Breaking the chains
Welcome everyone on Minds. Welcome to the final day of Inessa Burnell’s #BASwordtember challenge.
For day 30, the final word/subject is: Free.
For this one reading some of Aragmar’s work gave me inspiration. So, we’re heading into the world of Sci-Fi. Let the imaginative goodness begin.
Snow fell from a dark cloudy sky. Yet the ground on to which it fell was full of activity.
Humans and other ‘inferior’ races were being lined up and shoved in cargo transports. Enormous bipedal creatures who resembled a cross of yaks and gorillas stood guard. Their blaster rifles were ready for the slightest signs of defiance.
“Look at them Vistoth!” spat one creature, disgust written on his face.
“Look at those filthy human things. Hairless abominations, unworthy of even existing alongside divine beings such as us!”
The creature known as Vistoth, stood alongside the smaller creature. Vistoth gazed on their captives and then his colleague.
“Why are we doing this?” Vistoth asked. “If we illmadians are so noble and divine, why do we stoop to this sort of thing Gormere?”
The Illmadian known as Gormere rolled his yellow and black eyes.
“As I told you, we’re divine beings. These others including these disgusting humans they’re inferior to us. They have no business even existing.”
“But we’ve already beaten them and taken this planet. What more is there for us to do?” The conflicted Illmadian protested.
The other Illmadian looked on Vistoth in surprise. “What more is there to do? Vistoth of Clan Yargan, where’s your sense of fun?”
The dark brown Illmadian glared at the Caramel haired one. “My sense of fun is fine Gormere of Clan Illkas. And you still haven’t answered my question!”
In response the armored smaller Illmmadian walked over to a transport. Vistoth watched him look over the humans.
Then he opened the cage and dragged out a small human with locks of long brown hair. He dragged the tiny human, a female, to the center of the area. The other Illmadians laughed and cheered.
The humans and other caged creatures were calling out. Vistoth heard some words he understood such as, “Stop,” and “Please”.
What are they doing? Vistoth asked in horror.
The doubts he'd harbored since he'd started to do his own research welled up with a new fury.
The armored caramel-haired Illmadian threw the creature to the ground. He pulled a sword from a scabbard. He sliced off some of the locks of hair.
The Illmadian caressed the material. “So silky, extraordinary. How could such a filthy animal produce something like this. My mate would love a coat made of this human hair.”
The female was crying and shivering. As Vistoth looked into her eyes he saw the hatred, the fear, and the desperation of someone who didn't want to die.
This is a sentient being, the president has lied to us. The Dark-brown Illmadian thought.
“Vistoth come here.” Gormere called.
The armored Illmadian walked over to the smaller one. “Why don’t you have the honor. I already have several human skins.”
That took Vistoth by surprise. “What?” he asked in disbelief.
Gormere shrugged. “Surprised? Word came down from the High Command. All inferiors are subject to sport or trophy hunting at our leisure.
“I’ve already got several skins in some fascinating melanin shades. Now come join civilized clan society. Take the skin of this filthy animal for some bragging rights.”
Vistoth looked over the human female who glared up at him. And the Illmadian saw while she was trembling, she was putting on a brave face that said, “Go ahead kill me and get it over with.”
Vistoth gazed on the face of the human female. Such courage in the face of their own death. How could something like this have only animal intelligence?
"Go on honorable Yargan clan member," Gormere coaxed. "Prove your loyalty, animals deserve no mercy!"
In that moment Vistoth reached a decision.
He swung his blade downward but at the last second arced the sharp weapon. He tore through the armor, flesh and vitals of the nearest guard. The Illmadian died then and there. The other two guards died from swift and deadly blows from his sword.
"Vistoth," Gormere roared as he drew his pistol.
But Vistoth knocked the weapon free and shot Gormere with his own rifle knocking him to the ground.
"Down," he roared to the human female using one of the words he'd learned from their language.
The female and all the caged creatures dropped.
Vistoth bellowed out a roar and fired on his now former company. A red haze fell over him as his berserker fury emerged.
By his trigger finger and the sword, more and more Illmadians died.
When he finally regained his senses, he saw the last survivor heading for a fighter. Vistoth aimed his rifle at the fuel tank of the ship and fired. His aimed proved sure and deadly as the energy hit and caused the fuel within to ignite.
The fighter went up in a booming blast taking the Illmadian with it. Vistoth turned and stormed back to the center of the encampment. He grabbed his former friend by the throat and lifted him up.
He looked at the human female and threw her the key pass. "Key, opens doors. Help others,” He explained.
He then pointed to a nearby shelter. “Food, shelter. Shuttles nearby. Go, go now, you live, go!”
He turned his angry glare on Gormere. “You stay, you said it yourself, animals deserve no mercy!”
Gormere grimaced and snapped, “Clanless filth! You’ll never be welcome among us again!”
Vistoth flashed a mirthless grin. “Better Clanless and honorable, then a civilized dishonorable animal!”
“Go on then Clanless one, kill me!” Gormere snapped.
Vistoth’s smile turned predatory. “Not yet, I’m going to put you through the same pain you put your human victims through!”
Gormere gaped. “You wouldn’t dare!”
In response Vistoth raised his sword and moved in. The Illmadian camp rang with the sounds of agonized screams.
By the time the shuttles left, Vistoth had all the ammunition and supplies he could carry. The blood drenched Illmadian turned and walked into the snow. At last, I am free, he thought with a sense of grim satisfaction.
Clanless - Chapter 1: Enemy in the now (Noble patron members only)