Origins of an Icer

Chapter 13

Captain's office, Iron Maiden

"Well well, if it isn't the renegade pilot I spent so much resources on, and wasted it all... What were you doing to my precious engine? You're lucky your shot missed," the captain's voice echoed through the empty office. Akifa awoke to find himself bound and tied to the chair he sat in, his helmet was cracked and messed up with blood on it... Clear, and frozen to the screen.

"Captain, please, I can't even recall what happened! I thought I shot the Night Mother!" he barked, growling as the screens lit up with footage from the engine room, showing Akifa turning to fire at Wren's body instead of the Night Mother, causing Wren to bolt into a group of battle-armor robots that acted as sentries for the ship. They had tackled Wren, tying him up and wrapping him in a sparking net, Akifa hated those: illegal for a reason since there's no control on the charge of electricity that courses through those, they had a bad habit of killing their prey. Akifa's heart dropped, his stomach in terrible twists as the door opened behind him, the sentry guards tossing in Wren bound in the net, thankfully not on. They had bound him in chains, breaking his tail so he couldn't use it, and had shoved a muzzle on his face to keep from talking, or even defending himself.

"Wren!" Akifa struggled against the binds as Wren barely opened his eyes, whining softly as his thoughts thankfully came in strong and clear.

(Kifa... what happened? You shot me... I think? I can't remember...! I've tried so hard, but... nothing comes back. I did get hurt, but it's not that bad... I promise, you didn't hurt me that bad, you missed anything vital.) Wren mewled, watching Akifa try to fight against his binds, shutting his eyes to avoid the tears. Wren, you have to know I would never have hurt you. I would never have shot you! I don't remember what happened, I remember taking aim and firing at the Night Mother, but... I woke up here. Your blood is all over my helmet, my pistols are gone... I saw the footage! Wren lifted his head, furrowing his brow as he glanced up to see the monitors, re-watching the same loop when he noticed something, emitting a deep growl in his chest.

"Don't you dare start, you damned lizard! I'll toss you out of my precious ship before you contaminate it further with your paganist powers. I've already suspended and burned away any records of your species, just like I've done with all of my collections. They always proved themselves to be too lost in their ways, too deep in their traditions to realize the one true God that rules over all things! You are gone, I don't know why I thought you were worth the time to rescue..." The captain's voice quickly changed to an icy tone, the doors opening up to a hallway where an airlock hissed open. The sentry robots fell into the vacuum as Wren gasped, taking a deep breath before curling up tight, spiraling quickly down the hall. Akifa cried out, watching with wide eyes as he struggled against the bindings, only falling to the floor.

"Eiwren!!!" he screamed, watching the Iscerian fling out of the hall and through the airlock, disappearing into the void.

"Oh gods... no, no, no, why did you do that, you insane bitch?!" he snarled, his tattoos gleaming red hot as he cut through the bindings finally with a sharp knife tucked away in his sleeve.

"There's the Avatar I've been waiting to see, how do you feel, Akifa? That power coursing through you, giving you strength that could make you believe you can take my life?" Akifa felt his power suddenly shift as he scrambled from the room, narrowly missing the sliding door, racing down the hall to try to reach the elevator. His heart pounded while his brain suddenly seemed to kick the fog, as if drawing back the curtain on what really happened through his own eyes.

I didn't shoot Eiwren... I never did! There was a special case around the Night Mother that bent the shot towards him. The footage was edited, that's what Wren was trying to muster up and say. Dammit... I awoke my abilities deep inside, finally getting her attention. I have to get out of here, he added, the doors opening as he walked straight into... the captain? He blinked several times, seeing the image suddenly solidify, the air around her causing his body to shiver and almost repulse.

"What the... how...?" He tried to ask when the guards around her shot him, quickly ending his thoughts as he collapsed to the ground, the captain growling low as her fists shook in rage.

"Get him to the medical labs... reprogram him. He should've obeyed my every command... try again. And with a new doctor, that other one was sympathizing with the Icer, toss her off, promote the other in my favors!" she snarled, throwing her hands up as the guards dispersed, grabbing Akifa's corpse as they took him to the medical wing, the power around them shuddering and blinking.

"Damn... they woke it up. I was hoping that thing would be dead by now... how the hell did they revitalize it!?" she grumbled, taking the elevator down through a secret route, only activated by her hand print. Hopefully, that Icer will be long dead, and that will be the last of the Primal Races extinct and out of my hair...