The Splintered

Journey or Destination?

Hera neighed about two clicks from the barn so I decided to tie her reins to the tree and walk the rest of the way.

"You said abomination, what do you mean?"

"Abominations are creatures that used to be humans, instead of dying from the virus they turned into vicious creatures who attack anything and everything..."

I slowed up once we reached the entrance of the barn something felt different, but I couldn't place it.

"So if you didn't die, and you didn't become an abomination, what are you?"

Ezra asked as I unsheathed my katana, gripping the hilt I said.

"One thing at a time greene."

Kicking the door open I held my sword up in an offensive stance, tbh all of my stances have become shades of Botan's teachings but they work well enough. I didn't see anything with the naked eye.

"Ezra, open the other doors."

"Got it."

He replied opening the other set of barn doors to let in some more light. I bumped into something invisible then had an idea.

"Ezra, come here."

"What?"

"Reach out in front of you."

Ezra raised his eyebrow but I raised my own to tell him I was serious, then said.

"Blame your amnesia, I need to know you won't be a danger to me or my warriors."

"Ever since I met you it's always about ultimatums."

Ezra reached out his hand something like static shock ran over it making him flinch, but a mini oval alien ship became visible. The only reason I didn't chop his head off right then was that the ship let off a tiny pulse that didn't go past the barn but engulfed Ezra and me.

Anthony?

I blinked up to see myself in my female form, suddenly I puked blood. The tip of my fingers was covered in it making me shudder in fear.

Ezra...

Another memory not my own glitched into my mind, it was Ezra's right after the ship picked him up.

Screams

He was tortured day and night with electricity, or he was injected with different alien cells to see if he would die. Somehow someway he didn't before he was sent to the main alien planet. The alien tasked with watching got too comfortable, Ezra used his powers to eliminate him and set a course for earth. I was skeptical as to how he was able to jump into what I perceived as light speed without pursuit, but he made it to earth. The alien wasn't quite dead yet and Ezra truly got him the second time but it damaged the controls making re-entry complicated, to say the least. He crashed into this barn, and inadvertently I ended up saving his life since a few days earlier I and my warriors cleared the abominations from the area. Making this a particular coincidence.

...

Hey, please don't be dead-

I coughed awake feeling like I went into anaphylactic shock, but I was alive shaking my head to get my coordination straight. My helmet was blown off I mean of course it was. Ezra was giving me a look of pity but also betrayal, he helped me up but said.

"Why did you lie to me?"

Saved by my walkie talkie I turned to listen.

"Commander are you there? Over."

I pressed the PTT button and replied.

"I'm here. Over."

Then let go of the button.

"Camp is running smoothly don't worry, everyone was wondering if you were eaten or killed. Over."

I chuckled before pressing PTT again saying before I released it.

"I appreciate that. I'm good on my way back to you with the civilian. Over."

"Roger that. Over."

I turned back to Ezra, looking him up and down he still wanted an answer so I told him bluntly.

"Emotions are for the weak. If I told you I was your long-lost girlfriend, you would have tried to become more than you are now."

"And what's that?"

"A selfish boy with daddy issues."

I retorted. Ezra closed his mouth finally as I moved back out to Hera. Petting her head, Ezra climbed onto her still keeping that blessed silence. Climbing on myself halfway down the mud road he went.

"You experienced pain to the point that your heart never recovered. I'm here to tell you I'm not giving up on you."

"It's a lost cause. You've seen my memories."

"No one is ever truly gone."

Ezra finished I scoffed but I didn't have a reply to that. Once back at camp, I dropped Ezra off at the regular civilian tent then rode over to mine which was ironically the smallest out of the whole camp. A few papers were on my desk, I had three seniors who kept tabs on everything on the camp. Once I tied and fed Hera, I slid down into my office-like chair shuffling my eyes over the numbers. Rations were about 35, we needed 20 more. Discipline out of a scale of one to ten was 9 which was good. Any true trouble makers are either kicked from camp or battle. A square of the earth was free from abominations I could tell you I was proud but I'd be lying. Well-being, which is specifically catered to any civilians living within the camp is good too. I only let civilians go once they've learned how to defend themselves and proctor food safely from the woods or care for river water etc.

"Commander, permission to state my case?"

Lifting my gaze to his salute I nodded saying.

"As you were."

"Sir, the civilian you brought in is shaky. Very interested in only talking to you."

Rolling my eyes I replied.

"Tell him I'll talk once the need arises."

"Yes sir."

Once that warrior left another warrior who saved me when I first acquired my speed, came in with a plate of food covered in wrapping paper.

"Sir I have dinner."

"Place it on my chair."

Stitch did so while giving me a small courtesy.

"No rest for the weary commander?"

"Not at all."

We shared a small chuckled before she officially left my tent.