano.
SANNARO
So Verano's in custody?
VARANANI
He is, but the Police aren’t happy he had to have some doctor's care after you beat him.
SANNARO
What else could I do? He had us both disarmed while he threatened to detonate the bomb he had.
VARANANI
Anyway, Uncle Devasru is discussing the case with the other elders.
SANNARO
Like I told Uncle Devasru years ago, I had the ability to kill him, but I didn’t.
VARANANI
I understand, Sannaro. I've lived with the Astrisi now. Convincing that argument with the elders will be Uncle Devasru’s job. I'm under house arrest, too, because I participated in this civil uprising.
The doors opened again to the sight of two policemen.
POLICEMAN #1
Sannaro Damirateyak, we’re here to move you to another containment facility.
SANNARO
No!
Sannaro leapt off the bed, but he swayed drunkenly and found he needed to lean against the wall.
Cherna stepped in front of him.
CHERNA
Not again!
Varanani grabbed Cherna’s hands and pulled her away.
VARANANI
No, Cherna.
Sannaro fight as the police cuffed his hands to his back and clicked ear shackles onto his ears. When that wall of silence hit his senses, his legs buckled under him. He was jerked off the floor. His head swam and he stumbled.
The policemen steadied him between them.
POLICEMAN #1
If you try to stop us, we will arrest you too.
VARANANI
I'll talk to Uncle Devasru, San, he’ll help you.
SANNARO
I understand.
Sannaro was dragged from the room.
CHERNA
Well, I don't!
VARANANI
We'll be useless if we are incarcerated too!
CHERNA
Sannaro!
He was pulled from the Gonkacha’s former hiding place.
He was taken to another suite.
POLICEMAN #2
You’re not so tough, now.
POLICEMAN #1
Don’t mess with the prisoner. I saw this guy jump me and slam me into my partner. He’s quick and strong.
POLICEMAN #2
He’s just an eighteen year-old punk!
The two of them pulled Sannaro through the suite and shoved him into a room.
Sannaro raised his hands up to buffer himself from bouncing off the far wall.
Before he could stop his forward motion, the door was slammed shut and a resounding click followed.
He leaned against that wall with his eyes closed to wait out the vertigo that threatened to drop him to the hot tiled floor. He gasped for breath to no avail.
Sannaro pushed himself off the wall and noticed there was only a mattress thrown in one corner so he wobbled over to it and sat down. He touched his ears and felt metal.
Sweat rolled down his face and neck, then stopped at the silver tunic.
He pulled the tunic off and threw it across the room.
They'd deliberately increased the temperature in this room to make sure he was uncomfortable and sluggish.
SANNARO
Why won’t you leave me alone?
The sound of metal scraping metal sounded.
He looked at the door in time to see a tray of food slide under an opening in the door, then the slot was closed again.
The smell that assailed his nose made his stomach lurch. The tray held Saili food.
He hated Saili food.
END ACT 1
ACT 2
Sannaro was still lost in his thoughts when the door opened again.
The same two burly guards entered and glared at Sannaro’s naked chest.
One went over to the tunic on the floor to pick it up. He walked over to Sannaro and handed it to him.
Sannaro looked at it, but made no move to take it.
GUARD #1
You will wear it.
SANNARO
If you turn down the heat in here, maybe I will.
GUARD #2
It’s time for your trial.
Sannaro shrugged, then pulled the tunic on.
SANNARO
Off to the hanging.
GUARD #2
Hanging?
SANNARO
It’s an old Earth expression of an execution style used on Earth in the western states of North America.
SANNARO'S PSYCHIC VISION
A scene of an American old western hanging with a gallows.
BACK TO HOLDING ROOM
GUARD #1
That is a disgusting human ritual.
They left the cell.
The guards took Sannaro around a corner, then entered a door into a large room.
He walked through rows of Saili of all colors until he came to the front row where Uncle Devasru, Varanani, Gavasno, Meturato, Kinetiko, Zhad and Cherna were sitting.
The Kumani must have arrived because beside Cherna sat Lazha.
Surprisingly to Sannaro, Uncle Devasru held his hand out to him, but the guards blocked him from touching his uncle.
They took his arms and pushed him toward a tall cage in the center of the room in front of a long table.
Sannaro twisted away from the guards.
SANNARO
Get your hands off of me!
He fell to his knees and grabbed his ears in agony.
Before he could recover, the guards picked him up and shoved him into the cage, then locked it behind him.
He shook his head to dispel the pain, then looked up to see five figures obscured by red robes enter and stop at the table.
The person in the center pulled his voluminous hood back.
Sannaro immediately recognized him as Hiamovi, the Grand Elder of the Saili.
HIAMOVI
There has never been war among the Saili until this boy came from the Astrisi and corrupted the other Gonkacha Saili in residence on Vagakta Station into a physical riot against their caregivers.
SANNARO
That’s garbage. The Gonkacha Saili were already beginning a rebellion against their so-called caregivers before I arrived! Verano was using them as guinea pigs in his experiments!
HIAMOVI
This hearing is not about Verano! This hearing is about how Putura Sannaro Damirateyak incited a riot on Vagakta Station. Despite the efforts of police to detain him while they apprehended Doctor Verano, he avoided detention so he could engage in a barbaric hunt for Doctor Verano. After Sannaro was finished, Doctor Verano needed medical treatment!
SANNARO
What about the mind slam I was subjected to that burned out several synapses in my brain?
HIAMOVI
If you would not have avoided arrest, you would not have been mind slammed as Doctor Verano was trying to defend himself from you! The Police should have been allowed to handle the arrest.
GAVASNO
That’s ridiculous! I've tracked Verano before and saw what he did with the orphans on Belvas! He overpowered Sannaro and Sannaro was taught how to defend himself from attack! I asked for Sannaro’s help because I knew full well that Verano was more than my fellow policemen could handle!
HIAMOVI
And you are under investigation for defying your superiors, Tracker Gavasno. As a telepathy tutor you were to teach deviant children to become law abiding citizens, not to help you engage in defying your command!
SANNARO
Verano kidnapped me, forced me into DNA resequencing I didn't want to have, then sent me to be controlled for the rest of my life by the Order of True Telepaths! That DNA resequencing was more painful than it was for my skin to be burned off of me and the whole procedure was unstable, it began to kill me! While I was gone, the Madanaya were going to force my mate into aborting her pregnancy with our first born son!
KINETIKO
May I address the Council of Akuba?
HIAMOVI
You may.
KINETIKO
Sannaro was indeed dying of the DNA resequencing. I can attest to the disfigurement and grisly deaths of other Gonkacha who were subjected to failed experiments! Those Gonkacha begged for more understanding among the staff, but Doctor Verano told us to ignore their pleas! We were even experimenting on fetuses that Verano was telling us were stillborn, but I touched some of them and they were still warm! Their hardening wasn’t even complete! They had been alive!
HIAMOVI
That is irrelevant to this case, Doctor.
KINETIKO
Why wouldn’t any Saili, much less Gonkacha, want to rebel against that kind of treatment?
HIAMOVI
Doctor Verano is not on trial here, Doctor Kinetiko. If you do not abstain from speaking about another case I will have you removed from these proceedings.
DEVASRU
Akuba Hiamovi, we were once colleagues. I don’t understand why you would choose to ignore the evidence before you that Doctor Verano has repeatedly caused suffering to my nephew Sannaro as well as deviant children and Gonkacha. Sannaro has been violated several times by that man who, may I remind you, evaded arrest on Belvas for using children as test subjects. Why was Verano practicing medicine on Vagakta Station when he had a warrant for his arrest with the Saili Police on Belvas?
WITNESS #1
Why? My cousin disappeared on Belvas! He was arrested for being a part of civil unrest on Belvas and sent to that orphanage for corrective schooling! Where is my cousin?
WITNESS #2
Where is my brother?
WITNESS #3
My cousin was Gonkacha. After the riot, I came here to find my cousin and he wasn’t listed in the casualties! Where is he?
GONKACHA WITNESS #1
Where’s my sister? She’s Gonkacha, too!
GONKACHA WITNESS #2
My wife was pregnant with an habi that was normal, then suddenly he died in her stomach and she had to have a cesarean to bring the body out! Now they say we're infertile!
DEVASRU
What is your answer to all of these people’s questions, Hiamovi? These are your people who have had someone they cared about disappear.
HIAMOVI
I will restate that Verano is not on trial here, but Sannaro Damirateyak is.
DEVASRU
This isn’t a proper trial!
LAZHA
You staged the warrant just to keep San off my ship so you could finish what Verano started!
HIAMOVI
It is your fault the situation has come to this, Astrisi! This boy was not yours to raise! He should have been returned to the Saili immediately! You have corrupted him and turned him into a beast! He is still a child and he is speaking about already having marital relations as well as having conceived!
LAZHA
I will not stand by and have my former commander insulted! That boy was nearly dead when we rescued him. If we hadn’t, he would have died!
HIAMOVI
It would have been better for you to have left him.
Sannaro roared. He slammed himself against the bars and put all his might into pulling the bars apart.
Hiamovi backed up a few steps.
Sannaro collapsed to the floor with his hands again over his ears.
DEVASRU
Stop! If you continue to mind-slap Sannaro like this it will cause damage to his brain!
HIAMOVI
Then he must restrain himself from further violent outbreaks. This hearing has ended. Clear the room! Guards, clear this room now!
DEVASRU
I’m not leaving! This is my nephew!
HIAMOVI
I am the Grand Akuba! You withdrew from the Council, Devasru! You have no right to insist on remaining. If I command everyone leave, I expect to be obeyed!
Devasru hesitated for one uncomfortable minute before he bowed, then swept from the room.
Sannaro rested his head against the bars and willed for the room to stop spinning. If he was mind-slapped one more time, he was going to be sick to his stomach.
Even though the room was now empty of everyone, but the Council, he sensed the sea of strong feelings beyond the doors and that greatly disturbed him. He sensed Hiamovi’s approach so he reluctantly opened his eyes.
He furrowed his eyebrows when he saw the bright shape of Sikyatavo that glowed a lot more than a Saili should. He shook his head sadly at the council.
Sannaro began to reach out for the glowing Saili medic but the glowing head shook in negation.
HIAMOVI
Young man. It really pains me to see a fine lad like yourself in such a state of confusion. You do know what Akuba means?
SANNARO
It means Elder.
HIAMOVI
In our language, I am called the Tsiakuba. I am the father to all Saili- including you. I am sorry to see that Devasru was not able to sway you. I do not know what you did to him that corrupted him from the true path. I always thought he was a fine father. Unfortunately, because he has been unable to convince you that your chosen path is wrong it must fall on someone else. As the Grandfather, I am obligated to step in when one of my children exhibits detrimental behavior. This is one of those times. That is why I feel it is necessary to remand you to rehabilitation where your mind will be wiped clean before remedial teaching.
SANNARO
No!
A member of the panel of robed figures stepped forward and removed his hood. He was grinning widely as he fingered his bound long white hair.
SANNARO
Verano?! Please, not again! Oh, blessed Firebird, Uncle Devasru, don’t let them hand me to Verano!
DEVASRU
Verano?! Hiamovi, you were sanctioning him all along!
HIAMOVI
Admit only Devasru.
When the doors were opened, Sikyatavo was now outside in front of the crowd. The halo around him was gone. He glared as he waved his arms. The whole crowd surged in as if he bade them to rush the doors.
HIAMOVI
As Tsiakuba, I find his research is useful to the Saili. You may have your nephew back after the rehabilitation as long as you accept the conditions that he is to be rigidly taught proper Saili behavior. If you tell him anything about his Astrisi past, you and your family will be dealt with harshly. Do you accept these conditions?
VARANANI
What about me?
HIAMOVI
You will return with your uncle and promise you will never go off-world again. You may live with your brother under the conditions I have named to your uncle. Do you both accept these conditions?
VARANANI
Oh, San, I’m sorry!
CHERNA
But what about me? What about our baby?
HIAMOVI
Your fetus will be aborted and you will leave.
LAZHA
But you're sentencing her to die!
HIAMOVI
And this marriage link should not have been encouraged to be made. Sannaro is a child, too young to be sexually active. I don't care what happens to the Astrisi girl. Sannaro must be reintegrated into the Saili with no further connection with non-Saili.
Sannaro slammed his body against the bars.
SANNARO
No! You'll kill us both!
HIAMOVI
Without memory, you should forget your relationship with her.
SANNARO
I don't want to forget her!
Sannaro reached out for Cherna.
Cherna ran to grasp his hand.
Saili guards grabbed her and pushed her back to Lazha.
CHERNA
Nui!
HIAMOVI
Furthermore, all relations with the other worlds will be severed except for one representative to the Terran Planetary Alliance. Further civil unrest will result in severe punishment. Human-like behavior will be no longer tolerated. Any violators will be given similar treatment in rehabilitation. This trial has ended.
Hiamovi led the panel toward the door.
Sannaro sat on the floor in stunned despair until he saw out of the corner of his eye that the witnesses, Gonkacha and normal, were surging angrily toward the elders.
In front was Sikyatavo who looked as he had days ago and pressed himself against the bars of Sannaro’s cage.
Others joined him.
As a corner of the cage rose off the floor, hands gripped it and, with a mighty roar, the cage was thrown onto its side.
Sannaro was surrounded and herded from the room. He wasn’t sure if he should fight these people or not. They were keeping him from Verano and he was sure he didn’t want to be given to Verano.
The crowd continued through the station toward the flight bay.
As they entered the flight bay, he was pushed onto a shuttle. Behind him came Uncle Devasru, Varanani, Meturato, Kinetiko and Gavasno.
SANNARO
What about Cherna, Zhad and Lazha?
PILOT
They are being protected while they are taken back to their ship.
Sannaro sank his head into his arms as the pain of the day broke free in tears. Sannaro felt his uncle’s arms surround him. He felt Varanani’s hand rubbing his back. He laid his head on his uncle’s chest and let the tears flow.
INT. SAILIA PROGRESSIVE CAMP
As the shuttle landed in a remote valley ringed with incredibly tall mountains, Sannaro was fitted with a mask over his nose attached by a hose to an air tank his rescuers slung onto his back.
The rest of the Gonkacha were also given similar packs.
Sannaro began to ask how he was going to talk like this, but it came out as garbled gasps so he switched to telepathy.
As soon as he opened his shields, he hit the wall brought on by the ear shackles he still wore. Sannaro struggled against a wave of dizziness that swept over him. He felt the touch of his uncle’s hand on his back.
Devasru
Are you feeling ill because of the methane atmosphere?
Sannaro pulled the mask up to his forehead.
SANNARO
No, it’s not the atmosphere yet. I tried to open my shields, but I forgot that my telepathy's still blocked.
When he unconsciously drew in a breath, he began to cough.
Devasru pulled the mask back over Sannaro’s nose.
DEVASRU
Calm yourself and take deep breaths through your nose.
Sikyatavo joined them with the key in his hand.
SIKYATAVO
This will release the ear shackles.
Sannaro took the deep breath, then swept his hair back from his ears.
Within seconds, Sikyatavo had both devices in his hands.
With his ears unfettered, Sannaro met with a rush of thoughts.
RANDOM VOICE #1 (PSI V.O.)
How dare they release that Verano!
RANDOM VOICE #2 (PSI V.O.)
Sister, I promise to avenge your death!
RANDOM VOICE #3 (PSI V.O.)
My friend is missing because of that fiend!
RANDOM VOICE #4 (PSI V.O.)
How could our own people turn on us like Hiamovi?!
RANDOM VOICE #4 (PSI V.O.)
He’s supposed to be the Grand Akuba!
RANDOM VOICE #5 (PSI V.O.)
I’ll make them all pay for taking my brother from me!
The world began to spin and Sannaro felt his legs buckling.
Devasru took Sannaro under the shoulders.
DEVASRU
I've got you.
GAVASNO
I’m sorry I didn’t teach you how to block out unwanted agitated sendings from a large group, San. I really thought you didn’t need those lessons yet. I’ll start on that training right away when we have some free time.
SANNARO
Did I cause all of this anger?
DEVASRU
Many of these people have been hurt by Verano. They'd been willing to forgive Grand Akuba Hiamovi for his antiquated views, but to free and appoint Verano to the Council was unforgivable.
SIKYATAVO
Many of them were called back from colonies at the start of the Zuran War.
GAVASNO
I’ve seen how they’ve had trouble readjusting to the rigid Saili culture. I think I’ve arrested nearly a third of the people who are taking refuge here.
VARANANI
That’s a high percentage.
GAVASNO
Sadly.
Briarko rushed up to them with Vanrero following.
BRIARKO
Father, you’re back! When are we going home? These people spook me.
VANRERO
I’ve tried to explain to him what we’re doing here, but he won’t listen! Hey, San, great seeing you again!
BRIARKO
Oh, great, this nails it. Crazy cousin is back.
Briarko turned and stomped off.
DEVASRU
Briarko, mind your manners.
Sannaro pulled the mask up to his forehead.
SANNARO
I know there have been tense times between us, Briarko, but I mean your family no harm!
BRIARKO
Yeah, like you meant no harm to all these other people?
DANYLKO
He saved us!
Sannaro rushed over to his former friend from the Belvas Orphanage.
SANNARO
Danylko!
DANYLKO
Sannaro!
Danylko raised his hand up.
Sannaro slapped it with his own hand.
DANYLKO
Great to see you! If it hadn’t been for San’s courage to tell everyone about what was happening at the Orphanage, many more of us would have disappeared because of Verano!
SIKYATAVO
Let’s get the boy into a controlled environment before he faints from the methane.
Sikyatavo pushed Sannaro toward a building that was cut out of a cliff.
INT. KUMANI UPPER FLIGHT DECK
As the Astrisi shuttle settled down on the lift, Cherna couldn’t contain herself anymore. A deep sob tore from her chest and the tears flowed.
Lazha hugged her.
LAZHA
I’m sorry, Cherna.
CHERNA
Where are they taking him? Why didn’t they give him to us?
LAZHA
I don't know.
HADAH
Those luyaki unkafata! They think their so much better than we are. San belongs with us. If I had my way I’d scramble the Vizha'i and strafe that planet to ashes.
LAZHA
Be reasonable, Hadah, the hulls of those Vizha'i would begin to degrade on the first run. We can’t damage our defenses from the caustic atmosphere just to take our anger out on the Saili. We must trust in Sannaro’s skills to free himself.
Cherna gasped and put her hand on her stomach.
ZHAD
Are you all right?
CHERNA
It’s okay. Andoku just fluttered in my stomach.
She grinned, but the tears flowed again.
Lazha took Cherna in her arms and Cherna rested her head on Lazha’s chest.
LAZHA
He'll come home.
HADAH
Well, we’ve been parked for several minutes. We can leave now. I’m sorry I lost my temper, Lazha. What they’re doing to San's not right. I just wish we could do something to help him.
LAZHA
I do, too, but the Saili atmosphere prevents us from doing anything.
ZHAD
You’re exhausted, Cherna. Would you like to come with us to our apartment so you can sleep in your old room?
CHERNA
I think I would like that. I don’t think I want to be alone right now.
LAZHA
How are we going to tell Danu that Varanani was taken to Sailia too?
ZHAD
I’ll break it to him.
They left the shuttle that was already being serviced and went to the elevator to go home.
END ACT 2
ACT 3
Sannaro was relieved when they entered the building and felt air enter into his mouth. He pulled off the nose mask and laid the hose over his shoulder for accessibility.
Dr. Aureliana stepped up to him.
AURELIANA
You’re looking much better than you did the last time I saw you.
SANNARO
Dr. Aureliana, why are you here?
AURELIANA
I was working at a major hospital.
Some standards that were expected of me were hard for me to readjust to, but it didn’t get bad until Dr. Verano insisted on inspecting the Hospital. He walked from room to room telling us who were to be prepared for transport! I asked him where they were going, but he waved me off and told me it wasn’t my business. From another doctor, I was told Verano transported those patients, no matter their condition, to Verano’s Rehabilitation Center and they heard nothing more about the patient. When he had asked how a certain patient was doing, he was told to mind his own business. The next time Verano came, I tried to tell him he couldn’t take one of my patients because he wasn’t in the condition to be transported. Verano casually looked to our administrator and told him to fire me. The administrator turned to me, shrugged his shoulders and said he was sorry, but I had to leave. I’ve been here at this camp ever since.
SANNARO
That man is taking too much control.
ERADANO
Sadly, Grand Akuba Hiamovi is allowing him full reign. I plead with Hiamovi to at least limit Verano’s control, but as usual Hiamovi went into his classic diatribes about Verano’s usefulness. So, here I too huddle from the injustices of Dr. Verano. There was a time when Hiamovi listened to his peers, but these days his ears are only for Verano.
DEVASRU
It saddens me that almost half of our people’s council elders are present here.
ERADANO
So the only solution I can think of is to declare war on the Grand Akuba. Sannaro, would you train us as you did with the Gonkacha so we may fight against our oppressors?
Briarko pushed through the crowd surrounding them.
BRIARKO
Can’t you see? If you get him involved in this fight, they’ll come down harder on us! We don’t need a homicidal maniac involved!
SANNARO
Homicidal maniac? If I was on my ship, I'd challenge you to a fight on the mat, Briarko!
DEVASRU
We shouldn't fight with each other. Sannaro has some skills that are necessary to our plans.
BRIARKO
You care more for that savage cousin than you do about me!
Briarko stomped off.
Devasru’s face was a mask of pain as he watched his son push his younger son away from him before he stormed out the door.
DANYLKO
Please, Sannaro, you successfully led the Gonkacha. Won’t you do the same for us Deviants, too?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Uncle, I just want to go home!
DEVASRU (PSI V.O.)
I understand you want to be with Cherna, but would you really turn your back on the other people who are suffering because of Verano?
Sannaro closed his eyes and slumped his shoulders.
SANNARO
I’ll help you fight against Hiamovi.
A cheer roared throughout camp.
GAVASNO
Good choice, San.
Sannaro massaged his sore shoulder. He whirled around and found himself facing his sister.
VARANANI
Turn back around. I’m not Zhad, but will I do?
Varanani pulled him back around and dug her fingers into his tight shoulders.
SANNARO
Houk.
Sannaro relaxed into Varanani's ministrations.
SANNARO
Houk.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
My body is already a mess, Vara, how am I going to lead another war against a whole planet?
VARANANI (PSI V.O.)
I don’t know, but this is not a separate war, San, it’s a continuation on a larger scale. You dedicated yourself to the Gonkacha uprising and now you’ll have to do it again for the others who don’t fit here. Don’t think of this as being any different than the Zuran War. Last time Di'ok was the one in peril, but this time the stakes are higher, you’re fighting for your individuality and your son’s right to exist.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
You’re right, Vara. Just because Cherna's escaped back to the Kumani doesn’t mean the danger to Andoku has ended.
VARANANI
Feeling better now?
SANNARO
I do. Fa’arata, ka'ina. Search around camp and bring those who're willing to fight to the field in front of this building and I’ll start teaching them basic hand-to-hand combat and weapons handling.
Gavasno and Sikyatavo nodded, then went out the door.
SANNARO
Varanani, gather up the remaining Gonkacha who've had my basic combat class so they can help me.
She followed Gavasno and Sikyatavo.
Sannaro’s new class went about as well as it did for the Gonkacha.
He noticed that some of the more massive Saili weren’t very coordinated, but smaller Saili like his friend Danylko and his younger cousin Vanrero almost seemed to be enjoying the class despite the grimaces on their faces when a muscle would twinge.
After the class, Dr. Kinetiko, Dr. Aureliana and Sikyatavo administered to the sore muscles.
(LATER)
A day later, Sannaro didn’t feel any more confident about his troop of students than the day before as they moved through their lesson.
Varanani, Meturato and Gavasno walk through the lines and do spot corrections to anyone who appeared to need it.
Sannaro’s ears began to vibrate with an eerie feeling that many agitated minds had surrounded him. He looked up to the cliffs above the stronghold. Above them stood an incredible amount of Saili of all tribes armed with laser rifles trained on them.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Spread out! Move in on them from both sides fast or we’ll be cut down where we stand!
Sannaro sprinted to the side of the cliff below the line of fire just as bolts of light rained down on the encampment.
Some of them followed Sannaro, but some were cut down before they could respond.
Sannaro led the group around to the base of the cliff.
Before they took the trail up, Sannaro scanned the higher ground for a sentry.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Stay here, I’m going to take out the sentry.
He climbed up the hill from boulder to boulder until he came to the sentry’s hiding place. He slipped around the boulder and pushed the sentry’s head against the rock.
The sentry dropped to the ground.
Sannaro swept up the silver man’s laser rifle and checked it over. He scanned the trail ahead of him and sensed no one.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Join me.
Once everyone was with him, he led them farther up the hill.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
We’re nearing them. Be ready to attack.
They heard the shooting of weapons so Sannaro assumed the others had already engaged Hiamovi’s troops. They rushed up the final hill and into the fray.
The armed men whirled around and began to shoot at Sannaro’s charging group.
Sannaro rushed to a boulder close to the fighting and began to fire the rifle. He fired at anyone in the uniform of brown and gray.
Sannaro sensed Gavasno was on the other side doing the same as he.
The other rebels were in close combat with the soldiers.
Saili soldiers were trained for some hand-to-hand combat and were overwhelming the rebels.
Just as Sannaro was about to target another soldier, his ears itched. Sannaro whirled around and caught a soldier that had sneaked up behind him in his stomach with the butt of his rifle.
As he was turning back to the fight, another soldier had rushed up the rock Sannaro had used as cover and jumped onto Sannaro’s back.
Sannaro dropped the rifle, reached back to the man’s shoulders, grabbed the shirt then propelled him over his head.
As the man flew, he grabbed Sannaro’s shirt, almost tore it off before he lost his grip and cracked his head on a rock upon landing.
Sannaro pushed the remains of the neck of his shirt back onto his shoulder before he twirled around and cracked another soldier across his face.
Another soldier was closing in on his left so he raised up his leg and kicked that soldier backwards.
When Sannaro saw that more soldiers rushed to engage him, he realized their orders had been to draw him out and take him down.
Gavasno was also fighting soldiers by hand to fight his way to Sannaro, but too many soldiers were between them.
Sannaro yelped when he felt a blade rake across his back.
His oxygen tank clanked to the ground and rolled down the hill.
Sannaro snatched the nose mask off and threw it away. He kicked his right leg forward.
Before he connected, the soldier took a hold of Sannaro’s leg and clawed into his leggings.
Sannaro gritted his teeth as fingernails dug into the flesh of his knee. He rounded his leg to break the hold then kicked the soldier across the face.
That soldier fell to the ground still clutching the fabric of Sannaro’s legging.
Sannaro was panting hard with the lack of oxygen and felt lightheaded.
One soldier closed in and slammed Sannaro in the face.
Another soldier tried to climb over one of his fallen comrades and tripped.
On his way to the ground, the soldier grabbed Sannaro’s left hip and clawed his leggings then hit the ground.
Sannaro picked up his left foot and kicked that soldier’s nose.
Before he brought his foot back down, another soldier kicked the inside of his right knee.
His leg collapsed and he hit the ground hard.
Before he could do anything else, a sea of fists pummeled him.
His vision began to dim. As much as he fought for consciousness, the constant blows to his body and the lack of oxygen took him down.
Varanani swayed and held her head as she stood back at the edge of the battleground.
All around her were bodies of soldiers and fellow rebels. Some were attempting to sit up as others stayed on the ground and groaned.
Gavasno shook his head as he sat up again then forced himself to stand and move over to her.
Below the hill, she saw soldiers throw Sannaro’s unconscious body into a hover truck.
VARANANI
No!
Varanani was about to run down the hill, but Gavasno grabbed her arm.
GAVASNO
Varanani, I need for you to help the wounded. I’m going to trail them to help Sannaro escape. Do you understand?
VARANANI
Yes. Please, don’t let them kill my brother!
GAVASNO
I’ll try my best.
Gavasno ran down the hill.
Varanani took deep breaths to calm down as she watched Gavasno run to the rear of the truck and jump onto the bumper just as the truck rose off the ground and sped away.
She took another shuddering breath before she moved among the bodies to check for
survivors. She sensed Uncle Devasru and the doctors were coming into view on the hill.
DEVASRU
Varanani, have you seen Briarko?
VARANANI
I can’t sense him anywhere!
KINETIKO
Devasru, I appreciate your concern for your son, but I need everyone to help Dr. Aureliana to triage the wounded so we can begin treatments as soon as possible.
DEVASRU
Of course, Doctor.
Devasru looked over the battlefield once more before he began to check the bodies.
VARANANI
I hope you’re all right, Briarko.
Varanani joined in the grisly task.
Deep into the evening, Varanani helped to move the wounded to and from Dr. Kinetiko and Dr. Aureliana’s treatment area.
The dead were carried to a cave that was deeper into the mountains to become their “Cave of Bad Death.”
INT. SAILIA HIAMOVI'S ESTATE
When Sannaro was dragged down the hall and dropped before the Grand Akuba, he was barely conscious. He rested his forehead on the floor until the room stopped spinning.
His shirt hung in tatters, showing half of his chest.
His back ached from where the knife cut through the air hose and his shoulders straps to rob him of the oxygen feed to his nose.
An L-shaped rip showed the upper thigh of his left leg and his bare right knee touched the floor where his leggings were torn away.
Sannaro pulled his head up when he sensed that Hiamovi was standing above him.
HIAMOVI
I’m very disappointed in you, Sannaro.
SANNARO
That’s nothing new. Join the line behind everyone else.
HIAMOVI
Don’t get flippant with me, child.
Sannaro flinched as a mind-slap stung through his head.
HIAMOVI
Now, if you will behave yourself, I want you to tell me what Devasru is planning.
SANNARO
You said yourself I don’t know how to behave.
HIAMOVI
Why can’t you see that I’m trying to preserve the Saili? Why do you insist on tearing your own people apart?
SANNARO
I was attacked first!
HIAMOVI
We are your parent race and you are our child. You are going to learn how to behave or take the consequences. I was going to spare you this, but since you are being resistant I will be forced to give you over to Dr. Verano.
Sannaro shuddered as the white-haired doctor stepped through the door. He desperately wanted to jump to his feet and run, but the lack of oxygen was making his chest hurt.
VERANO
Well, you’re finally mine. You’re making the right decision, Grand Akuba. This child will never bother you again.
Sannaro groaned and screwed his eyes shut.
VERANO
And now that the Deviants no longer have their star brat, the others should fall into line.
HIAMOVI
I hope so. This fighting is so psychically disturbing.
The meeting room doors opened and two guards entered.
VERANO
Hold him down and don’t be easy on him. This boy is extremely dangerous.
Sannaro strained to move his body to avoid the men, but he was too slow.
The men grabbed his arms and held his wrists in the middle of his back.
Sannaro bucked to try to shake them and get to his feet. He was slammed onto the floor.
One guard straddled his back and the other straddled his legs.
Verano bent down, pulled Sannaro’s hair back then began to fit ear shackles onto his ears.
Sannaro shrieked and tried to hit Verano’s face with his head until the guard on his back grabbed the back of his head and his chin.
One shackle snapped into place then his head was jerked around.
Verano slid the other one into place.
SANNARO
Luyaki niyaroi!
Sannaro flopped his body to throw off the guards.
The guard on his back pushed his head into the floor.
He picked his head up and saw a streak of gold sparkle on the floor. He licked blood off his lip. He wanted to continue to fight the guards who were locking more shackles around his wrists and ankles, his muscles wouldn’t respond.
He was picked up by his arms and legs to be taken to a hover car. He was dumped unceremoniously into the back seat and sat up.
The guards sat on either side of him as Verano took the controls and took off.
Sannaro bowed his head to allow his hair to cover his face and he closed his eyes.
EXT. SAILIA HIAMOVI'S ESTATE
Gavasno quietly followed.
From how Sannaro hung limply from the guards’ hands, his clothes torn to shreds and the blood that dripped from Sannaro’s upper lip, he knew that Sannaro was badly beaten.
Gavasno saw the white-metal shackles flash through the blue-black hair.
The guards threw Sannaro into the back seat of a hover car then climbed in on either side.
Verano took the controls and the hover car rose off the ground.
Gavasno scanned the guards’ minds and memorized their mental signatures before he began his search to find a hover car he could take.
INT. SAILIA REHABILITATION CENTER
Sannaro raised his head when he felt the hover car come to a stop.
Again, he was carried hand and foot into another building.
Sannaro shuddered as his sliced shoulder muscles went into spasms.
The doors swept open.
Verano led the guards to a room that had a bed in the center of the room and panels of machines against the walls.
Sannaro was flopped onto the bed.
He felt the pressure of the wrist and ankle shackles leave his limbs.
Before he could force his tortured body to take advantage of his temporary freedom, he was stretched spread-eagle and strapped to the bed.
VERANO
Oh, don’t you look pitiful. You’re clothes are barely decent and your body is crusted with blood.
SANNARO
Where am I?
VERANO
Exactly where you would've been if those insurgents hadn’t stolen you.
Sannaro groaned.
Verano walked past him and picked up some kind of helmet with wires flowing from it.
He grinned as he lowered it to Sannaro’s head.
Sannaro shook his head to keep the device off him, but the guards grabbed his head again.
The helmet was strapped around his chin then they withdrew.
Verano walked over to a control panel.
VERANO
By the time I’m finished, you’ll be a new man, Sannaro.
Verano grinned wickedly as he flipped a switch.
Raw electricity stabbed through Sannaro’s head.
His body arched and shook uncontrollably for a few minutes until the power no longer coursed through him.
Sannaro flopped back to the bed.
VERANO
There, that wasn’t so bad.
Verano grinned as he picked up an injector full of clear fluid.
SANNARO
Nui, not again!
VERANO
Oh, don’t worry, I’ve refined the process since the last time. Surprisingly, I found that the humans had extensive notes on what they called Brainwashing. Amusing, isn’t it? You’re defending your right to be around that savage child race, yet they already knew of the procedure.
Verano set the vial down, ripped the already torn material farther to expose Sannaro’s hip then stabbed the injector into his flesh.
Sannaro hissed from the stinging in his buttocks.
A minute later, Sannaro’s vision distorted. He moaned as he shook his head to clear his vision, but it only made the room spin more. He laid his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes.
SANNARO
(slurred)
What did you give me?
VERANO
It’s only a hallucinogen.
Verano's body seemed to stretch and expand as if he was seen through distorted mirrors.
VERANO
So, Sannaro, do you know where your uncle is right now?
SANNARO
In Misipatasutisga.
VERANO
Don’t be ridiculous. He’s not in a volcano.
SANNARO
Okay, he’s on Gasbaja!
VERANO
No one lives on Gasbaja anymore!
SANNARO
Then maybe he’s in Iachi’awei Ushi? I don’t remember! Did I ever tell you I hate to be drunk?
VERANO
No.
SANNARO
And I just hate to be out of control!
VERANO
I must know where Devasru is.
SANNARO
Mary had a little lamb, she put it on a shelf and every time it wagged its’ tail it spanked its little self!
Sannaro sputtered then let out a loud laugh.
VERANO
That’s not funny.
SANNARO
Did you know when the Saili blush they look the color of a Tequila Sunrise?
VERANO
Stop spouting nonsense!
SANNARO
I’m not kidding! No'ama told me that once! You know that Mary Had a Little Lamb story?
VERANO
No.
SANNARO
Varanani’s boyfriend Adam Croner told me that variation of the Mother Goose Rhyme as a joke!
VERANO
I couldn’t stand you before, but you’re worse now!
Verano slapped Sannaro’s face.
Sannaro blinked back tears.
SANNARO
You hate me no matter what I say! Why can’t anybody like me? Jake Arlington always teased me at school and stole a ball from me! Aldinon wanted to hurt me while I hid under the Werner’s porch because I saw him and Arlington steal the Astrisi’s seranium! Ku'an threatened to throw me out the airlock! Kuro threatened to cut my ears off and melt me down in a billow! You want to take my mind away from me and the Madanaya want to take my baby! Why can’t you like me? I just want someone to like me.
VERANO
I’m trying to help you.
SANNARO
Only if I act the way you want me to! I want to be me!
Sannaro pounded his fists on the bed against the restraints.
VERANO
You are an abomination.
Verano stomped out the door.
Sannaro laid his head down and cried harder than he had in years.
FADE OUT.
THE END.