Lyssa Thorne's
Science Fiction Novels
Double Dragon Ebooks
RAGING VENGEANCE
EPISODE 17 - TRAINING
BY: LYSSA THORNE
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.
ACT 1
FADE IN:
Lazha sat in her Commander’s seat on the bridge of the Astrisi spaceship Kumani and looked at the main screen that showed a small brown planet they had just pulled into orbit around. She was surprised that she still felt dread toward that little planet. Retal stepped up beside her.
RETAL
You sure this is a good idea coming back to Regalis for fuel? You know some people here are still angry at us about the Bristol Attack.
LAZHA
You know I wouldn't come here if it wasn't necessary, but to make it to Oronio would be stretching our reserves too thin. I'm not going to let this ship get so low on fuel again, we become desperate. That's what happened when Belso attacked the Bristol Camp.
RETAL
Fausa, I wonder how Sannaro's taking it that we're back where it all began?
LAZHA
Hopefully, he's managing all right. Let's lock her in orbit and get this over with. Ki'el, call Regalis Central Fueling and inform them we're ready for upload.
KI'EL
Houk.
RETAL
I’m so glad we don't have to go to the mines anymore to pick up the fuel now that large tanker ships rendezvouses with the ships to do a ship-to-ship refuel.
LAZHA
The company started that after Bristol was burned so no one would directly deal with the miners. It's a better system.
KI'EL
Fuelers are informed and are sending out the tanker.
LAZHA
Fa'arata.
Lazha sat down in her command chair and sighed.
INT – SANNARO'S ROOM
Sannaro sat at his desk in his foster family's apartment staring at the tie-in to the main monitor he'd linked his home computer to. He rubbed his yellow-gold arm as if he could feel the lumpy scar tissue that had been there twelve years ago.
He felt a delicate hand brush across his shoulders.
He looked up and smiled weakly at Cherna, already dressed in her flight suit with blue chest panels and the yellow sash around her waist. She put her arm around his shoulders and looked at the monitor.
SANNARO
Regalis.
CHERNA
Your natal planet.
He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against her.
SANNARO
Seeing that planet makes me feel dread all over again. My family lived there and died there.
CHERNA
You know Lazha wouldn't have us come here if she didn't think it was absolutely necessary.
He opened his eyes again.
SANNARO
I know.
CHERNA
Don't you have duty soon? I do.
SANNARO
Houk, I have to report soon. I just wanted to see it again or maybe I shouldn't have. I guess it's just morbid curiosity. I can't deny that planet's a terrible part of my past, a past I can't forget.
CHERNA
Why don't you ask No'ama for some time off?
SANNARO
You think Filp will allow it? He'll just call me a weak coward for holing up at home. I'm not giving him that chance.
He stood up and turned off the link to the main sensors.
The computer screen returned to the black screen with a red firebird that embraced a blue four-pointed star with a yellow star in counterpoint. Inside the star was four green diamonds capped with red chevrons.
He turned, took her in his arms and put his head on her shoulder.
CHERNA
Aren't you getting a bit familiar here?
SANNARO
You're right, but in a few more days, I'm going to love you like you've never been loved before.
CHERNA
Sannaro! Watch your language! Your sisters don't need to hear that from you!
SANNARO
They can't hear us, we're in my bedroom.
She playfully slapped his shoulder.
CHERNA
Now you control yourself and get to your duties.
SANNARO
Right, trying to be a bossy woman but I know you're looking forward to my birthday as much as I am.
CHERNA
Quiet and get yourself ready to go!
He went to his closet, hefted his air tank onto his back and strapped it across his chest then buckled the pistol belt around his waist and carefully placed the laser pistol into it’s holster from the lock box on top of his dresser. They walked out of his room.
Adara looked up from the dusting she was doing in the living room.
ADARA
Aren't you two supposed to report for duty?
SANNARO
Houk, Chali, we're leaving.
ADARA
San, your skin's glowing again. How are you going to endure until your twentieth birthday if you give in to cuddling with Cherna?
CHERNA
I keep telling him his reactions are obvious. It just stands out on that yellow-gold skin of his.
ADARA
You don't want to have to live on Belvas again and expose yourself to another attack by Verano.
Sannaro blew his breath out slowly. His dark hair fanned out from his face from his breath as he remembered that nightmare. He shivered uncontrollably and dropped his head.
His hair was parted in front of his face and Adara peeked through.
ADARA
Dear, I hated to remind you about that, but you must practice restraint for a few more days to fulfill your uncle's requirements. You promised you'd obey him.
SANNARO
It's just that being at Regalis again kind of upsets me.
ADARA
I understand. Cherna's waiting for you. Don't make it harder on the two of you than it already is.
Sannaro swept his hair back behind his ears again.
ADARA (CONT.)
Now, the two of you need to get to the flight decks before you get in trouble.
SANNARO
Houk, chali.
They left the apartment and went to the elevators. He rode with her to the Upper Flight Deck. They squeezed hands before she stepped out and turned left. The door closed again.
SANNARO
Lower Flight Deck.
The elevator moved downward. The elevator doors opened to a large two story high room with fighter planes sitting in three neat rows. There were grooves in the floor where the ships were pulled by pulleys under the floor to a large lighted rectangle that lowered the ships down to the catapults and the retrieval area. At the back of the deck was a structure with three tunnels through it that was where the fighters were refueled and rearmed.
Sannaro walked forward to the pilot's lounge and entered a normal sized room with lockers to his left. He stopped at his locker, pulled out his helmet, clipped it to his pistol belt and closed it again.
He looked around the room. To his right was a round table with four chairs around it. Beyond that was chairs and couches arranged in a square. Under the stairs that led up to the Team-leader's offices was another round table with four more chairs. A few people from purple team were talking there, but his telepathy told him the person he was looking for was in the next room, the game room.
He moved on to the next room filled with a billiard on his right, a table tennis to his left and several table video games against the walls. In the corner, absorbed in a combat game was the tall blond woman he sought.
He sauntered over and leaned into the corner of the wall to watch her. She glanced up from the screen.
DI'ETA
There you are, kid. One minute.
The table flashed with multiple colors and in the human font it flashed new high score!
DI'ETA
Ha'iko!
She jumped up and pumped her arm.
DORVO
Fausa, Di'eta, now none of us will ever break your score!
DI'ETA
Aw, I'm crying! Come on, San.
She sauntered toward the door he had just come through. He followed her to the lounge again and up the stairs. Di'eta ducked into an office.
DI'ETA
Hey, No'ama, San and I are going to be on the Upper Flight Deck, doing some training.
NO'AMA
All right. Don't spend all day up there. Both of you have maintenance you have to do on your Vizha'i.
DI'ETA
Houk.
Di'eta turned around and waved him to follow her down the stairs again. He followed her across the deck through the fighter planes parked on the flight line. He followed Di'eta to the elevator and entered with her. She called for the Upper Flight Deck and the elevator closed. After a few minutes of traveling, the doors opened onto a deck more vast than the one they left. Di'eta walked beside the parked Vizha'i, also buzzing with maintenance workers and assisting pilots. After a minute of walking, they came to the forward wall and entered the flight lounge.
Di'eta went up the stairs and past the team-leader offices to the training complex. She turned right into a more narrow hallway where the simulators were. She stepped into the control room for a second and entered the data she wanted. Then she turned to Sannaro.
DI'ETA
Okay, metal-boy, here's what I have planned today.
She untied her yellow sash from around her waist and ducked behind him. She wrapped her sash around his head and tied it firmly, pressing his ears against his head. He winced.
DI'ETA
Suck up the pain, boy. Ignore those ears. Now, get into sim 4 and I'll be in sim 5. I'm going to come after you like an angry pirate.
Sannaro shifted the sash slightly higher on his forehead.
DI'ETA
Ah, don't take that off those ears!
SANNARO
I was just shifting it up so it won't be in my eyes!
He slipped into the tight room, released his helmet from his pistol belt, set it on the console then sat down in the flight chair. The armrests pressed into his sides painfully. He pulled on the levers at the side of the chair and it expanded. He pulled on another lever to lower the seat closer to the floor and put his feet on the foot pedals to be sure he could easily reach them.
He only managed to put the balls of his feet on the pedals. He pulled the chair forward until his feet were positioned right. Then he picked up his helmet and pulled it on.
DI'ETA (V.O.)
You ready, kid?
He placed his hands on the controls.
SANNARO
Ready.
DI'ETA (V.O.)
Computer, begin simulator.
The room lit up with a scene of deep space.
He looked over his long range sensors. There was one bogy sweeping in for him. He immediately went into evasive maneuvers.
Di'eta was already locked on him fired.
He wobbled his wings then plunged into a dive.
Sannaro squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. He opened his eyes to see Di'eta had already compensated for his maneuver and was sweeping in at twelve o'clock high.
He rolled starboard and circled around. He locked on Di'eta and fired.
She wobbled and avoided his volley. She banked to port.
Sannaro followed her, still firing.
SANNARO
Owe, nui, not now!
The cockpit flashed, then went black.
SANNARO
Fausa!
He slammed his fist on his thigh.
The door to the simulator swung open and Di'eta was standing in the hall. Her lips were thin and her eyes flashed with disappointment.
DI'ETA
You let those ears take your concentration again.
SANNARO
I know.
He pulled off his helmet, laid it on the panel, pulled off Di'eta's sash and handed it to her. He massaged the raised nerves on his ears.
SANNARO
My ears hate to have pressure on them!
DI'ETA
Well, at least you lasted longer this time. Let's get back to the Lower Flight Deck.
Sannaro climbed out of the simulator and shook his head. He grabbed his helmet and clipped it to his pistol belt.
SANNARO
Well, no one else has to train against the best fighter in the fleet while trying to ignore one of his senses!
DI'ETA
Ah, boo hoo, metal-boy!
SANNARO
When we get there, I need to go to my locker and get some Catowsh.
DI'ETA
Maybe it would help if you wore a headband pressing on your ears all the time to get them used to being disrupted?
SANNARO
And live with a headache all day? I really think I just need to remember to concentrate on my sight instead of my telepathy.
DI'ETA
Anyway, want to play a war video game before we do that maintenance on our ships?
SANNARO
Sure!
They walked back through the halls again.
Ahead of them, a thin man with dark brown silvering hair stepped out of the Senior Vizha'e's office. He saw them and his eyes narrowed.
FILP (PSI V.O.)
That ikata alien again? Why did he come back from the Saili? Things were so much better with him gone.
FILP
Di'eta, you've been training Sannaro?
DI'ETA
Houk, Filp.
FILP
I want to see the performance report.
Di'eta doubled back to the simulator control room and ducked inside for a minute. Di'eta came back with a computer printout and handed it to Filp.
Filp read it over for a minute.
FILP
This is pitiful and I gave you your junior sash?
SANNARO
But my senses were disrupted by Di'eta's sash pressing my ears!
DI'ETA
Filp, I'm just trying to help San learn to ignore his telepathy. Of course he did substandard for his skills. If I didn't cause that telepathy of his to be interrupted in a sim, how is he going to get better so he'll concentrate on his sight in battle? Now, the kid's got a headache. He needs to get some pain reliever from his locker. If you want to test him again without the telepathy disruption, it's your choice as the Senior Vizha'e. You'll see he's entitled to his junior sash.
FILP
Di'eta, if you weren't my best bomber-
DI'ETA
You'd do what, Filp? I'm just trying to make San a better pilot. You should appreciate my efforts and shut your airlock. Come on, metal-boy, let's get you that pain reliever.
She walked down the hall.
Sannaro rushed after her.
They returned to the elevators and went to the Lower Flight Deck.
When they returned to the pilot's lounge, Sannaro stopped at his locker and slipped out two blue pills from a medicine bottle and dry-swallowed them. He pressed his lips together in distaste at the bitterness, then returned the bottle and closed his locker.
DI'ETA
Hey, goldy, let's do that game before we get to maintenance!
SANNARO
Coming, Dia!
He sat down across from her and put his fingers on the controls.
DI'ETA
You scan my mind while you’re playing, goldy, I'll whap you across the ear. Got it?
SANNARO
Ah, come on, don't make my headache worse!
DI'ETA
Then keep that mind to yourself!
She thumped her finger against his forehead then she started the game.
They play a simple 2D tabletop shooting game for a few minutes. Di'eta's icon blows up Sannaro's icon. He nodded to her before he left the lounge and stepped onto the flight line.
He walked to his ship at the parking space in center fighter line closest to the launch lift and climbed up the ladder beside the cockpit.
An engineer was bent inside the open cockpit. He leaned against the raised canopy and looked inside.
SANNARO
Hey there, Kles, anything interesting in there?
KLES
A blown fuse. You push this thing till it's stressed.
SANNARO
I was told to go all out or don't go at all.
Kles stood up again.
KLES
But do you realize I have to do a stress scan on the fuselage after every battle with you?
Sannaro shrugged his shoulders.
KLES (CONT.)
You're harder on your equipment than Filp is.
SANNARO
Thank Filp for training me so hard.
Kles jumped to the deck and pulled straps up from the floor to lock into grommets sunk into the fuselage. He stood back and pulled a device from his belt.
KLES
Fire up the attitude thrusters and let me scan them to check their output.
Sannaro leapt into the cockpit, turn on the systems and fired the thrusters. He felt the Vizha'i rise off the deck and strain the holding straps.
KLES
Increase power.
KLES
Okay, shut down.
The Vizha'i lowered to the deck again and powered down.
Kles ducked under the wings for a few minutes. He stepped out again and returned to the safety zone.
KLES
Okay, try her again.
The Vizha'i raised off the deck.
KLES
Okay, that's good. Shut her down.
The Vizha'i sank back to the deck and turned off.
KLES
What do you do with this plane, turn her on her wingtips?
SANNARO
Just the normal stuff, S turns, barrel rolls, Immelmanns, corkscrew dives, hammerhead dives, inverted loops.
KLES
Houk, you turn her on her wingtips. That's why I have to do a stress scan on her each time you go out.
SANNARO
Hey, she's a fighter-plane, that's what she's meant to do.
KLES
You heard of metal fatigue?
DERO
Yeah, that's when San tears his skin!
SANNARO
Ha, ha. Houk, I've heard of metal fatigue. It's the strain metal gets when it's expanded and contracted after so many times of being heated and cooled.
KLES
That happens even in space, being shot out of a gravitational atmosphere into space and being heated by the exhaust of the engine and you turning this ship like it can just reverse itself on a wingtip.
SANNARO
Isn't that what you guys are for? If I survive a dogfight, you repair the ship so I can fight the next one.
KLES
Pilots.
DERO
Can't reason with them, Kles. They're insane anyway!
SANNARO
You still need my help?
KLES
Nui, go play your war games in your lounge, kid.
Kles said as he unclipped the plane and allowed the straps to roll back into the deck.
Sannaro turned toward the fore again to return to the lounge. As Sannaro walked across the flight deck to return to the pilot’s lounge, a message rang through the two-story deck.
KI'EL
Battle alert, battle alert, scramble Red and Yellow Teams.
SANNARO
A battle alert in orbit?
Sannaro turned on his heal and released his helmet from his pistol belt.
KI'EL
Unknown threats approaching from Regalis.
Sannaro climbed up his ladder and leapt into the cockpit. He brushed his hair behind his ears and pulled his helmet on. He locked it in place as Kles locked him into his harness. He flipped switches on his board and brought it to life.
Kles pulled the ladder away from the ship.
The pulley system pulled his ship forward onto the flight line and stopped it over the huge lighted rectangle.
Once two more of his wing-mates were on the rectangle, it clanged loudly and sank through the floor as klaxons blared.
It settled into the floor of the launch deck then his ship was pulled into the catapults.
The cat crew rushed around the landing gear to make sure his ship was secured in the catapult before they saluted him and ran to the safety area.
Sannaro watched the red light above the launch tube. It finally turned green and he was pushed into his seat. He fired his thrusters and screamed out into space below the nose of the Kumani.
END ACT 1
ACT 2
EXT – SANNARO'S COCKPIT - SPACE
NO'AMA (V.O.)
Pair off, Ha'iku and Dorvo, Cona and Sannaro. Eron, you're with me.
Sannaro swung to join Cona.
ERON (V.O.)
Sorry, Dia, this battle looks like it's going to be boring.
DI'ETA (V.O.)
Oh, I'll find some way to have fun.
An odd ship swept in toward Sannaro and fired.
Sannaro banked port and rolled back toward the threat. He slipped in behind the fighter and opened fire.
The ship wobbled to evade fire. The pilot went into an inside loop to come in behind him.
Sannaro went into a diving loop. He felt his blood pool in his head as he strained to pull in behind the threat. He leveled off and fired again.
The threat blossomed into a fireball.
As Sannaro looked around for a new threat, he saw that Dorvo had strayed far from the team and a bogy had swept in on Ha'iku. Ha'iku was a good shooter as long as he didn't have to do much fancy maneuvering and now he had a lock on him. He banked toward Red Team.
NO'AMA (V.O.)
No, Ha'iku! San, get that thing off Ha'iku!
Sannaro banked in behind Ha'iku's tailer.
The bogy was firing.
Ha'iku wobbled his wings and the volleys missed.
SANNARO
Mari, pull up!
The two shots slammed into Mari's Vizha'i. Red Leader tumbled and exploded.
Sannaro dropped his jaw Then he recovered and fired on the bogy.
NO'AMA (V.O.)
Breach in skirmish line! Tighten up!
HA'IKU (V.O.)
Nui, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to bank into Mari!
NO'AMA (V.O.)
Cut the chatter and get back in line, Ha'iku!
Sannaro saw his bogy pour on the speed towards the Kumani.
SANNARO
I need assistance, bogy heading to Kumani!
Sannaro opened his throttle almost to full and flew after the bogy.
The bogy let go two bombs and veered off.
Sannaro pulled around to follow the bomber.
NO'AMA (V.O.)
Nui, San, shoot the bombs, shoot the bombs!
Sannaro turned back around and sped after the bombs homing in on the Kumani's glowing hot engines. He shot and exploded one. Just as he was going to target the other, it impacted.
Sannaro's fighter plane bucked in the aftershock and he saw debris fly in all directions from the engine exploding. Sannaro watched the floating debris in shock.
NO'AMA (V.O.)
They're withdrawing. Saru, take over Red Team. Red and Yellow Team, retreat. San, you coming?
SANNARO
Coming.
He flipped his ship around and flew back to yellow team. His eyes blurred with tears, but he blinked them back.
He waited for his turn to land and followed the third landing strip into the retrieval deck. He sat numbly as the lift raised them back onto the maintenance deck and his ship was pulled back into the parking space. He heard the ladder bump against the fuselage and he popped his canopy.
He slowly climbed out and pulled his helmet off. He distractedly clipped it to his left side again. He allowed his sweaty hair to slip forward as he studied the deck, reluctant to look at any of his teammates.
NO'AMA
Everyone to the pilot's lounge.
Sannaro walked heavily to the pilot's lounge and sat down in an arm chair. He sat forward with his hair curtaining his face, still not wanting to look at anyone.
The others in the Team were also moping in various chairs. Di'eta wasn't even challenging anyone to a war game.
Eron had a billiard ball in his hands and was tossing it in the air. No one said a word until the intercom chime sounded. Eron answered the intercom.
NO'AMA (V.O.)
Yellow Team, report to Upper Flight Deck Pilot's Lounge immediately.
ERON
Let's go.
He dropped the billiard ball into a pocket and walked into the sitting room.
The others slowly followed Eron.
Sannaro reluctantly stood up, brushed his hair behind his ears again and joined his team at the door to the pilot's lounge.
As they walked across the deck, no one was particularly in a hurry to reach the elevators. They packed into the elevator and Eron called for the Upper Flight Deck.
The elevator door swept open and they walked slowly to the Upper Pilot's Lounge. They entered the first room and saw Red Team was already there. They fanned out and settled into empty seats.
Sannaro leaned against the wall with his hair in front of his face.
Filp bounded down the stairs with No'ama and Saru following.
FILP
That was supposed to be a small fight! Two luyaki teams against a half-dozen glued together trash ships and you let them get through?
SARU
I don’t know what happened. But those fighters seemed to know our tactics very well.
FILP
Alien, get your ikata hair out of your face and pay attention!
Sannaro flipped his hair out of his face.
FILP (CONT.)
You didn't vape that ikata that killed Mari and you let it get to the Kumani! That engine is disabled because of you! I should pull your wings for that!
Sannaro slid down the wall into a ball on the floor.
NO'AMA
I told Sannaro to break off from the bomber and target the bombs. It was my call. He followed orders.
Hadah came down the stairs.
HADAH
I don't think San did that bad, Filp. That bomber was good. His team was deliberately using tactics to draw everyone apart so they couldn't support each other. San did vape one bomb, so the damage to the Kumani was less than it could've been. The tactics that attack group did was incredible. I know all of you feel bad about it right now. We've got a team-leader dead, but we underestimated that attack group and it bit us. Filp, don't you think you should give Red and Yellow Teams the rest of the day off? They're both in shock.
FILP (PSI V.O.)
Why must you always defend that ikata alien?
HADAH (PSI V.O.)
Why must you be so hard on everyone? Give them a break! They tried their best, but they were out maneuvered!
FILP (PSI V.O.)
You win this time, Hadah, but there will be a day when that alien makes a mistake so big, even you won’t be able to defend him.
FILP
Right, Red, Yellow, you're dismissed for the rest of the day. Report as usual at o-nine-hundred.
DI'ETA
San, are you all right?
Di'eta squatted down in front of him.
He put his arms over his head.
NO'AMA
Eron, call Zhad.
Hadah squatted beside Sannaro and put his hand his on back.
Sannaro voiced a strangled cry, pushed Hadah’s hand away, jumped to his feet and leapt over a couch. He rushed into the bunk room at the rear of the lounge and ran into the shower room. Fully dressed, he turned the shower on at its coldest setting and plunged under. He gasped as the frigid water rushed over his head.
Hadah, No'ama and Di'eta entered the restroom, their eyes wide, at a loss for what to do.
He stepped out of the shower, dropped to the floor and shook uncontrollably.
Hadah reached for him again.
SANNARO
Don't touch me!
NO'AMA
San, will you give me your laser pistol?
Sannaro pulled it out and skittered it across the floor.
No'ama picked it up and held it by the barrel.
Zhad rushed in with a bag in his hands.
NO'AMA
Zhad, San's in overload. He won't let anyone touch him and he's freezing on the floor.
Zhad stepped carefully toward Sannaro.
ZHAD
Son, it's all right. You need to calm down. Hadah, get San a blanket.
Hadah rushed into the bunk room and returned with a blanket.
Zhad took it and held it out fully extended.
Sannaro looked at the blanket and thought how inviting the warmth was, but his mind was in turmoil. He stood up and plunged into the blanket, but pulled away from Zhad.
He fell to the floor again.
HADAH
San, you didn't do as badly as you think. Don't be so hard on yourself.
NO'AMA
San, we don't blame you for what happened. Ha'iku feels bad for flying into Mari. You were only trying to get that tail off him and the tail got a lucky shot. We're all upset because Mari died and the ship's damaged.
SANNARO
I know, Nomi! I'm an ikata telepath! I know everyone's sopa thoughts!
ZHAD
San, calm down and stop cursing. Hadah, No'ama, Di'eta, I think I need to be alone with my son.
DI'ETA
Maybe if he's having trouble with his telepathy again, we should put something around his ears?
SANNARO
Don't touch my ears!
ZHAD
Nui, Di'eta. Saili ears are so sensitive. Let me be with my son and I'll calm him down.
Hadah nodded for No'ama and Di'eta to follow him from the room. Soon it was just Zhad and Sannaro.
ZHAD
You've had a devastating day. Everyone's minds must be driving you crazy.
Sannaro nodded with his hands still over his ears. He pulled the blanket over his wet hair to warm his head.
ZHAD (CONT.)
You know, the tiled floor can't be too warm. Why don't we leave the Upper Flight Deck and get you home where you can get warm and have some privacy to work through your thoughts?
SANNARO
Filp wants to pull my wings!
ZHAD
Don't worry about that right now. Hadah and No'ama will work it out with Filp. Both Red and Yellow Teams had a bad day today and you're all feeling too much anxiety. Unfortunately, you're feeling everyone else's anxiety and it's got you overloaded. You need to rest and calm down. You're shivering despite your insulated flight suit and that's a combination of cold and nerves. I can give you a sedative when we get home and let you sleep for a while.
Sannaro slowly stood up and moved to Zhad.
ZHAD
Good. Let's go home.
Zhad walked beside him, but didn't touch him. Everyone watched him as he walked through the lounge with Zhad.
He bowed his head and his hair slipped across his face. He barely looked through the curtain of dark hair as they walked through the flight line to the elevator.
The elevator opened again on their floor and they walked quietly to the apartment.
Thankfully, everyone was gone, so he went straight to his bedroom.
Sannaro dropped the wet blanket across his bed.
Zhad helped Sannaro take the air tank off his back. He leaned the air tank against the wall beside the door.
He unbuckled his empty pistol belt and let it drop to the floor with a hollow thunk.
He stretched the flight suit neck over his shoulders, pulled it down to his waist and shivered now that the environmentally controlled suit was half off.
ZHAD
Sit down and I'll help you get your flight suit off you the rest of the way.
Sannaro sat on his bed.
Zhad pulled off Sannaro's boots, then pulled the stretchy fabric off his legs and set it into the laundry chute.
Sannaro pulled the blankets down and slipped into his bed, wearing just his underwear.
ZHAD
You aren't going to get dressed again?
SANNARO
I just want to be alone.
Zhad took the wet blanket off Sannaro's bed and put it into the laundry chute. He pulled out a syringe of sedative and injected the medicine into Sannaro's arm.
ZHAD
There, that should help your nerves.
SANNARO
Zhad, I thought when I came back from my uncle's, my life would become easier, but it isn't.
ZHAD
I wish I could help you, Sanna. If I could do something, I would. You just need to keep trying. Maybe someday things will ease for you.
GIOVANO (V.O.)
That's the day this place supernovas!
SANNARO
My father had faced an impossible situation on Regalis twelve years ago and it killed him. Will that happen to me too?
ZHAD
I honestly don't know, son. Take one day at a time.
Zhad left the room.
Sannaro balled up under his blanket and poured out his tears until the sedative overcame him and slipped him into unconsciousness.
INT. – NO'AMA'S OFFICE
No'ama studied a picture on the wall of her office while she was deep in thought.
She wiped tears off her face.
The door swept open and Hadah walked in.
HADAH
I was told you were still here. You're off, ko'ia. Go home.
NO'AMA
To what? My raging thoughts? To allow memories of a dear friend I'll never see again dominate my thoughts? There's too much to do,
Hadah.
HADAH
Let yourself grieve.
She laid her head on his shoulder and the pain blossomed into a sob. She cried for several minutes on his shoulder then pulled away from him.
NO'AMA
I've got to think about who I'm going to suggest to the Team-leaders for a replacement.
HADAH
Fausa, woman, you think young Sannaro's the only one on this ship who's overwhelmed by anxiety? You're not doing so well either. Give yourself some time!
NO'AMA
Death is a part of our job. It happens. We have to prepare for the next battle.
HADAH
Sure we do, but we still need to stop and allow ourselves to feel!
No'ama slammed her fist on her desk.
NO'AMA
Fausa, why did San have to fall apart at the debriefing?
HADAH
Filp was tearing him to shreds again. Don't you think it's hard enough on him that we're back where the whole luyaki thing began? We're at Regalis!
No'ama put her head in her hands.
NO'AMA
Fausa, why did San have to fall apart at the debriefing?
HADAH
Filp was tearing him to shreds again. Don't you think it's hard enough on him that we're back where the whole luyaki thing began? We're at Regalis!
No'ama put her head in her hands.
NO'AMA
That's right. The memories he has about this place must be terrible.
HADAH
He was born here. He nearly died here. How does he handle the nightmares in his head? He's a remarkable kid, but he expects so much from himself. He seems driven by so many demons and he's only nineteen years old.
NO'AMA
Fausa, I keep forgetting that's all he is, just a kid, but his performance in a Vizha'i is incredible for one so young. Hadah, I want to suggest him for Team-leader, but I don't know if the others will accept him because he lost it today.
HADAH
And no one else has lost it? I received a report from the hospital that Ha'iku was already in for sedatives too. Eron's biting people's head off all over ship. Saru's in the cafeteria drinking himself mindless. I'm about ready to go and take that alcohol from that man's hands and send him to the hospital for twenty-four hour observation! Ikku's on the upper deck playing billiards alone and won't talk to anyone. When they try to join him, he bites their heads off and tells them he wants to be alone. And you're burying yourself in work. The problem is we thought that battle was going to be easy because the ships were a ragtag mess. They were seriously prepared and they hurt us. Our pride is wounded and we're snapping at each other. It's easy to fault Sannaro for not vaping that bomber, but you told him to vape the bombs and let the bomber go. He followed your orders. We're forgetting that he vaped one of those bombs and reduced the devastation of the attack. No one else caught up with the fleeing attack group. That group had that attack planned very carefully to exploit our weakness. That wasn't Sannaro's fault, yet Filp jumped on him like it was. Come on, he's one of our youngest pilots! Let's give ourselves a few days to recover from this before we choose a new Team-leader Now, will you go home and relax? Why don't you go to Zhad for some sedatives too? Go home and sleep for a while.
No'ama sighed before she stood up, kissed him and walked from her office.
Hadah left No'ama's office and went back to the elevator. He called for it to go to the cafeteria. He walked into the busy room and looked around for Saru.
Saru was still in the corner with a glass of clear alcohol in his hands.
Hadah strode up to him and took the glass.
HADAH
That's enough, Saru.
SARU
Thas not nearly enough!
Saru bowed his head, pinched his nose and looked away.
HADAH
I think you need to come with me to the hospital, my friend.
SARU
Don't need the hospital. Need to-
His eyes teared. He shook his head and swiped his face with his sleeve. He reached for the glass again.
HADAH
Nui, my friend. You need a sedative and get some sleep. Alcohol is the last thing you need.
SARU
Mari shouldn't have died out there! Those ikata fausa shouldn't have been able to break our defenses! Now Mari's dead!
Saru buried his face in his hands and his body shook.
Hadah took his arm and helped him to stand.
HADAH
Come, Saru. You need help.
Saru pulled away and swung at Hadah's head.
Hadah ducked and pinned Saru's arms to his sides.
Saru collapsed against Hadah, sobbing inconsolably.
Hadah pulled him to the elevator.
Hadah left Saru at the hospital and returned to his office on the Upper Flight Deck.
FILP
Where have you been?
HADAH
Taking care of devastated pilots and making sure they get help for their grief. Red and Yellow Teams are mental wrecks right now. Your debriefing of them didn't help.
FILP
Their performances were embarrassing! I'm going to make both teams do extra training for this battle!
HADAH
Sure, make them do extra training, but their performance wasn't that bad! That attack group was devious. They planned that attack with incredible forethought. They meant to wound us and slip away. That's just what they did.
FILP
So, what's the rumor flying around about replacements?
HADAH
Come on, Filp! We haven't even had time to make a memorial for Mari, and you're worried about her replacement?
FILP
Defense first, Hadah.
HADAH
I’ve heard Ka'ila has been talking among the fighters about how she thinks she’s good enough to be the next team-leader.
FILP
Has she healed enough from her last injury?
HADAH
I’ve seen her still walking a bit stiffly. I’m not sure she is fully healed.
FILP
Is she still flying a spare Vizha'i while her’s is being rebuilt?
HADAH
It’s still a deck down in maintenance.
Filp frowned deeply.
HADAH
We could reinstate Kosi from shuttle leader back to fighter leader.
FILP
With only half of his muscles intact in one leg? I can’t risk his body not being up to the stress of battle.
HADAH
Well, No'ama's suggesting San for the sash. He has a healthy body.
FILP
Why can't I get away from that ikata alien? That luyaki pointed eared freak.
HADAH
Haven't you seen how San is always sensitive to people's needs? He's always helping out his fellow pilots and the engineers who work on his ship. He's congenial with everyone. He's definitely leadership material.
FILP
Why didn't he stay with the Saili?
HADAH
Because they rejected him. Where else can he go?
FILP
I don't care. His being here's just wrong.
HADAH
He's a good kid, Filp. He has a good heart.
FILP
Which one, his upper or lower one?
He pointed to his human heart and then poked his rib on the left side, just above the sternum.
HADAH
Filp, I'm not talking about anatomy.
FILP
I am. He's not Astrisi.
Filp walked back into his office.
HADAH
Well, then, good luck in your search for a team-leader.
Hadah went to his own office.
END ACT 2
ACT 3
As he settled in, the doorbell rang.
HADAH
Come in.
Cherna walked in with a grim look on her young face.
CHERNA
Hadah, don't let Filp take Sannaro's wings. It'll destroy him.
HADAH
That's why I joined the debriefing. I told Filp, San shouldn't get his wings pulled because no one else could've done any better in that situation. He's home now, getting some rest and so is the rest of his team. No one's being blamed for that battle. They were just outmaneuvered by a group that was well trained for this attack.
CHERNA
Are you sure? Filp seems to have a grudge against.
HADAH
You leave that up to me, you understand that?
CHERNA
Houk, Team-leader.
HADAH
All I can assure you is that San will not get his wings pulled over this incident. Now, how are you doing? I know you have a tendency to feel his emotions too with that marriage link you have with him.
CHERNA
San's having a hard time being near Regalis again.
HADAH
I thought so.
CHERNA
It was hard earlier when he was so overwhelmed. There was too much emotion, he couldn't endure being touched. You know when you touch him, you cause a direct link from your mind to his?
HADAH
So he jumped over the couch and doused himself with freezing water.
CHERNA
His emotions were more than he could take. Adding all of our emotions to his was too much, so he shocked himself to try to get himself back into control. I'm surprised he didn't give himself hypothermia, dousing himself in freezing water. He's so sensitive to cold.
HADAH
Houk, I can't understand how he can walk around wearing long sleeved sweatshirts all the time.
CHERNA
Saili think one hundred degrees is cool.
HADAH
I heard their planet's hot. So, how was it like to live with Saili on Belvas?
CHERNA
Most of the time, I only heard half their conversations because the other half was images they sent telepathically to each other. If they wanted to, they'd send images to me when they wanted me in the conversation. They're so telepathic. His Aunt was so kind, but his Uncle had trouble understanding him and they argued a lot. They argued about the clothes he liked to wear, how he spoke to his natural sister, whether he should go to school, why he did kata in the back yard. He felt like he couldn't do anything right. Then when Verano kidnapped him and tried to erase his mind, that was worse than murder! He was confused and couldn't remember who he or anyone else was. He forgot how to speak Basic and only spoke Astrisi!All he could remember was that he wanted to find Zhad and the Kumani. Uncle Devasru was so shocked his people would try to kill Sannaro, he thought it better for San to run away from the Saili and rejoin the Astrisi.
HADAH
That boy's had a tough life.
CHERNA
He just wants to find acceptance and people who will accept him for who he is.
HADAH
Who he is, is a very promising pilot and I will try every tactic I know to keep San from getting his wings pulled.
CHERNA
That's a relief.
HADAH
Now, did you finish those tasks I had you do today?
CHERNA
Houk, Team-leader.
HADAH
Good, you can relax down at the lounge until the end of shift.
Hadah pulled a gun out of a drawer of his desk.
HADAH
Please return this weapon to Sannaro.
Cherna accepted the gun and nodded before she stepped out of the office.
INT – SANNARO'S BEDROOM
Sannaro woke up again when he heard his computer chime that there was an incoming message. He stood up from his bed, moved to the computer and sat down. He opened the channel.
SANNARO
Houk?
KI'EL
Oh, you were sleeping?
SANNARO
Houk, what do you have for me?
KI'EL
It's a personal message from Regalis sent to the Kumani instead of straight to you. You want to see it?
SANNARO
Houk, route it to my computer. I'll take the message.
KI'EL
It's only written so it's in email format.
SANNARO
Okay.
His computer chimed that he had an email message.
SANNARO
Fa'arata, Ki'el.
KI'EL
Sorry for waking you.
SANNARO
That's all right.
Sannaro cut the line.
He opened the message.
Dear Aurum Sannaro Damirateyak, Robert Werner, President of the Bristol Camp Attack Survivors Group requests your attendance tomorrow, January 4th, 2157 at 1:00pm, Regalis Mountain Time at Werner's Engineering Supply. It was a shock to our group when we learned a few years ago you showed up again at Belvas after ten years of being reported missing. Because you are a fellow survivor of this tragedy, we would be interested in a discussion with you concerning your unique perspective on the incident. Sincerely yours, Robert Werner.
Sannaro opened a channel back to Central Communications.
KI'EL
Oh, ki'iwa, San. What can I do for you?
SANNARO
Is Lazha on the bridge?
KI'EL
Houk, she is.
SANNARO
Can I talk to her?
KI'EL
I'll ask her.
Lazha appeared on screen.
LAZHA (PSI V.O.)
Oh, nice view, San! Those pecs look very nice and buff, boy!
LAZHA
What do you want to tell me?
Sannaro blushed and flipped his hair in front of his face.
LAZHA
Oops, you picked up my thought. Well, that's what you get for calling me half dressed!
He swept his hair behind his ears again.
SANNARO
I got a message from Regalis. The Bristol Camp wants me to meet with a survivor's group for a discussion. Can I attend it?
LAZHA
At what time?
SANNARO
Thirteen hundred Regalis Mountain Time.
LAHZA
I'm glad you're meeting with some of your townspeople again, San. It'll give you and them an opportunity to settle things about that incident.
SANNARO
I hope that bringing the Astrisi side of the situation will defuse some defensiveness any of the survivors have toward the Astrisi.
LAZHA
That would benefit you and the Kumani both. I approve. I'll tell Filp you're flying down with him.
SANNARO
Wait, Filp? He's flying the shuttle tomorrow?
FILP
That's right. It'll be okay, San. Hadah talked Filp out of pulling your wings and I supported him. No one would've prevented what happened any better than you did. And don't you worry about the scene in the bunk room shower. You're not the only pilot who fell apart after that fight.
SANNARO
I'm not?
LAZHA
Nui, Ha'iku, No'ama, Eron, Saru and Ikku all had to visit the hospital to get help for their anxiety too.
SANNARO
Fa'arata Lazha. I need to get off with you and get dressed. I'm shivering from a chill.
LAZHA
You take care, San.
The screen went blank.
Sannaro stood up, dressed into a pair of black pants and pulled on his favorite maroon colored sweatshirt. He pulled on a pair of soft black slippers. He went back to his computer, turned on a rapid paced hard rock song and went back to his bed. He turned on his hand held computer to the book he was reading. He leaned against his bed board, crossed his legs and read. He didn't feel like being around other people's minds for the rest of the day.
INT. – FILP'S OFFICE
Filp was doing the last items so he could finish for the night when the computer chimed. He opened the line.
FILP
Filp.
Lazha looked at him from the screen.
LAZHA
I've got a co-pilot for you on your flight tomorrow. San has some business down on Regalis he wants to do.
FILP
Why did you have to saddle me with that metal freak? He should have stayed with the Saili.
LAZHA
Have a heart, Filp! The boy was nearly killed by the Saili!
FILP
He's danunka. He should have stayed danunka. Let his uncle handle it. He was so eager to do it at first.
LAZHA
How would you like it if violence was brought to your family because they wanted to punish a foster child you just picked up? You're a widower with one child.
FILP
Keep my personal life out of this.
LAZHA
Can't you see beyond the shiny yellow-gold skin and the twice pointed ears? He's a sweetheart, Filp. He doesn't want the violence that seems to follow him when he's away from the Astrisi!
FILP
Astrisi don't adopt people who aren't Astrisi! You're changing all that and I don't like it.
LAZHA
Belso began it first by not allowing us to drop San off at a colony where he could get medical treatment. The rest of us couldn't bear to see that boy all lumpy with scar tissue from his severe burns. He was only seven years old, Filp! Would you have wanted your child burned that badly? It's agonizing!
FILP
No. I have to go, got a few things more to do before I stop for the night.
LAZHA
See you in the morning.
The screen blanked.
FILP
Why did Dina have to die and you didn't, Lazha? Lina needed her mother.
He tidied his desk and left for the night.
INT. – SANNARO'S BEDROOM
The next morning, Sannaro woke up and took a shower before he dressed in black pants and a teal blue sweatshirt. He found his stiffer civilian boots he kept around in case he was grounding out of uniform and pulled them on. He looked at his pistol belt and wished he could wear it, but then he reminded himself he was going to Regalis for a discussion. He walked out of his room and almost bumped into Tanei.
SANNARO
Whoa, Tanei, stop running.
Ahdri rushed behind her.
AHDRI
You bothersome little rat! Give that to me!
Sannaro snatched the plastic case from Tanei's hands.
SANNARO
We're going to get a sound disruption citation!
TANEI
What? Sanna!
Sannaro opened the plastic case and saw it was a cake of makeup.
AHDRI
Sanna, give it to me!
SANNARO
Does chali know you have this?
AHDRI
Of course she does. Give it, Sanna!
SANNARO
Maybe I should give this to Cherna to show Adara when she comes back from her pottery shop?
Ahdri stomped her foot.
AHDRI
You stink, big brother!
SANNARO
Nui, I don't. I just took a shower.
Ahdri jumped at it.
Sannaro whirled around and danced a few steps away from her.
She lunged toward Sannaro.
Cherna plucked the case from Sannaro's hands.
CHERNA
Oh, now you're going to get a sound disruption citation, too!
Sannaro chuckled and slipped away from Ahdri.
Ahdri sprawled across the couch.
CHERNA
I'll watch this until I can show it to Adara.
SANNARO
Good. I need to get to the Upper Flight Deck.
Sannaro kissed Cherna quickly on the mouth and swept from the apartment.
AHDRI
Ooh, I’m going to tell Chali that you kissed Cherna!
SANNARO (PSI V.O.)
Go ahead. It’s only one more day till my birthday anyway!
Cherna rushed out into the hall with the laser he had surrendered the other day in her hands.
CHERNA
I was told to return this to you.
SANNARO
Please place it in my lock box. I need to get to my shuttle.
Cherna nodded and returned to the apartment.
He went to the elevator and told it to go to the Upper Flight Deck.
The elevator went up.
The door opened and he turned to the right. Near the lift, a shuttle was being prepared to leave.
Sannaro walked toward it and saw Filp was standing near the ramp.
SANNARO
Ki'iwa, Filp.
FILP
What are you doing here?
SANNARO
I'm going with you. I have business on Regalis.
FILP
I know you do. Why do you think answering some stupid questions will make any difference? Who cares what they think?
SANNARO
They're just trying to come to understand what happened, just like I have! The more they know about what really happened there, the more people will forgive the Astrisi for what happened!
FILP
Why do I care what worlders think?
SANNARO
Because we need them for supplies we can't make ourselves on board! We can't alienate them, Filp!
METEI
Makes sense to me.
FILP
Who asked you, engineer?
METEI
You're the one arguing on the deck for all to hear.
FILP
Is the shuttle ready to go?
METEI
Houk, it is. You can take off any time.
FILP
Let's go.
Filp and Sannaro walked into the cockpit, sat down and strapped himself into the co-pilot's seat. He pulled on the earphones and began to prepare his board for flight.
A minute later, Filp raised the shuttle off the deck and hovered it to the lighted rectangle.
They heard a loud clang and the lift raised off the deck.
Sannaro watched them rise into the Upper Retrieval Deck and the lift clanged loudly again.
Filp warmed up the engines for a minute then flew it out into space. He turned the shuttle over the huge engines and angled toward Regalis.
Sannaro felt his stomach tighten again. He closed his eyes and struggled to settle his stomach again. Once he was calmer, he opened his eyes again and checked his board.
FILP
You okay there, kid? I know you usually don’t look green.
SANNARO
I didn't think it would be this hard to go back. I was born here.
FILP
If the pain's too much, I'll turn around and take you back to the Kumani.
SANNARO
Nui, I need to do this. I need to face my past.
FILP
Just don't vomit on my control board.
SANNARO
I know where the flight sickness bags are.
FILP
Okay. Astrisi shuttle 5 to Regalis Central Flight Control. Request approach to Regalis for coordinates 725463.6, over.
FLIGHT CONTROL
Roger, Astrisi shuttle 5. Enjoy your visit to Regalis, out.
FILP
This mudball?
Sannaro chuckled.
FILP
Why'd your father settle on this world anyway?
SANNARO
He needed a job. He was taking odd jobs around the Alliance so he could travel around and see the different colonies, but the mining company kept a choke hold on their workers by indenturing them too much to leave.
FILP
Ni'yaroi.
SANNARO
Houk, ikata ni'yaroi. My father wanted to leave, but they gave us so little money, we could barely afford to feed ourselves.
FILP
So Zhad didn't make you a wimpy goody boy?
SANNARO
He tried. Sometimes he thinks I'm too spirited for him. My parents thought I was too spirited, too. They'd been frustrated with me.
FILP
You can be a frustrating kid.
SANNARO
I know.
FILP
I'm starting final approach.
Sannaro returned his attention to his control board.
Filp set the shuttle to hover over a large warehouse with the letters Werner's Engineering Supply written on the roof.
SANNARO
This is where I'm supposed to go for the discussion!
FILP
This is also the place to get the supplies to fix the damaged engine.
Filp set the shuttle down on the black tarmac made especially for landing crafts. He shut down the system and hit the button for the hatch to open and the ramp to lower. They stood up and went to the hatch.
FILP
Good luck, kid.
They stepped onto the ramp.
As Sannaro touched his boot to the ramp, searing pain surged through him. He arched his back as he was wracked by spasms.
Ahead of him, he saw Filp falling to the ramp in uncontrolled spasms as energy danced around his body.
Sannaro forced his legs to move to the edge of the ramp. He screamed in pain and anguish and fell off the ramp. He landed on the tarmac on his right shoulder.
More energy poured through his shoulder and he screamed again.
He rolled on his back and felt his sight dim. As much as he tried to remain conscious, his body was a mass of screaming nerves. His vision finally dimmed and he slipped into unconsciousness.
FADE OUT.
THE END