Fifteen
Kion was frantically looking for his superior. Everywhere was in chaos as batches of soldiers boarded mother ships to evacuate the planet of Vita. Kion took large steps as he searched for his master with urgency.
"Lieutenant Milan,' Kion walked up to an older man barking orders at the sweating recruits lifting boxes filled with artillery weapons.
"Where is the commander?' Kion questioned hurriedly. Milan turned and saluted.
"He was with the general an hour ago; he went towards the lab after that,' Milan raised an eyebrow. "Any problem?
"I need to know where he is,' Kion huffed like a child throwing a tantrum. "There is an unbelievable crisis ongoing, and he is nowhere to be seen.
"Come on, the commander is not a child,' Milan shook his head with his hands crossed. "With the way you tail him now and then, he must be tired of your presence.
"You don't understand,' Kion pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I'll go to the lab to search for him. The mother ship is already set for departure. Another delay in this doomed place, we will become food for the Crokuns.
"Whatever you say, captain,' Milan saluted as he watched Kion walk away.
Meanwhile, under the trembling underground basement. Asier unhurriedly packed experimental tubes into crates while Misha stood to the side, watching.
"Aren't we supposed to release the other people in the cell,' Misha asked worriedly, to which Asier ignored as he dragged the movable crates to the door.
"The base will be attacked in twelve minutes. Papa made it clear that we should head to the mother ship before him.
"You said so yourself, this place will be in chaos soon, don't you think that leaving all those people here is a bit too much?' Misha tried to reason with him. For the past few weeks he was here, the faces of humans and creatures that were captured were unbearable to look at.
"You think when that cell opens, we will be safe? Will yoube safe?' Asier tilts his head curiously. "Your neck will be the first thing they will go after. The hatred and grief within their soul will manifest to devour you.
"But…
Misha helplessly sighed. "So, there is nothing we can do about it?'
"We?' Bold of you to assume that your stupidity is a shared trait,' Asier sneered as he turned to leave.
Misha's heart tightened. It wasn't just the hurtful words anymore; It was the way the six-year-old said them – without a hint of a smile. He felt prickling shame behind his eyes, suddenly realizing that in his brother's world, he wasn't viewed as a human; he was a project gone wrong.
The basement shuddered, and the earth groaned beneath the underground room. Misha gritted his teeth as he made his way to the opposite door to free those trapped within the collapsing basement. A heavy rain of white dust falling from the rafters above slowly filled the empty room.
...
The Unified Federation base was collapsing at an alarming rate. Bram was the last to enter the ship. Inside, everyone was present, including his Asier. He suddenly felt the peace slowly settle within his mind.
Five more minutes before the Crokuns arrived. This was enough time for them to disappear before that happens. His eyes narrowed to the suspicious commander conversing with his Adjutant.
This man looked familiar, and at the same time, he wasn't. Back in the underground, the man approached him with a dangerous glint in his eyes, and he gave a faint smile that masked his agenda.
The man said he was the commander; however, he knew something was off somewhere. And Nuit has suddenly muted his running mouth ever since they encountered the commander.
"BRAM!!
'Speak of the devil,' Bram rolled his eyes. "What is it now?'
Nuit wheeled towards Bram. "Don't close the hatch yet, Misha is missing!
Bram raised an eyebrow, his hand hovering over the keypad. He turned over to Asier, who sat obediently, appearing bored with the rowdy space.
"The fool wants to play hero,' Asier simply stated.
Everyone understood what that statement was implying.
"He dug his own grave,' Bram tsk, as he turned to press the keypad. They don't have much time. He is not going to let some failed product drag him around. There are so many things to be done, the cure, the mystery of the Crokuns, and lastly the Bratva clan.
"He is your son, right?' The commander stepped forward, his gaze stern and filled with disappointment.
"What of it?' Bram faced him; his indifference was disturbing. "If I decide to save that thing, then we all die.
"Bram, please,' Nuit almost felt like crying. This lunatic was willing to leave Misha behind.
"No one is moving this ship till I get back, the commander quietly ordered, his intense gaze startled Bram.
He cast a teleportation spell and disappeared. Bram stood there awkwardly, staring at the place where the commander had disappeared.
"I knew you would act like this,' Nuit was vexed. "But Misha is your child. You can't keep treating him like an item. He didn't deserve this; he didn't ask to be born, especially to you.
"Says the hypocrite who deliberately let a horde of monsters feast on six of his children out of revenge,' Bram yelled back. "Don't speak to me about parenting when you are worse than me. You chose to give birth to six lives and then ended them to satisfy your anger and grief within you. I never wanted kids, I hate them, but guess what happened, I was forced to have one, and it turned out to be useless. The reason Misha is still alive is that it would be a disgrace for something I gave life to die a stupid death.
Nuit fell silent, watching Bram express his anger for the first time. Yes, what he said was hurtful; however, Bram had reached his boiling point to spew every bit of resentment he had. It was a sight to see.
"I admit what I did in the past is unreasonable,' Nuit scoffed. "But Misha is different.
Everyone stood feeling the tense atmosphere. Even Tan felt it as he sat by the control panel.
"I don't care,' Bram stated, regaining his composure. "I will fly this ship out of here, and no one will stop me.
"Mr. Ashford, I suggest you stand down,' Kion walked forward, sweat coating his forehead.
"Make me,' Bram glared.
...….
The commander appeared in front of the cell, which was supposed to be filled with prisoners and test subjects. However, the cell contained only one person.
The feeling to protect suddenly overwhelmed him. Lifting and pushing off the stones that blocked the cell, he broke the cell door with just his hands. Rushing inside, he knelt and picked up the broken and battered body of his son.
"Misha, the commander called out softly. Misha slowly opened one of his swollen eyes. Hot tears rolled down his dirty cheek. His body was covered in blood. Some of his bones were sticking out of his body.
"It's alright, the commander rocked him slowly. "Everything is going to be alright.
He hadn't felt such anger, such resentment for a long time.
Maybe it's because Misha is his son, and he can't do anything about it to avoid raising suspicions of the Bratva and the celestials.
For now, he has to lie low. But Bram is pushing his luck.
Snarling sounds could be heard from a distance. Teleporting now would harm the little boy in his arms, so he decided to trade carefully.
He could hear screams coming from the front. The commander's hand tightened. The Corkuns are here. Knowing Bram's personality, by now the ship is gone.
He ran as fast as he could, stopping himself before he could reveal himself to a Crokun that was munching on one of the prisoners.
"H-Help! Please help me….
The screams were sharp. Other prisoners ran in another direction without waiting for their fellow inmate.
'These are the low lives that did this to his child,' The commander stared viciously at the hall where the prisoners disappeared to.
From the corner he hid, watching. Every exit was blocked with no way out. And he can't fight off this Crokun with his son in his arms.
He manifested his ice sword, placing Misha on the side. Raising his sword, he attacked the Crokun, who sensed his attack.
With a lip, it bounced back.
This Crokun seems to be intelligent, as it gave the commander an eerie smile.
The commander smiled back in disgust as he ran forward.
The fight was not an ordinary one; however, the commander had the upper hand. Floating in the air, he swung his sword to the Crokun's neck, slicing it off cleanly.
Black greenish liquid splashed around, giving off a very rotten smell. The commander wiped the liquid off his sword, turning immediately to Misha, only to see a deformed Crokun slowly making its way towards the boy.
He was far from him.
'No…...
The animalistic instinct of his nature took hold of him as he sped towards the limping boy.
He knew he was late, if only…
There stood a figure he never dreamt would appear.
The Crokun slumped to the dusty ground. The commander watched as Bram clutched Misha to his chest with fear in his eyes.
His beautiful whiteish pupils were glowing strangely. His lustrous black curls sway in the wind.
"Korvus!