Lyssa Thorne's
Science Fiction Novels
Double Dragon Ebooks
“PIRATE SLAVE”
EPISODE 47 – CAPTURED
bY: LYSSA THORNE
and KATRINA DRAKE
SUPER: Reincarnation can be great. You can start anew. All the memories wiped clean. Until you wake up and all the forgotten memories slam you. In the beginning, I went by the name Sannaro. That was only half of the problem.
FADE IN:
EXT. SANNARO'S FIGHTER PLANE -SPACE
Sannaro flew through the tight battle to rejoin his squadron after he vaporized a pirate that had broken through the skirmish line. He was approaching a group of white, swept-wing Vizha'i.
He had to punch out before it exploded! He strained to pull up the red hood over a recessed button on his control panel. He felt another boom and knew his cockpit had separated from the engines. He felt the push of the small rocket that fired to throw the cockpit away from the drive section.
The shock wave of his exploding engine forced his faceplate into the control board.
He shut his eyes. Pain shot from his nose. He shook his head to clear the pain faster and then opened his eyes again.
Golden globules of blood floated around his nose.
Thankfully, his visor wasn't cracked so his flight-suit wasn't compromised.
He checked is control board sensors and was glad his emergency systems were all showing green.
He finally looked through the canopy and wished he hadn't, he was still flat spinning at a sickening rate through space. He looked back down and willed his stomach to settle.
Once the battle was over, a retrieval shuttle would come and pick him up to take him home.
Just as his stomach settled, he jerked to the right. He almost hit his helmet against the canopy again. He looked up through his canopy and saw that the stars had become stationary again.
The pirate mother-ship loomed above him. He saw the shimmering distortion of a force field!
SANNARO
No, no, no!
He grabbed the canopy release and pulled.
The canopy launched away.
He released his straps, carefully put his legs under him and kicked out of the cockpit.
As he was floating away, another tractor beam enveloped him and he drifted closer to the skin of the pirate ship.
SANNARO
Oh, blessed Firebird!
He tried to reach his helmet to break the seal, but he couldn't move! The gravitational pull from the tractor beam was too strong! He strained his muscles to force them to move. Sweat poured down his face and stung his eyes, his air tank strained to keep up with his heavy breathing, but his arms stayed floating at his sides.
The hatch of the ship slowly enlarged and slid soundlessly open.
He struggled against the tractor beam.
As he slipped through the open door, he felt the tractor beam shut down.
He grabbed for his pistol while the door began to close. Before he could release it from its holster, another paralyzing beam gripped him. His hand froze around the butt of the weapon.
The door closed and the control panel's lights changed from red to green.
The inner door swept open and two scowling, muscular humans rushed in and grabbed his arms behind his back just as the paralyzing beam shut off. Another human grabbed his legs and flipped him to the floor.
Sannaro kicked his legs out to throw the man off. He felt the pressure of a laser pistol jammed into his neck.
PIRATE #1
Try that again and I'll fry your brains.
Sannaro kicked again.
SANNARO
Go ahead!
The pirate cracked the butt of his weapon on his spine at the base of his helmet. His muscles quaked, then a paralysis rushed through his body.
PIRATE #1
Ha, good try. We don’t like to damage the goods before our leader checks you out.
His partner closed shackles around his wrists as the third man recovered and fixed another set of shackles around his ankles.
The man at his feet pulled out a control device and Sannaro immediately felt restraining energy course through the shackles.
The pirates hauled him off the floor and pushed him down the corridor. He was taken through several turns before he was shoved through a thick hatch and pushed down to his knees.
The man with the controls increased the energy and Sannaro felt his muscles seize up.
He looked up at a burly human with a frighteningly scarred face who rushed up to him.
He noticed that everyone around him stepped back when he came near.
The man reached out and grasped his helmet he heard the clicks of the side locks as they released. He heard the hiss of the pressure seal as the side seams were pulled apart and his helmet was pulled off. His hair fell to brush his shoulders as it was freed from containment.
BALTAZAUR
You're not Astrisi!
SANNARO
Surprise.
PIRATE #1
Hey, metal boy, is that blood on your face or did you puke your yellow belly? Did you piss your pants, too?
PIRATE #2
Of course, didn't you hear, Saili have yellow skin because they're all cowards? How can they see through those little slanty eyes, anyway?
Baltazaur had a puzzled look on his face that transformed into pleased amusement. He chuckled then he let out with a hearty guffaw. He raised his arms in triumph over his head.
BALTAZAUR
Men, this is a glorious day! I, Baltazaur Depadariophoros, have captured the dreaded Destroyer!
PIRATE #1
This can't be the Destroyer! This guy's a runt!
PIRATE #2
He doesn't even look like he's fifteen years old!
Baltazaur grabbed Sannaro's hair and pulled his head back.
BALTAZAUR
What's your name, slave?
SANNARO
I am no slave. I am an Astrisi warrior.
BALTAZAUR
Not anymore!
Baltazaur pulled his long blade knife out of its sheath on his hip and pulled the stretchy material of Sannaro's flight-suit away from his throat. He sliced through it down to his pistol belt.
The torn fibers oozed thick clear warm fluid across his naked skin.
The others chuckled as they also drew blades and hacked his flight-suit to pieces.
His skin stung from being slashed along with his clothes.
When the blades stopped raking his skin, he opened his eyes again. He looked down at himself and saw he was naked with the black and red pieces of his flight suit scattered around him. His skin glistened with yellow blood.
BALTAZAUR
You have impressive muscles. You'll make a good heavy laborer. Now, I asked you a question, slave. What’s your name?
SANNARO
Jettison yourself out the airlock.
His head violently twisted to the right and his cheek burned from the pirates slap.
Baltazaur slammed his knee deep into his abdomen.
He woofed as the air rushed from his lungs. He collapsed to the floor.
BALTAZAUR
No one denies me, slave!
Sannaro was kicked all over his body in rapid-fire blows.
Just as he was about to faint, he was kicked onto his back.
He wanted to keep his eyes closed and give in to the comfort of unconsciousness, but he forced his eyes open.
PIRATE #3
Baltazaur, the Astrisi are overwhelming the attack group!
BALTAZAUR
Damn it! Take him to the slave hold and hang him on the pole. I'll deal with him later!
Sannaro grinned weakly at the thought of his fellow pilot's victory as he was grabbed off the floor and dragged from the bridge. The third man reduced the energy strength in the shackles and Sannaro could move his body again.
As Sannaro was dragged through the dark halls of the pirate ship, he was barely conscious and his shoulders screamed with pain.
The ship bucked and his captors dropped him.
His broken nose hit the floor.
Once the ship settled again, the pirates yanked him up and dragged him farther. After several more shudders of the ship, he was pulled into a vast dark room.
He was turned around and held up by his armpits. The third man unlocked the wrist shackles and took them off.
Sannaro willed his arms to swing out to attack his captors, but his muscles protested with stabs of pain.
He was suspended between the two pirates and then they walked up separate stairs.
They draped his arms over a T-pole. His wrists were shackled again around the
upright. A shackle was released from his ankle and wrapped around the pole before it was put on him again. They took the steps away. The man with the shackle controls grinned as he turned the energy flow off.
Pain ripped through his strained shoulders.
Sannaro laid his neck against the top edge of the pole and shuddered.
BEGIN FLASHBACK.
Sannaro had walked down the flight line on the Upper Flight Deck of the Astrisi starship Kumani with a feeling of contentment. Engineers and pilots buzzed intent on the performing routine maintenance on the white and red, swept-wing Vizha'i. Ordinance specialists were servicing the lasers that hung from their wings or bomb pods that made the bomber ships look fatter under the belly. Catapult engineers hunched over the grooves in the floor as they serviced the pulley system that slid the Vizha'i across the floor to the lifts that took the ships above to the launch tubes for rapid deployment.
Sannaro felt his ears twitch and he received a thought from someone who was thinking about him.
ZHUNI (PSI V.O.)
Why does that luscious hunk of a man still look so damned good in a flight-suit after all these years?
He looked over to where an engineer named Zhuni who sat astride the nose of a Vizha'i, staring at him.
His eyes caught on a figure a row beyond Zhuni as she stood before her team who wore the black flight-suits with white panels down the chest and back. She faced away from him.
She turned her head and her sky-blue eyes locked with his. Her mental essence caressed his mind and a shiver ran down his spine.
ARCAS
Hey, boss, are you talking to someone or daydreaming?
SANNARO
Is it a crime to admire my mate, Arcas?
ARCAS
No, not your awesome lady, but don't tell that to Iara or she'll paint me chartreuse while I'm asleep to get back at me.
ARCAS (V.O.)
Or worse, she might paint a portrait of me in the nude on a public bulkhead.
Sannaro sputtered as he tried to suppress his laughter.
ARCAS
Oh, fausa, you didn't sense that, did you?
SANNARO
I didn't mean to!
Sannaro snorted, but then guffawed even though he tried not to let it out.
ARCAS
It would be funny, wouldn't it?
Sannaro wiped his eyes and took a few deep breaths.
SANNARO
I’d just hope it's artfully done.
He noticed Arcas held a palm computer in his hands, temporarily forgotten.
SANNARO
So, you need me to check a request?
ARCAS
Oh, yeah, I do.
Arcas handed the hand-held to him.
Sannaro turned the device on and scanned the request. He slipped out the stylus, signed his name at the end of the report and handed it back to Arcas.
SANNARO
Make that a priority, Arc. Hadah told me there’s been pirate activity in this region of space lately. I want that Vizha'i balanced immediately.
ARCAS
I'll pass it on, boss.
Arcas walked toward his flight line.
Sannaro walked toward the fore of the ship past the flight line into the pilot's lounge and climbed the stairs to the offices.
He opened a wall locker beside the hatch, released his helmet from his hip, set it on the shelf and closed it again. He sat down and checked his computer for any messages.
He was interrupted by an immense blast that shuddered the ship.
He grabbed for the edge of his desk to steady himself as he telepathically sensed the frantic resolve of his friend and commander on the bridge that a battle alert was about to be called.
Sannaro sprung up from his chair, grabbed his helmet from the locker and rushed out the parting doors.
DI'OK (V.O.)
Battle Alert, battle alert!
Cherna burst from her own office across the hall.
SANNARO
Pirates.
They stopped at the last few stairs to allow the squadron on standby to grab their own helmets from the line of wall lockers and leave the ready room. They followed through the hatch and ran down the flight line to their fighter ships.
Sannaro climbed into his Vizha'i and pulled on his helmet and then his gloves as his ship was pulled backwards to the large lift to take him up to the launch deck.
Once the lift locked into the floor of the launch deck, he felt his ship was pulled forward and it was locked into the catapult. A cat operator ducked under the undercarriage to check that the lock was secure. He pulled back, saluted and then ran into the safe area.
Sannaro powered his engines up and watched the red light until it turned green. When his ship was catapulted through the launch tube into space, he was pushed into his seat. He engaged his engines and turned to where the pirates were already swooping in on them.
A ghost display appeared before one of his eyes with an image of the sensor grid he could still see through to look out the canopy around him for a visual target.
Sannaro closed in on a pirate that was outmaneuvering a Vizha'i. He swept under the pirate and opened fire.
The ship blossomed into a fireball.
He pulled his Vizha'i up to avoid the explosion then moved on to another.
PURPLE 4 (V.O.)
Purple Four to Red One, thanks for the assist, over.
SANNARO
You’re welcome.
Sannaro swooped in on another pirate who was making incredible maneuvers no human could endure.
He sent a volley of warning shots to get the pirate off of the tail of a junior Blue Team Vizha'i.
The pirate ship corkscrewed around and came for him.
Sannaro rolled into a starboard turn.
The pirate shot past without landing a single shot to his Vizha'i.
He leveled out behind the pirate ship and shot two volleys.
The pirate wobbled and avoided the shots.
The pirate went into a tight horizontal loop with the intent to come out on Sannaro’s tail.
He did an inverted loop and he was back behind the pirate again.
The pirate gunned his engines and did several turns and rolls to shake Sannaro.
He matched the pirate through each maneuver.
The pirate made a tight barrel roll and closed in on Sannaro nose-to-nose.
He shot three volleys, banked to low port, then turned to resume his tail on the pirate, but all he found was a fireball.
Sannaro shrugged then picked a new target.
His eyes locked onto a pirate ship that was tight on the tail of a Vizha'i with the white and red tail. The pirate was barely keeping pace with the corkscrew maneuver of the Vizha'i.
She rolled around and opened fire. Her Vizha'i flew over the pirate's wing before the energy met its mark.
The pirate wobbled to evade the fire and then flew after her.
SANNARO
Cherna!
Sannaro swooped in and fired his own lasers.
The pirate attacker blistered and then exploded.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
Pay you back later, lover.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
No one locks onto my mate, except me.
He turned around to seek another target. He winced when he saw a Vizha'i explode and a pirate shot in closer to getting through the line of defense. He went full throttle and shot toward the offending pirate.
SANNARO
Arcas, close in the team. We've got a defense line breech.
ARCAS
Houk, San.
He slipped in behind the pirate.
The pirate increased speed and wove through the obstacle course of fighters.
He rolled and pitched through the field and waited for an opening.
Just as they approached the end of the skirmish line, the pirate doubled back and plunged back into the cluster of fighters.
The field parted and Sannaro had a solid lock. He fired twice and the ship blossomed into a fireball.
SANNARO
Red one, returning to Red Team.
He flew through the tight battle and saw the red fins of his team again when he sensed a death scream. He jerked his head starboard and gasped. A blistered pirate ship tumbled out of control toward his ship. Boom.
BACK TO SLAVE HOLD
Sannaro felt something touch his leg. He shuddered and looked down.
A woman with matted dark hair who wore a crudely made cotton tunic stood at the base of the pole with a similar garment in her hands.
LILA
Please, sir, can you arch your back so I can wrap this around your middle? I cannot bear to watch a man so completely humiliated.
She reached up to slip it around him and tied it at the hips.
JEDRON
You're a softhearted fool, Lila. If they learn you gave him that tunic, they'll strip your back of skin!
SANNARO
You are very brave, Lila. I thank you. Now, go before they return.
When he looked up again, he saw a flash of yellow through the corner of his eye. In a corner at the far end of the room sat a young yellow-skinned Saili boy. His eyes were glistening with sympathy. By the boy's thickening build, he was just beyond the Saili age of puberty.
He had the same genetic mutations of Gonkacha Disease he had, blue-black hair and eyes instead of the colorful metallic hues of normal Saili.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Hello.
The boy looked away.
Sannaro sighed and pulled back. He slipped into uneasy sleep.
ALTARIAN'S P.O.V.
Altarian sat in his dark corner and studied the hanging man.
He stood up and carefully wove through the sea of bodies to the T-pole.
The yellow man moved his head and groaned.
ALTARIAN
My name's Altarian. You must hurt like hell. Baltazaur likes to beat slaves.
The man opened his eyes and looked down at him. His eyes were pools of pain.
ALTARIAN
Yeah, I thought so. Are you really The Destroyer?
SANNARO
My name is Sannaro.
ALTARIAN
So you're not The Destroyer?
The man chuckled dryly and then coughed.
SANNARO
That's my reputation. Could you help me down from here?
ALTARIAN
If you're The Destroyer, why can't you get yourself down?
SANNARO
Well, I have been able to pull chain links apart and pull grommets out of a wall, but I don't think that bending titanium poles is one of my mystic powers.
ALTARIAN
You're making fun of me.
SANNARO
Oh? So what is this fabled Destroyer able to do? Can he tear apart a spaceship with one angry look?
ALTARIAN
That's ridiculous!
SANNARO
I am just a man, a Saili man who has been taught how to be a good warrior. Sure, we Saili have thicker muscles and stronger skeletons because of our heavier gravity and we have one sense more than the average humanoid, but even I can do so much.
ALTARIAN
Then why should I help you? You're just a new slave.
SANNARO
Because I am a warrior. I may not be as grand as my reputation says I am, but some of it has some truth. I have killed more pirates than any other Astrisi warrior.
ALTARIAN
Did you really defeat a whole boarding party that took over the Kumani all by yourself?
SANNARO
I didn't exactly do it alone.
ALTARIAN
You're a fake.
SANNARO
Wait.
ALTARIAN
Why? You're not The Destroyer. You're just another slave.
SANNARO
I said I didn't exactly do it alone, but I did do it with one friend to help me. I need a friend again just to get me down from this pole. I can do the rest. I was only fourteen human standard years old when I killed Roger Arlington with nothing to fight with, but my bare hands and feet.
ALTARIAN
Okay, on one condition, you have to kill those luyaki pirates and get me the hell out of here.
SANNARO
How do you know how to curse in Astrisi?
ALTARIAN
Spent some time with them. Been lots of places.
SANNARO
Sure, I'll kill the luyaki pirates and get you the hell out of here.
ALTARIAN
Okay.
Altarian rolled his tongue to spit out the metal wire he kept for springing locks and worked on the ankle shackles.
Jedron grabbed Altarian's arm.
JEDRON
What are you doing, slag?
Altarian pushed the big human away.
ALTARIAN
He's The Destroyer! He can kill all the pirates and get us free!
JEDRON
You idiot, all you're going to do is get us all killed!
ALTARIAN
What's wrong with that? No more taking stuff from blown-up stinking bodies, no more hanging from your arms until you scream for the pain to stop!
Altarian shimmied up the pole and tripped the lock on Sannaro's wrists.
Sannaro slid heavily to the floor.
END ACT 1
ACT 2
Shortly, Altarian slid down beside him.
ALTARIAN
Aren't you going to go fight?
SANNARO
I need a minute to regain some strength. Baltazaur didn't beat me too badly, but it still hurt and my nose was broken when my fighter was hit.
JEDRON
See? He can't do shit because he's too hurt.
SANNARO
Hey, I may hurt, but that's never stopped me before.
Sannaro pulled himself off the floor, untied the tunic from around his hips and then pulled it on.
SANNARO
It's a bit short for my liking, but I'll live.
Altarian looked at the hem of the tunic and noticed that just below it there was a slightly puckered scar that encircled the mid-thigh of his left leg.
ALTARIAN
What's that?
SANNARO
An old battle injury.
ALTARIAN
Wow, you hurt your leg that bad and you're still fighting?
SANNARO
You see, using your mind and having physical endurance is what makes a person strong, not having mystical powers. Thank you, Altarian. I'll be going now.
ALTARIAN
Wait, you're not leaving me here!
SANNARO
I told you, if you got me down from the pole, I would do the rest.
ALTARIAN
And leave me here to take the pirate's torture while you're out there fighting? I freed you. You owe me. Take me with you.
SANNARO
It's too dangerous.
ALTARIAN
Oh? So, you took out a ship of pirates when you were a little older than me, but you want to keep me back?
SANNARO
I was already in training to be a warrior. You have no training.
ALTARIAN
But I know how to get around this ship and you don't!
JEDRON
Now, we are lost! By the time you stop arguing about where the gold nugget's going to be, the pirates will come back and drag you back to Baltazaur! This time he may just castrate you and eat them for his dinner while you watch and bleed!
SANNARO
All right, you're coming with me, Altarian.
Altarian grinned and swaggered behind Sannaro toward the slave hold door.
Sannaro cautiously slipped outside the door and pressed himself against the wall. The slave boy Altarian stopped at his side.
ALTARIAN
Where you want to go, the shuttle bay or to Baltazaur?
SANNARO
Don’t be so eager. Can’t we talk telepathically? I don’t like to talk in a threat situation.
ALTARIAN
Don’t like to talk telepathically.
SANNARO
Why? You’re Saili; telepathy is our natural mode of communication.
ALTARIAN
You can ‘hear’ the luyaki pirates’ sewer thoughts, why’d you want to hear that all the time?
SANNARO
You have a point. Still, telepathy has a tactical advantage. You don’t have to keep your shields down all the time. You just have to listen for when I want to say something.
ALTARIAN
You don’t want to go into my mind.
Sannaro sighed in frustration.
SANNARO
Okay, just be quiet and follow me.
ALTARIAN
You said I could help.
SANNARO
You will help me. Just point me in the direction I need to go and I will follow your directions.
ALTARIAN
Okay.
Altarian pointed left.
Sannaro drew in a deep breath before he moved down the hall.
They came to a left bend.
Sannaro pressed himself against the wall again and peeked around the corner. It was empty. He moved down the new hall until he came to a T-intersection.
He glanced back to Altarian for directions.
Altarian pointed right.
Sannaro checked the hall before he turned right. He sensed this hall was used more, so he extended his telepathy to warn him about any traffic.
Altarian pulled on Sannaro’s sleeve.
Sannaro rolled his eyes and then found a recessed doorway to stop.
SANNARO
What?
ALTARIAN
This hall gets busy. Watch out for pirates.
SANNARO
I sensed that. I am guarding for movement. Now, be quiet.
ALTARIAN
I was just trying to help.
SANNARO
All right, you helped. Let’s go.
He slipped back into the hall and continued cautiously down it. He sensed a mind coming toward them and rushed to press himself against the corner.
Altarian stopped at his side just as the pirate turned a corner ahead.
The pirate’s thoughts weren’t on alert and he passed them unnoticed.
Once he turned another corner, Sannaro resumed his walk down the hall.
He came to another corner. He looked back at Altarian. He had his thumb pointed left.
Sannaro checked it before he turned. He locked eyes with a Kwamish.
Before the Kwamish could react, Sannaro plunged into the man’s mind and sent an image of an empty hall.
Altarian leapt past Sannaro and charged the pirate.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
No!
Altarian cringed, grabbed his head and stopped.
ALTARIAN
Why the hell did you do that?
SANNARO
Quiet! Don’t attack him. I have him telepathically. We have to move before someone else comes.
ALTARIAN
Well, don’t yell telepathically again! That hurt!
SANNARO
Sorry, I forgot how sensitive a Saili can get when they don’t feel telepathy for long periods of time.
He brought his attention back to the Kwamish when he felt mental resistance.
He forced the man into a trance and supplanted his thoughts of the two Saili slaves in the hallway with an image of an empty hall. Just before another corner, Sannaro pressed himself against the wall and released the man. The man walked down the hall as if nothing happened.
ALTARIAN
Wow! That was a neat trick! Can you teach that to me sometime?
SANNARO
We’re not free yet, kid.
Altarian stuck out his lower lip.
ALTARIAN
Yeah, right, we’re almost there.
He pointed to the right.
At the end of the next hallway, he sensed a lot more pirate minds diligently working on tasks common to a working flight deck.
SANNARO
Altarian, where’s the pilots’ lounge?
ALTARIAN
Why?
SANNARO
Walking among pirates in a homespun tunic is a sure giveaway for a slave, right?
ALTARIAN
Sure.
SANNARO
So, if I could get a pilots suit, they’ll mistake me for a pilot and I’ll have a better chance at getting to a shuttle.
ALTARIAN
What about me? You promised to get me out of here. You’re not leaving this ship without me!
SANNARO
I would actually have a better chance of getting there if you were to turn back now.
ALTARIAN
I ain’t turning back! You take me away from here, or I’ll call out that you’ve escaped.
SANNARO
All right, I'll take you with me!
ALTARIAN
I’ve never really been to the pilot’s lounge.
SANNARO'S PSYCHIC VISION
Sannaro sighed and cautiously extended his telepathy to scan for a human mind that had little defense against telepathy.
He thought of the man wanting to go to the pilots lounge and the man thought of how he would leave the flight deck and walk down the entry hall to the third door on his left.
Sannaro pulled out.
BACK TO PIRATE SHIP HALLWAY
SANNARO
I know where the lounge is, now.
ALTARIAN
How?
SANNARO
Now is not the time. This is going to be very risky. I will have to cover both of us with an envelope of telepathic false image and hope anyone who sees us picks up my illusion instead of seeing us. I’ve never tried this with the possibility of more than one person seeing me at a time.
ALTARIAN
Well, we better try it before someone catches us.
SANNARO
True. Stay close to me so you don’t accidentally step outside the envelope.
ALTARIAN
Okay.
Sannaro imagined a picture of the empty hallway and projected the image telepathically in front of himself and Altarian before he turned the corner and moved down the hall.
People of many races and planets rushed around on their appointed tasks. Some were squatted down, working on the deck. One of those looked straight at Sannaro. His eyebrows wrinkled for a second before he shook his head, looked again then went back to his work.
Shortly after, Sannaro came to the third door on his right and they rushed inside.
One pilot looked up.
Sannaro entered his mind and told him to think of a pilot. As soon as an image came up, Sannaro enveloped himself in that image and kept Altarian invisible.
PIRATE PILOT #1
About time, Corbin, you’ve got a scouting mission. Get suited up.
The man glanced at a locker on the wall.
Sannaro nodded and went to that locker. He quickly dressed into the suit. It was a bit tight for him, but he could endure it as long as he needed to. He pulled the long pant legs to bunch up just below the knee so he could get the boots on.
Sannaro grabbed up the black helmet and left the lounge. He kept the image of Corbin into the hallway and into the flight deck.
An engineer strode up to him. He pointed to a shuttle fifth from the wall in the second row.
PIRATE ENGINEER
Hey, Corbin, that balancer is working right now. Don’t get it shot up again, hey?
Sannaro nodded and went up to that shuttle. He entered the hatch and palmed the hatch button. As soon as the hatch closed, Sannaro collapsed against the wall, breathing hard.
ALTARIAN
Wow, now I see why you’re The Destroyer! You do have mystical powers!
SANNARO
No, just highly honed telepathic abilities.
He pushed himself off the wall and went to the cockpit. He studied the panel a few seconds before he flipped switches and brought the engines to life. He pulled on the headset.
SANNARO
Now, this is actually the trickiest part of my plan. Up till now, I have stolen images, but I haven’t spoken. Now, I’ve got to get this shuttle out of here on voice alone and I have a very obvious Astrisi accent. You better get strapped down, this ride could get a bit bumpy.
Altarian sat in the copilot seat and strapped in.
PIRATE FLIGHT CONTROL (v.o.)
Corbin, what’s taking you so long to clear tower?
Sannaro consciously thought to suppress his accent before he spoke in a deeper voice than he usually spoke with.
SANNARO
I’m a bit hung, here. That last battle was a bit tense. I’m ready to go, now.
PIRATE FLIGHT CONTROL (v.o.)
Hey, you all right? You sound a bit strange.
SANNARO
Got a bit of a cold.
PIRATE FLIGHT CONTROL (v.o.)
Sure, get it checked out when you get back. You’re cleared for launch.
Sannaro hovered the shuttle off the deck and carefully flew it through the flight line to line up with the large hatch on the outer wall.
PIRATE FLIGHT CONTROL (V.O.)
Hey, did you forget the launch sequence?
SANNARO
Told you I’m a bit hung.
Sannaro primed his lasers and punched a hole through the bulkhead. He swooped through and was met immediately with another bulkhead. He shot that one, also and swooped into space.
He gunned the engines into full throttle. He looked at the threat board and was cheered when he saw a big red dot. They seemed to be trailing the Kumani at a safe distance just beyond her sensors.
After a few minutes, Sannaro noticed a cluster of black dots appear on the scope.
SANNARO
Ah, it seems we’ve got some objection behind us for the use of this shuttle. Hang on, I’m going into battle.
Sannaro increased speed in the hopes he would draw near enough to the Kumani for the Vizha'i to be deployed. It might make things more confused, but at least the pirates would have more to worry about than him.
SANNARO
Sannaro to Kumani, I’m in a pirate shuttle being chased by more pirates. I really need assistance here.
ARCAS
San, that you?
SANNARO
It’s me, it’s me. Would you get your chartreuse ass over here and help me get away from these luyaki torturers?
ARCAS
We thought you died! Never mind, were coming, boss!
ALTARIAN
Yeah, kill those luyaki pirates!
Sannaro concentrated on blanking Altarian out to avoid the shuttles swooping in on him. He bobbled to starboard to avoid a laser volley, then swept into a tight port turn and leveled out behind his attacker. He shot it into a fireball and pulled away.
ALTARIAN
Whoa, this is great!
A volley grazed the skin of the ship.
Sannaro cursed his inattention.
He pulled it down into a steep dive then looped “upward” again. Just “above” him was the belly of another pirate shuttle. He opened fire and vaporized that shuttle.
Sannaro saw white and red from the corner of his eye.
Arcas’ green-tail Vizha'i swooped in along with Cherna’s white-tails.
Sannaro let them take over and he shot toward the Kumani. He saw a white tail break away and chase after him.
SANNARO
Wait, Batu, it’s me, Sannaro.
BATU (V.O.)
Prove it, San. Prove to me you’re in that pirate shuttle before I vape you.
CHERNA (V.O.)
Batu, don’t vape San! I know he’s in that shuttle, I sense him! Let him pass.
SANNARO
You gave me great parenting advice when Cherna was pregnant with Andoku.
BATU (V.O.)
Okay, only you could know that but but I’m staying glued to you until I’m sure it’s you.
SANNARO
Good enough.
ALTARIAN
Yes! I’m free! Free from those luyaki pirates!
SANNARO
Sannaro to Kumani, requesting permission to land in pirate shuttle.
KUMANI FLIGHT CONTROL (V.O.)
Follow landing strip one. I’m not giving you anymore instructions, pirate shuttle. If you’re Sannaro, you’ll know what to do. If you stray from landing protocols, you will be shot at. Understood?
SANNARO
Understand, tower. Following landing-strip one. I’m coming in.
Sannaro saw Batu’s Vizha'i fly in beside him in strip two.
He applied the brakes and came to a stop at the lighted rectangle.
SANNARO
Don't get out of your seat yet.
ALTARIAN
I know!
A loud clang sounded and the rectangle sunk through the floor.
They lowered to the floor and another clang sounded.
SANNARO
Sannaro to tower, where do you want me to park the shuttle?
KUMANI FLIGHT CONTROL (V.O.)
Shuttle parking 3.
Sannaro hovered the shuttle off the floor, turned it around in a hover and slowly nudged it into the third shuttle parking space beyond the lift. He powered down the shuttle and sunk deep into the chair. He pressed the hatch release button and heard the hatch whoosh open.
Many footsteps rang over the shuttle deck and he was surrounded by black flight suits with many colored chest panels. Everyone was helmeted in black and red.
Sannaro raised his arms above his head.
A man with white chest panels swept his helmet off his head and lowered his laser pistol.
SANNARO
Now are you convinced, Batu?
BATU
San, you look terrible!
He winced when the pain of every cut and pulled muscle blossomed through him again. He dropped his aching arms limply to his sides.
BATU
Batu to hospital, we need an emergency crew now!
A short time later, two men, one with graying brown hair, and the other with light brown hair rushed into the shuttle.
Zhad waved a vital statistic sensor over his body.
ZHAD
I’m just detecting multiple lacerations and contusions all over his body. Let’s get him on a gurney move him down to the hospital.
DANU
Who is the kid? He looks just like you did when you were a kid, San.
Altarian stood up and puffed his chest out.
ALTARIAN
I’m Altarian. I helped him get away from the luyaki pirates.
ZHAD
Thank you.
Rapid footsteps were heard through the shuttle and Cherna skid to a stop beside Danu.
CHERNA
San, I saw you separate your Vizha'i and then we lost you in the fight! What happened?
SANNARO
I was captured by the pirates.
ZHAD
Cherna, I know you’re concerned about him, but he’s in pretty bad shape. He needs a lot of healing.
SANNARO
Cheri, take care of Altarian until I’m healed. Then I’ll tell you everything.
Cherna’s eyes filled with tears, but she nodded her head and moved to Altarian’s side.
Sannaro gasped involuntarily when Zhad and Danu raised him from the pilot’s seat. He went into muscle spasms and slipped out of their hands to the floor.
ZHAD
Danu, since San has very little muscle control left, we’re going to have to lift him onto the gurney.
DANU
How did you fly, much less fight a battle in this condition, San?
SANNARO
Conditioning and discipline was all I had left, my friend. I had to escape that nightmare.
Danu and Zhad hefted Sannaro off the floor and placed him onto a hovering gurney.
DANU
Well, you’re home now. You can relax.
Sannaro laid his head back on the pillow and willed himself to relax, but his body was too tense and hurt to release his tension.
Zhad and Danu guided him into the elevator.
Altarian stepped to follow the gurney.
Cherna took Altarian's arm.
CHERNA
No, you can’t go with him. He’ll be better in a few hours.
Altarian slipped his arm out of the woman’s grasp.
Cherna turned to Batu to talk with him.
Altarian ducked under the shuttle and made his way to the elevator.
ALTARIAN
Yasna tuano batri bida.
When he got to the door, he rang the doorbell.
ANDOKU
Akla.
The door opened and Altarian faced a boy with shiny pink skin and Saili features.
ANDOKU
Ki'iwa’alani, how can I help you, stranger?
He swept down into a deep bow.
ALTARIAN
Ki'iwa, does Sannaro live here?
He nodded and stepped to the side.
ANDOKU
Come in and sit. I’ll go get my father.
Altarian sauntered in and sat on the couch.
Andoku walked into another room.
Andoku came back and forced a smile to his lips.
ANDOKU
My father can’t be reached right now. My mother is coming to help you. She says you should have stayed with her instead of wandering off. Until then, can I get you something?
ALTARIAN
No thank you.
Altarian began to relax when the door opened and Cherna stepped in.
She stopped abruptly and stared coolly at Altarian.
END ACT 2
ACT 3
ALTARIAN
Ki'iwa’alani, I decided to stop by and ask where I go to from here.
CHERNA
My name is Cherna. I’m Sannaro’s mate. I was told to care for you until Sannaro was recovered. You should have stayed with me instead of wandering off. Since you’re an underage Saili, you’re our responsibility now. You are aware of the Sound Disruption laws?
ALTARIAN
Houk.
Cherna’s eyebrows rose.
ALTARIAN
I was with Astrisi for a short time before I was taken by the pirates.
CHERNA
Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?
ALTARIAN
I can get it myself.
CHERNA
I’ll be glad to serve you. You can have anything you like.
She set out a shocking spread of several meats, cheeses, bread and a large array of condiments.
He grabbed two slices of bread and took one slice of ham and one slice of cheese.
ANDOKU
Oh, come on, don’t be so conservative!
Andoku grabbed up several slices of each of the meats and cheeses. He spread a liberal amount of mayonnaise and mustard on the bread and set the obscenely huge sandwich in front of him.
CHERNA
Andoku, go find some clothing for Altarian to wear.
ANDOKU
All right.
Andoku slipped away from the table and reluctantly went into another room.
CHERNA
I saw your face. If it’s too much food, I’ll take that sandwich and you can make your own.
Altarian picked up the huge sandwich to bite into it. His jaw ached to be stretched so far over so much layers of food, he felt his stomach heave. He set down the sandwich quickly.
CHERNA
It’s all right, Altarian.
ALTARIAN
You’re not mad about the waste of food?
CHERNA
Not at all, Andoku can eat his own creation.
Altarian carefully reached for the bread.
The front door swept open and girl with the same skin tone rushed into the apartment with her mid-back blue-black hair flying behind her.
AMBRIKA
Chali, is Ya going to be all right?
She stopped short and blushed orange-red.
AMBRIKA
Oh wow, who is he? He’s Saili!
Altarian stood up and bowed deeply.
ALTARIAN
I am Altarian. Pleased to meet you.
AMBRIKA
Oh, well, I’m Ambrika.
CHERNA
Your Yaro will be all right after some healing. He’ll be home later.
Ambrika stepped backwards into the living room.
AMBRIKA
Oh, well, I’ll just go get my tablet reader from my room now.
She rushed through a side door.
INT. KUMANI HOSPITAL
Sannaro was rushed down the hall and was turned right into an examination room.
As soon as he was moved from the gurney to the table, Danu had the borrowed boots off and thrown to the floor.
Zhad pulled out a pair of surgical scissors and he gently cut the tight pirate flight uniform up the arms to his shoulders.
Danu cut the extra long pant legs.
DANU
Look at all the caked blood!
ZHAD
Danu, get the Cerlacticine and those new metal gloves so we can clean him up.
Exit Danu.
ZHAD
Why don’t you relax, San?
SANNARO
I can’t. My muscles are strained and in knots.
ZHAD
Then I’ll give you a muscle relaxant.
Zhad moved to the medicine cabinet.
Shortly, Danu was back with a large bottle of clear fluid, two metal bowls and two pairs of silver-colored thin gloves that reached to the elbows.
DANU
What did they do to you, San?
SANNARO
Pure torture, my friend.
Zhad turned around with a syringe in his hand.
ZHAD
I think I’ll inject San with this first before we scrub him. This is a muscle relaxant with a pain reliever so it won’t hurt so much.
Zhad pulled on a pair of the metallic gloves and then rubbed Sannaro’s buttock with an alcohol wipe. He plunged the syringe into Sannaro’s buttocks.
The fluid burned through his muscle.
Sannaro gasped and arched his back. His back resumed its spasms and he flopped a few times on the table before the medicine began to dull the pain. He sunk against the table and gave a deep sigh.
DANU
Fausa, I’d hate to find out what those skisla pirates did to San to make him so hyper stimulated!
Danu and Zhad cleaned the dried blood off his body.
ZHAD
The extent of laceration is incredible.
DANU
Every inch of him has been sliced up.
ZHAD
Once San’s skin is cleaned up, I want to reset that broken nose and he’ll be ready for the healing tent.
Danu left for a healing tent while Zhad bent over Sannaro’s face.
Sannaro dreamily looked into his foster father’s long, slender face.
Zhad put his hand over Sannaro’s face and grasped his nose.
Sannaro yelped and closed his tearing eyes.
With a sickening crunch, Zhad snapped Sannaro’s septum back in line.
Sannaro gasped, but didn’t dare wipe his eyes for fear he would shift his nose again and have to endure another resetting.
Zhad and Danu erected the healing tent above his bed. Sannaro watched the lamp scan over his body and stop above his face. As the healing light played over his face, he drifted off to sleep.
INT. SANNARO'S APARTMENT
Andoku came back into the dining area with a pile of clothes in his hands.
ANDOKU
I don’t know if they’ll fit, but here’s some stuff for him to wear.
CHERNA
Anything’s better than that ugly formless tunic. Andoku, take Altarian to the bathroom so he can change.
Altarian grinned at the pile of clothing.
He followed Andoku, took the clothes and went into the bathroom. He carefully laid the clothes onto the sink and swept off the tunic.
He balled the vile fabric in his fists and looked for some place to put it. He couldn’t find a place so he set the wad on the floor and gleefully pulled his pants on.
The feel of the tight fabric encasing his legs was exhilarating. He rubbed his hands down the pant leg several times before he took up the shirt and pulled it on.
INT. KUMANI HOSPITAL
Sannaro heard the rustling of stiff fabric and woke up again.
He opened his eyes and saw Danu above him, pulling the modular healing tent from above his bed.
He sat up.
DANU
How are you feeling now, San?
Danu folded the device and put it into its case.
SANNARO
You want the truth or an amenity?
DANU
I’m your doctor as well as your friend.
SANNARO
Okay, my nose feels a lot better, but my muscles are still complaining about being damned crucified on a t-pole for a half-hour.
Danu cringed.
SANNARO
Houk, it was enough to have my flight-suit savagely cut off my body by Zhecore with belt knives. But, of course, they couldn’t stop at that. They hung me from a t-pole to make sure I would stay for the second round of their torture. Thank the Firebird, I met that Saili boy and persuaded him to pick the shackles’ locks on my arms and legs to get me down.
DANU
I thought you were shackled. I saw the chaffing and bruising around your wrists and ankles. They sure had pure hatred towards your uniform, didn’t they?
SANNARO
Oh, they were rabid. You know that rumor about me having a reputation as The Destroyer?
DANU
I remember it’s been mentioned from time to time.
SANNARO
It’s all true, and that pirate captain figured it out quickly that I was that Destroyer. The thoughts that man had in his head about what he was going to do to me when he had the time was just terrifying.
DANU
Then you got out of there just in time! Why did you bring the boy?
SANNARO
He made it very clear that if he didn’t go with me, I was dead.
DANU
You trusted him?
SANNARO
I’m a telepath and you’re asking me if I can trust another telepath? He’s thirteen human standard years old.
DANU
Yeah, and at fourteen, you defeated a whole ship of pirates and you’re talking about a kid who’s been a pirate slave for who knows how long? Didn’t Di'ok tell us that Roger Arlington was told not to even trust kids because they could be just as dangerous?
SANNARO
Come on, Danu, you can tell the difference between a cut that needs stitches and one that just needs a dermal regenerator. You’re suggesting that I can’t make the same judgment with my telepathy since Gavasno taught me how to hone my telepathy to the skills of a Saili tracker?
DANU
Okay, okay, San, I get your meaning. But do you thoroughly trust him?
SANNARO
Now you’re saying I’m naive? Would you help me dress? I’m getting a terrible chill here and my muscles are in spasm.
Danu picked up the clothes brought down from his apartment for him and began to help Sannaro dress.
SANNARO
Nui, I don’t entirely trust the kid. He nearly blackmailed me so I had to bring him with me. What I do know was that he was so desperate to get away from the pirates; he’d resort to anything to convince me I needed him to get out of there. I don’t care what you think, we both had a an overwhelming need to get away and I wasn’t going to argue for long about it. Don’t worry, Danu, he won’t be here long. I’m going to search for his surviving family as soon as I can.
Sannaro hissed and cringed.
SANNARO
Oh, watch the shoulders! Fausa, they’re so tight!
DANU
Sorry, San.
Sannaro felt Danu laid his hands around his shoulders and massaged them.
He tensed before he relaxed into his friend’s ministrations.
DANU
I’ll get you some muscle relaxants to take home with you to ease the tightness until your body realizes the injuries are gone.
SANNARO
Fa'arata.
Sannaro felt the nerves of his ears flutter and looked at Danu.
Danu’s eyes were distant like he was listening to something far off.
SANNARO
Giving a report to my sister right in front of me?
DANU
Well, she is concerned! Cherna’s busy with your guest, so she’s offered to come here and accompany you back home since you’re so shaky and sore.
SANNARO
Okay, I’ll accept that since it makes sense.
DANU
Not like she’ll give you a choice anyway.
SANNARO
Yeah, older sisters can be so bossy.
DANU
I wouldn’t know since I’m an only child.
SANNARO
But you are married to my sister.
DANU
Well, I can’t fault her reasons. I don’t want you to fall on your way home and end up right back here for more treatment.
Danu reached down and handed Sannaro his boots.
He drew up his right leg to put a boot on when the door swept open and Varanani stepped in. She looked at him and shook her head.
VARANANI
Beaten again, brother?
Sannaro rolled his eyes.
VARANANI
I know you’re a warrior and warriors get beat up from time to time.
SANNARO
Yeah, part of the job.
DANU
Well, I don’t mind telling you that you really had me scared this time, being caught by pirates.
VARANANI (PSI V.O.)
The images I picked up from you were a nightmare.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
It was a nightmare for only being there for a few hours. Their hate felt almost as solid as they were.
VARANANI (PSI V.O.)
So, what’s the boy’s name?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Altarian is all he told me.
Gonkacha too.
TELEPATHIC VISION OF ALTARIAN
BACK TO KUMANI HOSPITAL
Danu snorted in disgust.
DANU
Aw, you two are talking Saili in your heads here! Excuse me for being a brain-dull Astrisi!
VARANANI
He’s right, San. Send the image to Danu, too, so he can be in the conversation.
SANNARO
Sorry, Danu, since my training with Gavasno, I’ve been finding it easier to, as you said, talk Saili.
DANU
Do the pirates actually keep their slaves in formless tunics?
Sannaro groaned and sent both images of him looking down at the tunic he had worn.
DANU
Whoa, hardly long enough to cover your privates!
VARANANI
Ooh, drafty too. Wearing that little in a human environment would give you a terrible chill.
SANNARO
They were one size fits all and I was hurting too much to think about being cold.
VARANANI
Well, why don’t I get you home since I can feel the discomfort you’re feeling from your muscles.
Varanani went over to Danu and kissed his mouth.
Danu pressed closer and molded into the kiss.
SANNARO
Now I know how others feel when Cherna and I are kissing.
They pulled back from each other.
Danu smiled in contentment.
DANU
Yeah, now I do know how you feel when you’re kissing Cherna and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Words are so inadequate to explain intimacy with a Saili.
Sannaro flipped his hair in front of his face.
VARANANI
I’ll see you when you finish work, Danu.
Through the curtain of blue-black hair, Sannaro saw her move over to him. He flipped his hair back and swept the bangs behind his ears again. He picked up his last boot and slipped it on his left foot.
SANNARO
Okay, I’m ready to go.
He stood up a bit stiffly and rolled his shoulders.
Danu pressed a pill bottle in his hand.
DANU
Take one before you go to bed.
SANNARO
Fa’arata, Danu.
Sannaro and Varanani walked into the hall together to the elevator.
Danu went further down the hall to tend more patients.
VARANANI (PSI V.O.)
Danu’s worried about this boy you brought with you.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I know he is, but Altarian was so desperate to be away from the pirates.
VARANANI (PSI V.O.)
He would've revealed you to them if you didn’t take him, that’s good reason not to trust him, Sanna.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I was a prisoner once, too, although, not in as dreadful a situation as I found Altarian. Still, I can understand why he'd blackmail me into making me free him. He just wants a better life. I can’t fault him for that. As for trust? No, I can’t completely trust him. His shields are so rigid like he’s terrified of someone getting inside his mind.
VARANANI (PSI V.O.)
Maybe that’s all he had that was inviolate?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Oh, I have no doubts about the validity of that statement, sis. He shut me out when I asked him for help. He wouldn’t even use telepathy when we were escaping. He could also be afraid of us sensing what he’s had to do to survive.
The elevator stopped at the deck Sannaro lived they walked down the hall to Sannaro’s apartment.
Cherna stood up from the dinner table and rushed over to them.
Sannaro took her in a hug and felt himself relax in her embrace.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
I thought I’d lost you this time.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I’m all right now.
CHERNA (PSI V.O.)
But the images I received from you-
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I know. The pirates were savage to me.
Sannaro heard a sob from her and hugged her tighter. He felt her tears drip on his shoulder.
CHERNA
I’m just glad you escaped.
She drew away and dried her eyes.
SANNARO
I am too.
Ambrika entered the living room.
AMBRIKA
Yaro, you’re okay!
SANNARO
Yes, Ambri, I’m okay. Well, mostly.
Sannaro rolled his stiff shoulders.
ANDOKU
I think Altarian’s about ready to come out of the bathroom. I gave him some of my clothes to wear.
CHERNA
He was only dressed in a rag.
SANNARO
Good, that was one of the first things I was going to do, get that boy some decent clothes to wear.
The door to the bathroom opened and Altarian stepped out, gleefully rubbing his hands down the legs of his pants.
CHERNA
They fit well enough, but they’re a little loose.
VARANANI
That’s because he’s all skin and bones.
Sannaro walked over to the computer and keyed in a number.
SANNARO
Now, I’m going to call Kratis and ask if he has a bunk bed in storage to trade out Andoku’s bed.
ANDOKU
Oh, nui, Ya!
SANNARO
Houk, you’re going to bunk together. He sure can’t sleep in Ambri’s room.
AMBRIKA
Oh, why not?
SANNARO
That’s enough out of you, hala.
ALTARIAN
Why would you want a naughty boy in your room?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Oh, shit, he sure isn’t making this easy.
VARANANI (PSI V.O.)
I recall that that was much of what Uncle Devasru thought about you, Sannaro.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I don’t need you to get into this too, sister.
VARANANI (PSI V.O.)
I couldn’t resist.
ALTARIAN
Oh, brother, who are you? Pleasure to meet you.
VARANANI
I am Sannaro’s sister Varanani. I also live on the Kumani.
SANNARO
What am I going to do with this kid?
VARANANI
What Uncle Devasru did with you; get to know you and learn patience.
ALTARIAN
I promise that I’ll be good, Yaro!
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I don’t know whether to consider that a good sign or a red alert!
AMBRIKA
So he’s my brother now?
SANNARO
He is fostered to my care for now.
ALTARIAN
Don’t worry, Ambri, I’ll protect you.
Altarian swept his hands on her shoulders.
SANNARO
You have my approval to drive him into the mats if he touches you again, Ambrika.
AMBRIKA
It might be interesting to see how proficient he is with Martial Arts.
SANNARO
Nui! I mean, let’s let him settle in before we test his skills.
Altarian balled his fists and hunched down.
ALTARIAN
I can fight! I had to fight a lot while I was a slave to the Zhecore so I wouldn’t advise trying to fight me!
SANNARO
Well, then we can let Edat assess you Martial Arts skills.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Or maybe I will in a challenge.
Altarian turned pale yellow before he relaxed.
ALTARIAN
Kasai, Sannaro, I’m not use to a nice family. I should be grateful so I’ll keep my mouth shut until I am asked a question.
SANNARO
No, you’re free to communicate as you like as long as you understand that what you say could have consequences. I don’t want you to feel isolated. We’d like for you to become a part of our family. There just will be some adjustments as we get to know each other.
ALTARIAN
Nui, I don’t deserve a family. That was proven when the pirates killed my Astrisi family. No one accepts me and no one ever will!
Altarian broke and ran into Andoku’s room with tears running down his cheeks.
FADE OUT.
THE END.
