Orders and Conscience: An Among Us Fanfiction

Prologue

"K'dela, stop making us look like fools!" Umbitr hissed.

"It's not 'making us look like fools,' it's 'being excited for Tal'nera," K'dela hissed back. "It's his first mission, and he's coming back today!"

"Yeah," Umbitr grumbled, "in pieces."

"Set valth nar, Umbitr!"

"Don't you dare say that ever again," Umbitr warned.

"Tal'nera's our best friend, why are you saying these things about him?"

Umbitr didn't respond, instead leaning forward and grunting. Which was something that K'dela took as an invitation to not press any more than she already had. Umbitr, while fiercely defensive, could just as easily turn on his loved ones. Even his only remaining family, if it came to it. Orders above all, that's what they've been taught.

They waited for another ten minutes, then were approached by their teacher, Vac'shar, whose reputation preceded him. "Tal'nera has returned, but wounded. Umbitr-vor, K'dela-vor, you both have been ordered on the next possible mission, with me as your guide. But first, I must show you something. Come."

Vac'shar leapt away from them and nodded his head. Umbitr flew up and landed squarely on K'dela's shoulders. Figures. The older sibling's natural form was a hawk and the younger sibling gets the wolf. K'dela let out a small sigh and followed Vac'shar.

"Is Tal'nera going to be alright?" K'dela asked, more for Umbitr's sake than her own. When Vac'shar didn't respond, she grew quite worried. "Ethbril-Vac'shar?"

"Quiet, K'dela," Umbitr said, pecking at her ear. She winced at the pain, but held her tongue. "You remember the last time you pressed."

"He's lost the ability to change into anything but his natural form," Vac'shar finally replied. He nudged them into a room where scientists in a humanoid form were working on a very deformed bird-of-prey. Loud, ear-pricing shrieks filled the room as the scientists worked. K'dela was filled with a sudden horror, and when she glanced up, she saw Umbitr shaking in disbelief and rage. The only thing that Tal'nera had ever wanted to do was to go on missions, and now he wouldn't be able to do that. "The injuries were sustained after he was discovered by the humans. Maybe in a long time, he'll be able to regain his ability to shape-shift, but for now, he will never go on another mission again.

"Our orders are simple. Infiltrate a crew. Spy for a few days, then come out with full force and kill them all, disable them if necessary. You two have been working on your English, yes? You'll need it. Remember, follow orders, don't get caught, and above all, keep in mind that this is for Tal'nera. This. Is. Revenge."

"Revenge," Umbitr and K'dela echoed. Vac'shar gave a curt nod and left, giving K'dela a meaningful look as he did so. She gulped, that look wasn't good...

"I will avenge you, Tal'nera," Umbitr whispered. K'dela glanced up and saw determination kindling again in his eyes. After their parents' deaths, he had never had that same spark since. "I swear it."

"For Tal'nera," K'dela growled, wincing internally as their friend let out another blood-curling scream.

"For vengeance," Umbitr replied, digging his talons in. K'dela let out a small groan of pain and he let up. "Can you..."

"Give you space? Yes, Brother." K'dela let Umbitr jump off and made to walk out of the room.

"I told you not to do this..." she heard Umbitr whisper as she walked out. "Oh, Tal'nera..."

K'dela shook her head. Following orders, or not following orders, was probably the real reason behind this. It wasn't likely that a human inflicted this much damage. But there was nothing that she could do except for keep her mouth shut and be the good younger sibling.

After all, Umbitr's life might depend on it.