Astray Among The Stars

Chapter 50: Blood

Roger thundered down the corridors, guided by his worst nightmare. His head pounded with every step, his heart racing, adrenaline coursing through his veins.

He entered the infirmary, stopping at the sight of the room. It was ruined, empty, completely trashed. His eyes glazed over the carnage. Two beds once occupied were empty, and Sloan's restraints were opened. He turned, spotting the mangled ruins of the medical droid below the vermilion alert button, his amber face flickering.

"What happened?"

"Sloan attacked."

"Where's Tevra?"

"I do not—"

The droid collapsed on the floor, powering down from the extensive damage. Roger raced to the nearest console, pinging her location. He drew his pistol and bolted, heading for the shuttle bay.

* * *

"Sloan. Don't."

The astronaut kept is aim on the teen, his other arm wrapped around the Valmirian, his thumb dislocated. Roger stared in silence, his gun drawn, approaching them slowly. His heart pounded with every step, time grinding to a halt.

Tevra's eyes caught his gaze, begging him to leave. Tears streamed down her cheeks as Sloan's grip tightened.

"Roger, go."

The teen stopped, his gun still aimed at the rogue. "I'm not leaving without you, Tevs."

He took another step, now only a few paces away. Sloan backed against a shuttle. He tightened his grip on his weapon, his fingers resting on the trigger. The boy could lunge at any moment.

"Sloan, please. Put the gun down. You don't have to fight us."

The man kept his weapon pointed. Sloan's bloodshot eyes glistened with tears, his hand shaking. He hesitated, glancing at the boy, his lips quivering with hesitation. Yet his sweat glistening face turned back under a trance, stern and apathetic. It was too late. He could not go back now.

"Roger. . . I'm. . . I'm sorry."

He fired. Tevra shrieked as Roger's pistol clattered on the floor. The boy dropped to his knees, collapsing on his side, his body in shock from the deadly shot etching a gaping burn on his chest. The Valmirian watched in abject horror, the sight of him burning into her memory like a red-hot iron. The astronaut stood with indifference as Tevra broke from his fierce grip, racing to the fallen teen. The Valmirian cradled the boy in her arms, her tears splashing on his uniform, her world shattering as she held him close. Roger whispered few words under his struggling breaths, but she could not hear his weak and broken voice, his last words of love. He briefly smiled, closing his eyes as let go, his body slumping in her arms. He took his last breath, his heart giving up. Everything stopped. Everything went still. She prayed to all gods, she wept, but it was useless. Roger was dead.

Sloan seized the whimpering girl. The Valmirian kicked and screamed as he yanked her away, tears pouring from her flame-stricken eyes. The astronaut fired a stun bolt, knocking her out cold. The man threw the Valmirian rag doll into the shuttle, closing the door and taking off into the vastness of space.

* * *

Heavy boots slowly stepped towards the astronaut from the darkness, their beat slow yet steady, echoing in the vast chamber. Sloan stood in silence in front of the only illuminated spot in the room, his feet at the edge of an alabaster circle harshly battling the surrounding shadows. A silohouette walked into the light, stopping at the opposite side.

"Hello, Sloan."

"Amolis."

"Welcome back. Was your mission a success?"

The astronaut pushed Tevra forwards from the shadows, the force knocking her off balance, her lachrymose face slamming into the polished floor. The Valmirian looked up at the solider, her eyes raging firestorms. Amolis chuckled.

"I know, Tevra. I missed you too."

A smile of villainous delight crossed his scar-stricken face.

"It seems we have a lot of. . . catching up to do."

To be continued. . .