Lyssa Thorne's
Science Fiction Novels
Double Dragon Ebooks
“PIRATE SLAVE”
EPISODE 52 – ESCAPE
BY: LYSSA THORNE
FADE IN:
INT. PIRATE SHIP SLAVE HOLD
Sannaro grabbed the energy shackle control from the man's belt and turned the power off.
He unlocked the shackles from around Altarian's wrists and lowered him carefully to the floor.
Altarian took a deep sobbing breath to replenish his struggling lungs with air. He took a few more breaths before he sat up.
ALTARIAN
I'm okay.
SANNARO
You've taken quite a beating.
ALTARIAN
Like I haven't felt it before?
SANNARO
I know you've felt it before.
ALTARIAN
How is Cherna?
SANNARO
Healed and worried as hell.
ALTARIAN
I'm sorry, but the pirates had to pay for hurting Cherna.
SANNARO
And you think I couldn't handle myself?
ALTARIAN
You were so preoccupied and I thought -
SANNARO
You thought?! That's your problem, Altarian! You think you can handle everything yourself. Well, you were pretty pitiful out there. What possessed you to take a Vizha'i? You weren't even close to being ready to do battle! Hadah almost took my sash for that stupid stunt you did!
Altarian looked down at the floor.
Sannaro sensed that anger warred with embarrassment within the boy.
ALTARIAN
I didn't think you'd get in trouble for me joining the fight. I had to join the fight! I guess you're going to take my sash now, aren't you?
SANNARO
I don't have time to think about that right now, but don't rule it out. I'm taking you back to our shuttle for field medical treatment.
Sannaro stood up.
ALTARIAN
Come on, Sannaro! Haven't you heard what I've been saying? You came into this slave hold and told the other slaves to go punish the pirates for their abuse. I'm entitled to punish them too!
SANNARO
You're injured. You need medical treatment.
Altarian struggled to his feet.
ALTARIAN
I need to kill Baltazaur! If you take me back to that shuttle, I'll find a way to escape and join the fight.
Sannaro glared at him.
ALTARIAN
I will! Take me with you!
SANNARO
I'm going to get a lecture from Danu and Zhad, but, okay.
ALTARIAN
Ha'iko!
SANNARO
But you keep yourself invisible.
ALTARIAN
Oh, I will, Yaro!
SANNARO
Okay, let's go.
Sannaro pulled his laser pistol out and held it upward as he went back into the hallway.
Sannaro sensed Altarian stop at a dead pirate's body and pull the laser pistol from his dead hands.
A slave took his tunic off and pressed it into Altarian's hands.
SLAVE
Good luck, kid.
ALTARIAN
Thanks.
Altarian pulled the tunic on.
SANNARO
I thought I told you to stay invisible?
ALTARIAN
I will, but I'm not going to be weaponless!
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Danu, plan's changed.
DANU (PSI V.O.)
What?!
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Altarian is still mobile and wants to take part in the invasion.
DANU (PSI V.O.)
After all he's put you through, you're going to let him stay with you?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
And if I brought him to you, he's said he'll escape you. Do you want to handle that?
DANU (PSI V.O.)
I'll sedate him as soon as he arrives!
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
He'll sense your intent before you can do it. Besides, he needs some closure from this pain.
DANU (PSI V.O.)
I can't believe you're sympathizing with him!
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Even though I was sad that I killed Arlington, a part of me was glad that part of my life was over. Knowing he was dead, I could put that nightmare behind me. Maybe Altarian needs the same closure to be able to live beyond this time.
DANU (PSI V.O.)
I still think you should bring him in.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
I don't need dissidence in the ranks and Altarian's set on causing it if I take him back. No, it's better if he's with me. I'll keep you posted on the battle, Sannaro, out.
Sannaro felt Danu's annoyance, but blocked it from his mind.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Tisa, I've got Altarian, but the plan's changed. I'm bringing him with me.
TISA (PSI V.O.)
You're a glutton for punishment.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
And leave him for Kosi and Danu to deal with? No, I'd rather have him with me so I can keep an eye on him.
TISA (PSI V.O.)
Is he going to fight?
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
He's armed, but I've asked him to remain invisible. I'd prefer he not fight.
TISA (PSI V.O.)
You're the senior. It's your decision.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Fa'arata. Progress report.
TISA (PSI V.O.)
We're meeting heavy resistance three intersections away from the flight deck.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
We're on our way.
TISA (PSI V.O.)
We'll wait for you.
ALTARIAN
You finished giving reports? I want to get going.
SANNARO
Houk, we should leave here. I don't like to be stationary too long during an invasion.
They moved cautiously down the hall with their weapons poised to fire.
As they moved down the different hallways, Sannaro heard the sounds of laser fire draw nearer.
Sannaro paused near a bend in the hallway and cautiously looked around the corner.
Just beyond the bend, Tisa and her team was tucked into a recessed doorway, shooting down the hall at Baltazaur and a group of pirates Sannaro recognized from the bridge.
SANNARO
Disappear, Altarian. We're here.
Sannaro sensed Altarian's telepathy send alternate images in a wide band. As soon as the sending steadied, Sannaro slipped around the corner and walked close to the wall to where Tisa stood shooting her pistol.
SANNARO
Need help?
TISA
Wouldn't mind it.
Sannaro targeted a pirate and opened fire.
He sensed a laser beam flying straight at him and he ducked behind the wall.
Altarian's anger flared.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Steady, Altarian. Maybe you should withdraw around the corner.
ALTARIAN
I'm not going anywhere.
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Stop talking or they'll target you from your voice.
ALTARIAN
Then I'll give them something to fire at!
Altarian dropped his sending and fired the borrowed pistol.
SANNARO
I told you to stay hidden and not get into the fight!
ALTARIAN
I have to kill them! You don't know what they did to me over the years. They have to pay in blood!
BALTAZAUR
Oh, there's that pair of slag! Shoot them!
Altarian edged out into the hall for better targeting.
SANNARO
Altarian, get against the wall. You're too exposed!
He heard Baltazaur chuckle.
He turned around to see Baltazaur aim carefully and shoot.
Sannaro whirled around to see Altarian scream and fall to the floor, his chest blackened.
SANNARO
No, Altarian! You're dead,
Baltazaur!
He aimed at the head pirate and shot.
Baltazaur ran down the hall.
SANNARO
You come back, pirate! Tisa, take care of Altarian! I'm going after Baltazaur!
He pulled into the doorway and thought of an image of the empty corridor. He stepped into the hallway side-stepped against the wall to avoid the laser bolts until he walked beyond the shooting pirates. Once well beyond the bridge pirates, Sannaro dropped his false image and broke into a sprint down the hallway.
Sannaro tracked Baltazaur about a hundred meters ahead. Sannaro slid to a halt.
Baltazaur stopped moving.
Sannaro sensed Baltazaur to his left, down a short hallway.
Sannaro slipped cautiously down the hall. Sannaro pressed himself against the wall and waved his hand past the sensor.
The door swept open.
Nothing, but silence.
Sannaro knew he was in there, so he must be waiting for his move.
He sensed Baltazaur was roughly at the far end of the room in the center before the door.
Sannaro took a deep breath and rushed through the door toward the right side of the room.
A long snake whip flew at him and snapped his shoulder.
He hissed and grasped his stinging arm. He gasped when he saw the incredible array of torture devices throughout the room.
Baltazaur chuckled darkly.
BALTAZAUR
Welcome to my inner sanctum, Destroyer.
He flicked the whip again and it curled around Sannaro's helmet. Baltazaur pulled.
Sannaro flipped off his feet. He slapped his left hand to the floor to cushion his fall and landed sideways.
Baltazaur dragged him across the floor toward him.
Sannaro reached to his side and released his helmet. It clattered across the floor and hit Baltazaur's foot.
Baltazaur cursed and shook his foot.
Sannaro leapt back to his feet.
Baltazaur flicked the whip toward Sannaro's chest.
Sannaro reached out and let the whip curl around his gloved hand. He ignored the sting and pulled the whip out of Baltazaur's hand.
Baltazaur stumbled back against the wall and pulled a electric stunner from a display.
He shot the wires at Sannaro.
Sannaro whirled to avoid the wires, but they shot into the edge of his left arm.
Electricity shot through him.
His body shook and he fell to his knees. Blue-black hair drifted to the floor around him. He labored to reach out to the wires. He screamed as he ripped them out of his arm.
He gritted his teeth from the electrical shock that still bled through his gloves and pulled on the wires.
The electric stunner flew out of Baltazaur's hands.
Sannaro snatched it out of the air, pulled the wires out of the gun and threw it across the room.
It skittered under the guillotine.
Sannaro felt his new uninjured hair grow back to his shoulders as he rushed Baltazaur.
Baltazaur grabbed a pair of nunchucks and twirled them around himself. He rushed to meet Sannaro.
Sannaro blocked the rapid whirling sticks while voicing bellows to ignore the beating his arms were receiving.
Baltazaur cracked him across the jaw.
Sannaro whirled around to soften the blow and spit out the blood that pooled in his mouth.
BALTAZAUR
Thanks for adding to my wealth, Saili.
Sannaro gritted his teeth and rushed at him again. He screamed when the chain wrapped around his two fingers. He jerked the nunchucks away and threw them through the air. He turned back to Baltazaur just as he pulled a cat o'nine tails from the wall.
Sannaro groaned. He was getting battered enough.
Baltazaur rushed at him with the cat o'nine tails whizzing through the air in front of him.
Sannaro put his arms in front of his chest and stumbled backwards.
Baltazaur chuckled as the nine tails ripped through the fabric of Sannaro's flight-suit on his forearms and shoulders.
Sannaro bellowed in rage. He swept his arm out to block another blow and rotated his hand to grab the base of the handle. He ripped it out of Baltazaur's hands and struck the weapon across Baltazaur's face.
SANNARO
No more!
Sannaro reached out with his other hand in a two fingered hook and jabbed just below Baltazaur's sternum. He rotated his fingers under the bone and pulled. Sannaro felt the ribs snap as they separated from the sternum.
Baltazaur screamed and fell to the deck.
Sannaro stepped away and shook his arms to dispel the raging pain in his bruised, torn arms.
Baltazaur looked up at him with naked hate in his eyes. He reached for his belt buckle.
Sannaro did a back flip into the air just in time to avoid metal stakes snapping up through the floor where he'd just stood.
Baltazaur laughed.
Sannaro felt raw fury rise in him. Suddenly, he felt like the metal in the room became extensions to his own limbs. He raised his bloody arms up.
All the swords, pikes, awls and maces rose from the wall.
He swept his arms out in front of him.
All the weapons flew at Baltazaur.
Baltazaur threw his arms up in a futile block.
All the weapons slammed into him at once.
He gave a sickening gurgle and fell slack on the floor.
Sannaro stood with his chest heaving. He grimaced in disgust and turned away. He staggered through the hallway back to his team.
TISA
What was that boom, San?
SANNARO
You don't want to know. Baltazaur's dead. Where's Altarian?
TISA
Back with Saka. San, he's bad.
SANNARO
I know. Let's get him to Danu.
TISA
Not to take your command from you, San, but I think another pilot should take your Vizha'i back. You look like you need Danu as well.
SANNARO
I won't argue that point, Tisa. I want Danu's help and I want to stay with the boy. Tell Di'eta to fly my Vizha'i back.
TISA
Houk. Can't believe you're still walking. You're dropping gold clots in your wake.
Sannaro shakily looked behind him. There was an unsteady shiny trail of gold lumps down the hall.
SANNARO
I should clot soon.
TISA
If you don't pass out from blood-loss before then.
NO'AL
Sure are right, Tisa. Boss, you look like you've been in a food
processor.
SANNARO
Is the bridge taken?
TISA
Houk.
SANNARO
Tisa, you're in command. I'm taking Altarian and myself back to the med shuttle. Another shuttle will come to pick your team up again. And please tell the former slaves not to try to harvest my blood for profit. They'll be arrested on their first attempt to sell it.
NO'AL
Hey, San, you're slick with blood. Aren't you worried about hurting Altarian with the acids in your blood?
SANNARO
Altarian is Saili. He'll be immune to injury from my blood.
NO'AL
Okay, but you look really exhausted.
SANNARO
No'al, stop being a mother hen. My strength will hold out until we get to the shuttle.
NO'AL
Yeah, right, with your flight suit in shreds? No'al to shuttle, is the flight deck still depressurized?
KOSI
Nui, I plugged the hole with a medium sized service shuttle and re-pressurized the deck. It seems to be holding for the time being.
NO'AL
Good, tell Danu he's got 2 Saili patients now instead of one. San's bringing both himself and Altarian to you.
KOSI
We copy, No'al. Danu's preparing the shuttle for both.
Sannaro walked over to prone Altarian, his chest was blackened by a fresh third degree burn. He carefully lifted Altarian into his arms and rushed down the hall as fast as his screaming muscles would allow him.
After a short while of traveling through the abandoned halls of the pirate mother-ship,
Sannaro rushed through the doors of the flight deck.
Danu ran across the deck to meet him half way. He was already dressed in a shiny silver surgical protection suit so he wouldn't hurt himself handling bleeding Saili. He took Altarian from Sannaro's arms.
Kosi approached Sannaro to help him to the shuttle.
SANNARO
Nui, Kosi, I'll burn you if you touch me. I can make it on my own. Thanks for the offer.
He struggled the rest of the way to the shuttle and up the ramp. He leaned against the hatch frame and took a few deep breaths.
KOSI
Danu, San looks like he's going to collapse.
SANNARO
Nui, Danu, work on Altarian. I can hardly sense his mental signature. I'll sit down in a minute.
DANU
Try to lay down as soon as possible, San. Kosi, look in the supply cabinet for aluminum treatment gloves and aluminum lined bandages. Please wrap the bandages around anywhere Sannaro's body's covered in blood, aluminum surface upward.
KOSI
I don't know how to properly bandage shoulders.
DANU
I don't care how they look. Cover the blood.
Sannaro staggered over to an empty couch and lowered himself down.
KOSI
What's that sharp metal stench?
SANNARO
Saili sweat and evaporating serlacticine from my hardening blood.
KOSI
Oh, sorry, it's kind of pungent.
DANU
He knows.
A while later, Sannaro could have laughed despite his pain. He was wrapped in bandages from neck to stomach, shoulders to fingertips, criss-crossed in an erratic fashion.
SANNARO
Now, two tablets of catowsh would finish this nicely.
DANU
Kosi, let's take off now. We have to get Altarian back to the Kumani as quickly as possible.
KOSI
Houk, Doc.
Kosi rushed to the cockpit.
END ACT 1
ACT 2
Danu came over to him and almost snickered although his eyes were still very serious. He sat down beside Sannaro.
SANNARO
How is he, Danu?
DANU
I wish I had better news.
Sannaro sighed and hung his head.
DANU
He has damage to all four lungs and his upper heart's barely pumping. He's living off his lower heart right now, but I don't know for how long. Saili don't fair well with one heart and there's always better chances if the upper heart's the one to survive. He's living on a respirator.
SANNARO
Saili lungs can be transplanted if we can get to New Sailia in time.
DANU
I don't know, neither Zhad nor I are surgeons of that skill to do a Saili transplant operation of a major internal organ. I'll hand Altarian over to Zhad when we arrive at the Kumani, but I just can't bring myself to be hopeful.
SANNARO
You tried, Danu. I thought Altarian would stay out of the fight, but his anger was too deep for him to restrain himself.
DANU
I told you to bring him and I would sedate him.
SANNARO
Danu, he would've fought you and Kosi to join the battle. He's driven, just like me.
DANU
But you never pushed your way into a fight unless you were needed.
SANNARO
That's the big difference between me and Altarian, I never went looking for a fight.
DANU
Now, your odor is more than just sweat and cerlacticine, San. I smell burned tissue on you.
Sannaro pointed to his left upper arm.
SANNARO
Houk, you're right. I got shot with a electric stunner and was electrocuted.
DANU
It's a good thing you Saili can endure a higher voltage of electricity than most humanoids.
KOSI
Approaching retrieval deck.
DANU
Well, I told Kosi to bandage you and I didn't care how it looked, but you look rather comical. It looks like he used every aluminum bandage I had on this shuttle. That bruise on your cheek looks like it goes down several sub-dermal layers.
SANNARO
Bit my cheek too.
DANU
I can see it hardened on your chin. You look a mess.
SANNARO
Some of the mess on my face is blood spatters. That Baltazaur used as many torture devices on me he could grab.
Danu looked down, knitted his brows and bent to look at Sannaro's boot.
DANU
There's blood on your right heel.
SANNARO
There is? I guess I didn't leap away from the spikes rising from the floor quickly enough to avoid a bit of a puncture. I guess I've been in so much pain, I didn't feel my foot.
DANU
It's a shallow slash.
He bent down to look closer at it and parted the skin with his fingers.
Sannaro hissed and bit his lip.
DANU
I don't see any tendon damage, but it'll need stitches. Let me see if Kosi left an aluminum bandage so I can wrap your foot.
Danu stood up and went to the cabinet and unlatched it.
DANU
Lucky, there's one more.
SANNARO
Hurry, I can feel us coming to final approach.
Danu rejoined him on the couch, tore open the packaging and wrapped the foot.
Sannaro felt the brakes being applied and the shuttle slowed down. They braced themselves against the couch as the shuttle slowed rapidly, then stopped. They heard the resounding clang, then felt the sinking sensation of the retrieval lift lowering them into the flight deck.
Another klaxon sounded.
Danu rushed from the couch and returned to Altarian's side.
Sannaro hugged his bandaged arms to his chest and watched anxiously as his friend worked over Altarian.
Kosi ran through the shuttle and opened the hatch.
Zhad ran through the hatch and joined Danu.
His foster father and his friend barked orders to each other in the strange medical language he barely understood, but he sensed both men's anxiety.
SANNARO'S PSYCHIC VISION
Suddenly, Sannaro was drawn into his inner being. Altarian hovered over a dark hole in the fabric of reality.
ALTARIAN
Thank you, Yaro. Thank you for caring.
He dropped through the hole and reality closed again.
BACK TO SHUTTLE
SANNARO
No! Ah, Iachi'awei Ushi, no!
Sannaro leapt from the couch at the young body that was crackling into the hardened state of Saili death.
DANU
I'm sorry, San.
Sannaro collapsed into a sobbing heap on the floor and held his throbbing head in his bandaged hands.
ZHAD
San, we need to get you to the hospital. You're wounds need healing.
SANNARO
Altarian was supposed to be free!
ZHAD
He is free, Sannaro. He's free from the pain of remembering a life of torture. He died free, taking revenge on those who hurt him.
SANNARO
He, he just wanted a family! He just wanted love.
ZHAD
And you gave him all of that.
SANNARO
I gave him death!
ZHAD
You didn't kill him, Sannaro Damirateyak!
ALTARIAN (PSI V.O.)
Don't cry, Yaro, you gave me back my dignity the pirates stole from me. I'm sorry I hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you, but my pain inside was too much for me to control. Please tell Chali, Andu and Ambri I love them.
Sannaro felt Altarian's essence fade again.
SANNARO
I will, Altar.
Sannaro accepted Zhad and Danu's help to get back on his feet. When his slashed foot touched the floor, he hissed in pain and pulled his leg back off the floor.
ZHAD
Get a hover gurney in here.
The medics guided the gurney through the hatch.
Zhad and Danu helped him to lay down.
The gurney was led out of the shuttle to transport him to the hospital.
INT. HOSPITAL
A day later, Sannaro laid in his hospital bed deep in thought. He stared at his now healed arms and sighed.
He looked up when the door swept open.
Cherna wheeled her wheelchair inside and leapt across to his bed. She curled up tightly against him.
He encircled her in his arms, buried his face into her hair and sighed.
They laid there quietly, merged in their shared grief.
The door swept open again.
Hadah lead the way with Zhad, Adara, Danu, Varanani, Di'ok, Sha'ya, Lazha, Ki'el, Ba'ia, Ku'an, Ambrika and Andoku following. Hadah held a six meter long polished wooden box in his hands.
HADAH
Uh, Varanani helped us with this. She felt it was appropriate.
He held the box out toward Sannaro.
Sannaro took the box and lowered it to his lap. It was quite heavy. He cautiously opened the box.
He carefully raised an alloy gold statue of Altarian's exact image out of the box. It was smooth and flawless with no scars on its shiny surface.
Sannaro reached out his telepathy into the gold and sensed the residual essence of Altarian.
ZHAD
We rendered his body down into pure metal and had this statue shaped in his image.
VARANANI
It's a practice some Saili choose to do instead of interring someone in the Cave of Bad Death. Since whole bodies can't be stored on the Kumani, I thought rendering it into a statue would be better.
SANNARO
Thank you.
VARANANI
His essence is actually very peaceful for having died of battle wounds.
SANNARO
Before Altarian fell through the Astral Tear, he thanked me for freeing him from the pirates and restoring his dignity. He asked me to tell all of you that he loved you and appreciated the place we gave him in our lives for a short while. He wanted so badly to be a part of our family.
CHERNA
He became part of our family.
ANDOKU
Yeah, it was interesting having a brother.
AMBRIKA
I should've been content with allowing Altar to be my brother, instead of getting lusty with him. I'm sorry for my wild behavior. It's just that, I'd never met another Saili who wasn't related to me and I lost all sense. He was right, I went too fast.
She bowed her head.
SANNARO
Come here, hala.
She rushed to his and Cherna's arms, sobbing deeply.
LAZHA
Well, at least Altarian's sacrifice isn't in vane. He helped to free the slaves he lived among and now they'll be free to return to their homes and families.
HADAH
And the surviving pirates will be put to Human trial in the Alliance courts. That's one less pirate ship plying this region of space.
Cherna pressed herself against Sannaro's chest.
CHERNA
And the remaining pirates will whisper the name of The Destroyer in fear.
Sannaro blushed.
HADAH
Ah, there he goes again! And there's his hair in his face again. He maybe The Destroyer to the pirates, but he's our sensitive Sannaro!
Danu raised his hand above his head.
DANU
Hail, The Pirate Destroyer! Hail, Vizha'e Sannaro, the greatest Astrisi warrior!
Everyone cheered.
Sannaro buried his face into Cherna's hair and groaned.
Cherna laughed, then turned her head and kissed him deeply.
Sannaro pressed himself into her kiss.
Everyone cheered again.
Deep inside Sannaro's mind, he heard Altarian chuckle.
Sure, Sannaro would grieve for a while, but he knew everything would be all right
Altarian finally had a place to call home for all eternity.
INT. KUMANI PHYSICAL THERAPY ROOM
Sannaro sat in the physical therapy room and watched the parallel bars intently.
Cherna wore black shorts and a simple lilac sleeveless shirt. Her shoulder length blond hair swayed before her face as she concentrated on her walk across the floor on wooden prosthetic legs.
It amazed him that only months before, she had crushed her legs when her control panel
had blown in her Vizha'i and he had to telepathically help her fly her interceptor back to the mother-ship to land. His team had been mad at him for leaving his own body unattended in his Vizha'i during battle but she'd barely been conscious and he couldn't bare to lose her.
Already, she was steadily walking across the floor as if she still had her natural legs.
Alea looked up and noticed he was there.
ALEA
San, have you been doing your foot exercises for your sliced plantar fascia?
SANNARO
I'm doing them.
ALEA
And how is that burn progressing on your arm?
SANNARO
I have more grafting surgeries to do.
ALEA
You tell me when that's done so we can get to that arm.
SANNARO
I will.
ALEA
Nice work, Cheri. You're progressing very well. That's enough for today.
Cherna nodded her head.
Alea handed Cherna her hand crutches.
Cherna hobbled over to where he sat.
CHERNA
Watching me?
SANNARO
I never tire pf watching you.
CHERNA
I'm not going to disappear, Sannaro Damirateyak.
SANNARO
I know you won't. I'm just happy you survived.
CHERNA
You're still hurting about Altarian.
SANNARO
He wasn't ready to join a real fight. He should have waited until he learned more but he was too stubborn.
CHERNA
You've been real moody since you came back from that pirate ship.
SANNARO
He shouldn't have died.
CHERNA
I think there's more to it.
SANNARO
You know I was tortured by those pirates. Give me some time, please?
CHERNA
Okay, are you coming home right now or do you have more work to do?
SANNARO
Hadah wants all pilots to prepare for a massive cargo moving project so I have some downtime.
CHERNA
I hate being out of the pilot loop.
SANNARO
So take that job Lazha offered you to train student pilots. That will get you back up there.
CHERNA
I think I will. I have to do something so I don't get bored.
Sannaro felt a twinge in his foot so he stopped, raised his foot up and hissed.
CHERNA
Foot still hurting?
SANNARO
Houk, damn, I wish I'd stop getting these random twinges in that foot. I'm still considered a young Saili and I'm already waking up sore.
CHERNA
Danu said you came home shelled over just about every inch with blood so some soreness should be expected.
SANNARO
He wasn't far off.
He gripped his bandaged right arm just below the shoulder where the electric stunner needles had burned flesh.
CHERNA
Wow, who's getting more winded on this walk home, you or me?
Sannaro bowed his head and allowed his hair to fall into his face.
She parted his hair.
CHERNA
I like to see your beautiful eyes instead of a blue-black curtain of hair.
SANNARO
You were hurt worse than me.
CHERNA
I don't think so, just that my injuries are more permanent. I wish you would talk to me, Sannaro. What happened over there besides Altarian being shot in the chest?
SANNARO
Please, not now. I asked for you to give me time.
He rushed through the door of their apartment.
He sensed Cherna stare at him sadly before she followed him in and the door swept closed.
Sannaro sat down at the computer in the living room.
She followed him into the apartment, sighed and hobbled into the kitchen.
Sannaro sighed when he saw the statue on the high shelf of the molded remains of his foster son.
He noticed an icon on the desktop prompted that a message was waiting for their attention. He brought up the message and read it.
SANNARO
Cheri, Vi'asa wants to talk to us about Ambri.
CHERNA
Great.
SANNARO
She should be free right now. Maybe we should talk to her before I do this mission? Then we can eat in the cafeteria before I go.
Cherna hobbled out of the kitchen to join him.
CHERNA
I really wasn't looking forward to cooking. Let's go.
They walked rearward to the school to Vi'asa's office.
Vi'asa was at her door when she looked up to watch them approach.
VI'ASA
Oh, I'm glad you're here, San, Cheri.
She stepped into the office and kept the door open for them to enter.
VI'ASA
I know everyone is so busy with this mission Hadah wants done quickly so thank you for your prompt response. I want to talk to you about how Ambrika has been acting since your family's loss.
SANNARO
I'm not surprised she's showing emotional turmoil.
Vi'asa sat at her desk.
VI'ASA
She's been more moody than normal. I know how devastating your loss was for her. I'm worried she's letting her grades slip and she's taking offense to things her classmates say to her more than she normally does.
CHERNA
We'll have a talk with her.
SANNARO
And, if we have to, we can have her Aunt Varanani talk to her too.
VI'ASA
It's sad to see how close Ambri got to Altarian in the short time he lived with you and now that he died tragically, it really hurt her.
SANNARO
We've been trying to help her work through her feelings.
VI'ASA
The short time I interacted with Altarian, he reminded me so much of you when you were in my class, San. I'm sure you miss him.
SANNARO
He had a sad past much like I did except he didn't take the aftermath as well. I tried to guide him but-
VI'ASA
Don't blame yourself, San. You did the best you could. I just wanted you to know that Ambri is having a bit of trouble right now.
CHERNA
We'll talk to her.
Cherna stood up again on her crutches.
Sannaro stood at the door to trip the sensor and stayed until Cherna carefully walked past him into the hallway.
VI'ASA
Thank you for coming.
Vi'asa stepped out into the hall and walked toward the classroom.
Sannaro and Cherna walked to the elevator and took it to the cafeteria.
Sannaro took two trays to the buffet lunch line. He followed Cherna who put her selections onto her tray. Once they finished their selections, Sannaro carried both trays to the booth Cherna chose and set the trays on the table.
He sat down and picked up his fork but he found himself staring at his plate. He forced himself to eat since Cherna tended to get mad at him when he refused to eat because something was on his mind.
As soon as Cherna stood up, he quickly scraped the last of his and her food in the garbage, dropped both trays on the conveyor belt and kissed her on the cheek.
SANNARO
I need to get up to the Upper Flight Deck to prepare for the mission. See you later.
CHERNA
Kohura.
Sannaro rushed from the cafeteria to the elevator.
Cherna walked carefully to the hospital and knocked on Varanani's door.
A few seconds later, Sannaro's older sister opened the door.
VARANANI
Oh, Cherna, nice to see you. Can I help you with something?
CHERNA
Vara, do you have some time for us to talk?
VARANANI
I have a half hour. Come in.
Varanani stood aside to give Cherna more room to walk in to a nicely furnished room with several comfortably overstuffed chairs and couches in it.
VARANANI
You're walking very well on your prostheses.
Cherna set down her crutches and sat down.
CHERNA
I'm doing physical therapy daily. It's a lot of work to balance on artificial legs but I keep trying.
VARANANI
And doing well. So what do you want to talk to me about?
CHERNA
Something happened to San on that pirate ship and I think it's more than Altarian's death.
VARANANI
It was a hard time for him.
CHERNA
You're his older sister. I know you lost ten years living with him but I think you know him better because of Saili telepathy. He won't talk to me about the rescue. He gets teared up and finds an excuse to run away. I don't think it's grief. I think he's scared. Am I wrong?
VARANANI
I think your observations are correct. Cherna, I saw what San looked like when he returned to the shuttle from Danu's memories. He really did look ghastly. What wasn't covered by a dried shell of blood was deeply bruised.
CHERNA
He was very injured but I think it's more than the injuries too. I remember he was afraid to go back to that pirate ship but we convinced him to go rescue Altarian. He won that fight by defeating the pirate ship even though Altarian died. Why isn't he healing emotionally? Why is he still scared? How can we get him to talk?
VARANANI
Those are all good questions. I think he's acting a lot like how Di'ok acted after he was rescued from the Zurans. Di'ok told me he was subjected to constant torture. The Zurans pressed a pain inducing device against his neck several times a day. His dreams were unconsciously sent to Sannaro because Di'ok used a coping strategy of thinking what would Sannaro do in his place. Something has been bothering Di'ok since his return and I continuously encourage him to talk about it but he's also scared about something that changed in him because of the torture he endured. I think Sannaro is going through something similar. I've been asking him, too and he avoids my questions as much as he avoids yours. Even with my telepathy, I sense he's too anxious to talk about what happened to him to bring about this change that he's blocking me from receiving insights into his inner turmoil.
Cherna wrapped her arms over her head.
CHERNA
Great, I thought you'd have more insight to this!
VARANANI
Even telepathy has limits. As San says regularly, we don't know everything. We just know more than most. I'll try to talk to him more once this big shipping mission is over. Hadah really wants this mission finished quickly. I've had to cancel other appointments because if it. That's why I had this free time to talk to you.
CHERNA
Okay, I guess I'll have to accept that for now. I need to go up to the Upper Flight Deck anyway to set up my desk. I've accepted a teaching position at the flight academy.
VARANANI
That will be a good change for you. You need to find something to keep you busy now that you can't fly fighters.
Cherna stood up a bit more shakily than she wanted.
Varanani picked up Cherna's crutches and handed them to her.
Cherna controlled her annoyance as she took the crutches.
VARANANI
I'm not trying to remind you of your disability, Cherna. I was only wanting to help you.
CHERNA
I know. I guess I'm just a bit touchy about being permanently injured.
VARANANI
It's a big change and change isn't always easy to face. Take one day at a time, Cheri.
CHERNA
Fa'arata, Vara. See you later.
Cherna hobbled out of Varanani's office.
END ACT 2
ACT 3
INT. ARCTURUS SPACEPORT
Sannaro lowered his shuttle to the ground at the spaceport on Arcturus. He walked through the halls to join the other pilots.
SANNARO
Ki'iwa, Kosi.
KOSI
Ki'iwa, San. We're waiting on one more pilot then you'll get the final briefing. I see you're still limping a bit.
SANNARO
Houk, the foot's still achy.
KOSI
Sorry I missed the foot. You were bleeding from so many wounds Danu wanted me to wrap and I'm not much of a medic.
SANNARO
I know you're a pilot like me. It's okay.
Arcas joined them.
KOSI
Okay, pilot's, heads up. I'm glad they placed us at a freight terminal so we can load up easier. Hadah's calling for delivery but it may take about twenty minutes for the freight to arrive so you have some time to wander. Just don't go too far away and get back here in twenty. Dismissed.
Sannaro felt an old feeling like he wanted to see some real sunlight so he wandered toward the main entrance of the spaceport.
He squinted as he walked through the doors.
He stepped out into the direct sunlight and did a lazy stretch.
TRISTIN
Shit!
A heavy object struck the concrete.
A woman held her foot. A large trunk was on its side behind her hover car.
Sannaro wandered over to her.
SANNARO
Would you like some help with that, ma'am?
She released her foot and stood up. She looked at him from toe to head.
TRISTIN
Oh, you're cute.
Sannaro blushed.
TRISTIN
You Saili have cute blushes.
Sannaro bent over and picked up the trunk. It was a bit heavy but not even close to his lifting weight limit. He set the trunk into the car.
SANNARO
There you go, ma'am.
A sharp pain exploded from his side. He arched his back and fell over the trunk. He struggled to stand up again but his legs were swept out from under him and he slid behind the trunk.
The cargo door slammed closed and he slipped into unconsciousness.
CUT TO BLACK
SUPER: KELLIN
Finally, I got through his defenses with a plant so similar to him, he had to open his heart! Then I ripped it out!
SUPER: TAREK/SIKYATAVO
That was cruel, Kellin. It was not right to use that innocent soul like that! Unfortunately, I think you may have just triggered his reawakening with that fight against Baltazaur too soon.
SUPER: KELLIN
It's time for you and that son of yours to face what you did! I'm going to draw both of you from your comfortable fortresses eventually and every ounce of gold in your bodies will be your payment!
FADE OUT.
THE END.