Stellar Saviors

forth chapter

    I woke up to the lights shining straight into my eyes. I was disoriented as I sat up. My hand immediately reached up to rub over my eyes. I was in my quarters. In my bed. How did I get my quarters.
     I could remember everything so why was I here. It couldn't have been a dream. No, the door being opened confirmed that. Plus the coldness covering my nose as well. I raised a finger to run over it. A stain of black coated my finger when I checked it. Strange...
    With my feet planted firmly to the ground I slowly stood up and began for the door. Maybe it was all just a dream and the Shakall will be in the hall.
    When I made it to the frame I could see very clearly no Shakall nor human was in the hall. Nobody was behind the counters. No body occupied the other rooms. I didn't dare check the Golden Ones office. Nobody made any sign that they had been here.maybe nobody was in the tower then. People still had work though, they had to. I can just check outside, someone will be there.
    impatiently I pressed for the elevator tapping my folt on the froun. I didn't like this sort of lonliness. At night it was peaceful but not when you were expecting a busy rower. I haven't had a lonely day in  26 years. It was always a Shakall or the Golden One monitoring me during the years.
     The Golden One. Another shudder crept through my body from the images rewinding in my head. 26 years and that was the first time I heard an audible voice from him. It has to be a dream 85 just has to be. I should've checked the windows, how could I have forgotten? Too late now, the elevator doors slid open.
     In the middle the familiar golden helm sat. That's his. Why's it here. I stepped into the small space and took the helmet into my hands. I looked at my reflection through its shiny surface. There black smeared over my nose. Ink? I couldn't eun think about what It might be. Now I just needed to get to ground floor.
    When the doors opened once more I was in the lobby. The doors and windows, revealing outside, were definitely shattered. Cautiously I stepped towards the exit, my eyes scanning for any sign of movement.
     I did find a few. Groups of scattered humans, a couple shakall, some were tied up others not. There were also people who looked like that man I saw last night, though their horns were multiple and curved backwards or some other direction. they had visible pupils too, I noticed. His must've blended with eyes.
    I tiptoed over the glass, despite having shoes, I didn't want to be loud. A nearby Shakall noticed me,an unfamiliar expression of caution spread over their features. Their arms raised with a gun in their grip, pointing it at me.
    "Halt, how come you were still in the tower, why do you have that helm with you," they demanded, moving the gun as they spoke. One of the other species walked up. A female. She had lengthy horns that curled outward and braided hair. I noticed on any of their kind, they all had a shade of silver hair. She raised a hand to the Shakall then made her way to me. Tall. So very tall she was.
     "Beacon of Rebirth mentioned you'd still be inside. He hoped you'd take the helm. You can follow me, you and your people are safe now," she assured in a soothing voice. Her eyes were yellow. I didn't like that. She reached a hand out for the helm.
    Something inside me screamed and I pulled the helm back with a quickness. One of its spikes poked at my chest. The lady didn't seem fazed by my actions. The shakall however, raised their gun once again. Her head tilted over and I noticed diamond shaped earrings hanging from her ears as well as many holes punched symmetrical on each side.
     Appearances lost their beauty many years ago. I could only care to shave and cut my hair under the Shakall rule. Things like Jewelry, makeup, Style become old trends. Confidence was lost when the shakall arrived.
     This lady and last nights stranger both had piercings and jewelry. I wonder if it was a common thing among their species.
She was expecting me to follow her. Will She hurt me if I don't? If not her then will the Shakall. Like how the maniacs threw the pillars for the Golden One. What did I have to lose at this point, if they're not true I could always end it.
    I gave a quick nod and she tuned to begin lead. I had no clue where we'd go. Without a thought in mind I clung to the helm.

    We boarded a ship a while ago and I learned the ladies name- Her people called her "Beacon of Afterlife" a title for one of their warriors. Her actual name, she preferred the humans to call her was Lolti. Truthfully she was quite nice, She hasn't tried to take the helm from me since that first time. Shes been talking to me this entire flight as well. The loneliness, I felt early is slowly fading.
    I learned the rebellion didn't start with the Khagveks, their species, landing on our planet. Humans in other colonies had banded together to overtake the Shakall sector by sector. The arrival of the Khagveks just helped the homens tremendously. They have valuable machinery and immense strength.Lolti mentioned the Khagvek mothership received a signal from a Shakall radio which informed them of the humans distress, A shakall had sent the signal.
    When the rebellion spread more Shakall joined them and aided which is why I only saw a few tied up.
    Majority of Lolti's people were still on their mothership, only a certain amount of their troops were sent to our planet to help.So for all of the colonies have been liberated, mine was the last. They're still trying to send the Shakall to their origin which Lolti says has been the difficult port. For now, she and her people want to hear the invasion from us humans. They pity us, she says.Pity, is the last thing I want. Though I should expect it, people deserve it. They've had it multiple times harder than me.
   For now, maybe I can give back to them. Regain their trust. If that is even possible.
     "We should be nearing the colony now, Beacon of Rebirth should be here," Lolti spoke that name again, regaining my attention. The beacons names are for their warriors, which was her position. She kept mentioning that name as if I'd known it. That beacon knew I was in the tower, could it be...
    "Who's the Beacon of Rebirth,"a ghostly voice questioned. I was shocked to hear it was mine. It had been so long since I wasn't repeating someones words or sharing a message through a monotone voice. This time it was my own. Luckily, Lolti didn't seem put off by my lack of volume.
     "Beacon of Rebirth, we also call him Leader of The Fight, is our strongest in battle. He was sent to execute the Shakall leader after he refused surrender. We tried many different approaches, it was a no from him every time," Lolti explained pointing to a flyer on the wall. There was a circle of 7 figures on it, each with a set of distinct horns and lengthy hair. The top figure only had one horn and full blue eyes. Lolti's finger tapped that specific person's drawing. "Beacon of Rebirth,"she confirmed.
    His image matched the stranger I saw last night. There was a highlight on the jewelry he wore. Layered necklaces, a circle going between his nostrils, a widened lobe plugged with a silver jewel. His tattoos were in blue on the flyer while in person I remembered them to be black.
    "The tattoos, are they your language. "I questioned, lifting a hand to point in the flyers direction. Lolti lifted her sleeve in response revealing a sleeve of similar tattoos.
    "The tattoos connect my people to our ancients, the wise and powerful. Those of that time left symbols with their individual meaning. When put together they have meaningful messages that all of our people can recognize," Lolti explained. "Beacon of Rebirth has 'fight' under his left eye and 'defend' under his left. Due to his status as a warrior, he has to be an image of power," Lolti traced over the tattoos on the flyer as she spoke.
    A warrior. That explained why he did that to the Golden One. The image stayed in my mind now, the spear wedged into his torso. The both expression on both their faces. The Golden Ones voice.
    I knew for the most part I should be glad. My people are free,and hopefully they'll be helped now.Could the Khagveks truly help though? Even after the force they've shown. It was force against the Shakall, not my people. I had to remind myself. The Khagvek haven't done anything wrong. But they could.