Quadrant 10

Chapter 1: Ben

I was blind, unseeing, unmoving, my limbs stiff and unwilling to accept what I had just done.

My hands were covered in dark red blood, still warm. My clothes had been torn and stained, revealing the gashes and bruises which I bore. Thoughts controlled me as I ceased to stand, collapsing in a heap at the feet of the body. My shoulders shook as unheard sobs forced themselves from me, and I sunk lower as each cry burst forth from my body.

I'm not quite sure how long I lay there, sprawled out, clutching the cold and stiff body, which had just hours ago been fun of life, put joy and euphoria.

Every so often I would steal a glance up at him, looking almost reverently into his now cold eyes.

This is what brought me the most sadness for seeing those eyes becoming lifeless and still brought me down.

Never has there been such eyes as Ben's.

They were bright, vivacious, and had an impeccable glow to them. They were deeply colored, not blue, or green, but violet. Dark and powerful.

To see them lifeless and staring up at the ceiling, brought a searing pain to my chest.

After my sobs had subsided into small whimpers, and my eyes less swollen and puffy, I ever so carefully leaned over and gently drew Ben's eye lids over his lifeless purple orbs, and stifled my cries. I forced myself to asses the damage around us, the temple was empty and chunks of the ceiling lay around us, and the alter had been thrown to the ground. Getting to my feet, I stumbled to across the stone strewn floor toward the alter. Kneeling before it I bent my head, closing my eyes,

"Take him safely!" I murmured.

Opening my eyes, I took a final glance at Ben. He was gone.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice trembling as I stood once more.

That's when I saw it, laying there, bloodied and dirty. I froze, my every breath seemed magnified by a hundred times. A wave of anger swept over me, and I ran towards the blade lying on the ground. I kicked it, letting it fly through the window, shattering the glass as it met it full on then, it was gone....

The diamond hilt out of my sight. Mounting the window sill, I drew my small dagger and took a deep breath.

Then I jumped, spiraling downwards into the canyon.

..........................

The small jet caught me seconds later after my jump, and I landed on the platform above the pilot's cabin. Sirens began to sound, and the landing pad lowered down into the jet.

Shouts could be heard all around me but I took no notice.

I had curled up into a small ball, and was oblivious to the yells of dismay when Ben was not to be seen. I was lifted from the pad, my eyes still firmly shut, desperately trying to fall asleep and forget this night mare. I was laid down on a table, and felt hands removing my torn clothing and the sharp pricks of needles were felt, numbing me from the greater pain to come. The doctors began to remove the bullet lodged in my arm, which had been shot seconds before Ben had fallen. Hands grasped me, flipped me, and seemed to feel everywhere for further injuries I may have. I still shut them out, keeping my eyes closed and my vision black as they continued to torment me.

I tried to ignore all emotions and feelings.

Not much later, a click was heard and a needle point pricked my leg.

I slowly grew tired and began to loose consciousness, before I fully blacked out I heard a voice speak, in a rough voice.

"We must revoke their quadrant, the Bombers are to lethal for the younger ones, and after this, I doubt they will stay much longer."