Ender Wiggin's Last Game

Muhammad

Ender watched with a sense of panic setting in as Penelope stumbled closer to the door, still about ten feet away and hobbling. She didn't look like she was in good shape. Her ankle was swollen and Ender thought he could see the remnants of a black eye. But that wasn't what was bothering him. Behind her, far down the hall, he could see the silhouette of a man.

Ender heard Meiji's breath hitch and chills ran down his spine. It couldn't be. They were so close.

The man was far away, but he looked angry. He turned to face them, his posture growing tenser and tenser. He saw them, and he wasn't happy about it.

Ender wished he would leave and alert the higher-ups, giving them a chance to escape, but he didn't. Instead, he set off toward them. It was slow at first, but then he started gaining speed.

Penelope was still shuffling toward them. At this rate, she wouldn't make it. Ender lunged forward, hoping to make a grab at her and run, but he was pulled back roughly by his collar.

"No, Ender."

Ender couldn't keep his anger down, but he didn't move. He looked up at Meiji. His face was stone cold, watching the man. He made no move to stop him, nor to save Penelope. He waited.

Just as the man was about to grab her, Meiji lept out of the terminal, tackling him. Penelope fell in the process, twisting her already swollen ankle. Valentine gasped.

While Meiji was busy subduing the other man, Muhammad, Ender rushed to help Penelope. His heart was beating fast in his chest, but his hands were steady, and he was quick. All of the work he had put into shaping his body in the last year was helping him keep light on his feet.

He didn't wait for her to take his hand. He lifted her by her arms and hoisted her over his shoulder. He wasn't as fast getting back as he was getting there, not with the extra weight on him, but he was fast enough.

He flinched when he heard a crack and a groan behind him. This would not be good. Ender set her down quickly, looking back at Meiji and Muhammad.

Muhammad straddled Meiji's waist, struggling to land decent punches in. He had a broken nose, and his lip looked bloody.

Ender watched in horror as Meiji received a hit to the stomach. It was hard, and Meiji doubled up in pain, gasping out.

"Ender no!" He heard Valentine yell as he launched himself onto Muhammad. He was filled with unbridled rage toward this man. His words about Valentine and Meiji's bloody face filled Ender's mind as he sent blow after blow at him.

He kicked Muhammad in the groin, watching as he wretched and sputtered blood. He lay on the floor beneath Ender, prone to any attack he might throw. Which Ender did.

His punches landed hard and sharp. Blood spattered his hands and face and he was only stopped when a hand caught him arm.

"He's unconscious." It was Meiji, recovered from Muhammads earlier attack. Ender looked down at Muhammad.

"Oh." He said weakly.

The man's body had gone limp, an expression of pain plastered onto his face. Sweat made his short black hair spike, and blood seeped from his lip, painting his teeth red.

Ender shook, his body going limp in Meiji's arms. He had done it again. He pushed himself back off of the body, Meiji only barely keeping him steady.

He had done it again.

Tears rolled silently down his cheeks, but he didn't make a move to wipe them away. Neither did Meiji.

Ender felt himself be scooped up in Meiji's arms. He squeezed his eyes shut, burying his face into Meiji's chest. He didn't want the others to see him like this. He didn't want them to see how weak he was, but he couldn't help the small sobs that escaped his lips.

Why did he have to be so cruel? Why couldn't he have left so that Ender wouldn't have to hurt him?

He was still shaking by the time Meiji had carried him to the living quarters in their ship. He placed him down gently and stood up.

He positioned himself in front of Ender and kneeled down in front of him.

Ender looked away.

Only a minute passed, but to Ender, it felt like forever.

"I'm sorry." "Thank you."

They both spoke at the same time.

Meiji regarded him for another minute before walking away. Ender watched him go.

His words, Ender thought in awe, were words of gratitude.

___ ___ ___

Hello! Short, but tense chapter here just to fill in the rest of this part of the story.

The reason Meiji left, by the way, was to clean up the mess Ender made with Muhammad. They can't just leave him there, after all.

You know, my favorite word is 'prone'.
The Latin word 'pronus' means "face down" or "lying on the stomach"  but the most common translation is "defenseless". Prone is a derivative of pronus.

Stay safe and have fun. Don't let COVID-19 get you.

Have a lovely day, my darlings!