Fate of the Alphaverse

8 - Amaya and Justin

Amaya's bags were packed. Their home was empty. All was ready, and yet she still felt like she was missing something. Amaya was still waiting on her mams, who was having trouble saying goodbye to her self-bred dragon-fish hybrid. She had missed the second news broadcast, but lucky, her friend Aife had sent her a Televisor message to say they were on the same craft; Aernobal 3. She didn't know what ship her mams was on, only that it wasn't the Aernobal 3, or any other Aernobal for that matter.

The Visualisor's static ceased again, as the young intern called for boarding. "Aernobal travellers on crafts 1,2,3,5,8 and 11, please proceed to boarding." Her expression was calm in the face of adversity; this could only be a prerecorded message.

"Love you, Mams!" Amaya yelled, picking up her few possessions. "My craft is boarding! I have to go!" She hurried outside without waiting for a response.

Luckily for Amaya, Aife was waiting outside her house, motioning for her to hurry. "Lessgo slowpoke!" Aife still knew how to make her laugh.

Shaking her head to hide her grin, Amaya asked nonchalantly, "So, do you know who else is one Aernobal 3?"

Aife gave her an evil smirk. "A couple...." She trailed off mysteriously.

Amaya's face betrayed her. "Who?" She asked, clapping her hands excitedly.

"Well," Aife's smirk only grew wider. "I know for certain that a certain Arlo will be aboard."

Amaya blushed, smiling. "And who else?" She said vacantly, her head off in the clouds, day-dreaming about her superiorly handsome boyfriend.

Aife smiled at her reaction, continuing, "Well, Alan was also rumoured to be aboard."

Amaya's smile turned to a scowl, however Aife still looked like a walking sunshine. She had a thirst for drama and thrived in trouble. "You've got to be kidding me." Amaya murmured, sighing, and slapped her forehead in despair.

Aife just laughed. "Cheer up, frowny! It's not like our planet is exploding!" She paused and scratched at her head, confused. "Oh wait, yes it is." She shrugged. "Whoops!"

Amaya swore nothing phased that girl. They travelled to the sound of Aife's constant chatter, and Amaya was very relieved when they reached the launch zones, and Aife shut up for once in her life. They were boarded surprisingly efficiently, and within minutes, they had taken off. Amaya had her face pressed to the window, trying desperately to catch a last glimpse of her planet, when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned abruptly to see a darkly-coloured man in an equally dark suit, his eyes hidden behind shades.

"Amaya Arisnoe?" He paused whilst she nodded. "Come with me. I need to have a little chat with you." Stunned, Amaya followed him out of the room, looking back to see Aife's eyebrows stuck to the ceiling. Not that she expected much different, really.

~

Straightening his tie, Justin hurried to greet the A elders with Jacobi. He thrust out his hand, hoping his kind words would suffice to make up for Joseph's negligence. The King eyed him warily.

"Where is Joseph Jingkok?" He did not bother to lower his clear voice. Many onlookers turned to face Justin expectantly, who paled.

"Come right this way, your majesty. I shall explain as we proceed." Justin bowed them through a chamber. The King inclined has head slightly in approval, and followed Jacobi. "Joseph Jingkok was taken into custody by our highly trained military personnel, Jobers. The Jobers escorted Joseph to an underground prison cell, where he awaits his fate. Many of our own race wish for him to be cormbulated. We shall have to see." Justin explained as soon as they were out of earshot.

The small party had reached the last security measure of the prison. Justin passed the Jobers, and began keying in the security code on the Securiser. The door began to open with a whoosh, and a beep, as the small party looked expectantly inside. None of them noticed the lean shadow of a small figure in the hallway.

Joseph sat with his back to the door, slumped against the wall. "Joseph!" Justin called, his voice echoing around the cavern, bouncing off layers of dust. Joseph didn't respond. He remained impassive, as though he didn't hear Justin. "Joseph!" Justin called again. No response.

Justin motioned to the Jobers to bring Joseph to a discussion table in the cell. They immediately entered, and seized him, and surprisingly to all, he put up no fight. They swung him around, their bodies cloaked in shadow, and pulled his limp form to a stool, sitting in the light. Justin walked forward sceptically. Joseph's head drooped low, touching his chest. "Joseph, buddy?" Justin edged forward, and tilted Joseph's head up, looking for traces of a reaction.

Jacobi let out a strangled gasp. "Justin, his neck!" He cried hysterically. Justin looked more closely, and saw blood on Joseph's neck. He gasped. Lifting Joe's head further, there was a deep gash along his throat. He was 100% dead.

"He's been murdered." Justin's grim proclamation was the only sound to penetrate the heavy silence.

"Actually, he's been assassinated." A young, female voice spoke from the distance. The party whipped around, and the voice's embodiment stepped into the light. A young, scrawny girl of around 16 stood there, hood up, knife in hand.

"Who on Mother's jumping Jungle are you?" Justin asked, astonished. His face was an open map of curiousity.

The girl pulled back her hood to reveal bright green leaves flowing from her head. "My name is Amaya Arisnoe."

Jacobi gasped. "THE Amaya Arisnoe?! A's Assassin? The ALPHAVERSE'S Assassin?"

"That's me." The girl, Amaya, said with a smirk. "Betcha didn't see me!"

The party stood there, dumbfounded. "I am so confused how this happened." The King finally said.

"Oh, don't pretend, you backstabbing traitor!" Amaya roared, and flung herself at the King, knife at his throat.

"Woah woah, slow down, Princess." Justin said, pulling her off the King. "What did you do?" He met the King's eyes with an icy glare.

"What I had to do." He said shortly, meeting no one's eyes. "My position as King was jeopardised. I had to do something. So Ihired Afran, Amaya's brother, to shoot Joseph with a painless dart that would change his demeanour, making him hated, yudda yudda. Then, when it wasn't going fast enough, I hired Amaya here, the Alphaverse's Assassin, to do the dirty work."

"Ugh, this is going to be a Universe-Wide disgrace!" Justin cried.

"Not if no one knows about it.." Amaya said. They all looked at her, and she raised her eyebrows right back. "I, myself, would be willing to keep quiet, on one condition."

Justin gave her some eyebrows back. "And that is?"

"Take me with you. To the other planets." She crossed her arms decisively.

"How does she even know?" Justin murmured, scratching his head.

The King shook his head. "Some things are better left unanswered."

Justin shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but okay." When she clapped her hands in delight, and turned and skipped off, he called after her, "And not a peep of this to anyone!"

He shook his head at Jacobi in exasperation, and Jacobi gave him a smile in return.

~

Heya!

So? What do you think of the Alphaverse's Assassin?

Thanks so much for reading, more adventures with Amaya coming soon, R.I.P Joseph, peace out!

A :)