A Hero In The Dark

Chapter 77: Conquered

None of the mogs we pass bother us. I guess they think Five is still loyal to them. That's good. Hopefully Setrákus Ra believes that too.

We enter the docking bay.

There are multiple Skimmers in sight, lined up in rows. A dozen Mogadorians load boxes onto them, walking back and forth the ramps.

"Clear the room!" Five shouts. "I have direct orders from Beloved Leader to escort his envoy aboard one the vessels before we return to Earth, in a way that suits her comfort."

The mogs all turn to stare at us for a moment, before eventually dropping items they carry to pile out of the room. Five and I watch them go.

"Wow," I say once the room is empty of mogs. "Do they always listen to you?"

"As long as I use his name, they do anything I tell them without hesitation," he answers insensitively, like that power means nothing to him. "Idiot mogs worship their foolish leader without thinking twice. Plus, it helps that he wants us treated like royalty," he adds while simultaneously approaching a panel at the entrance door.

The panel consists of a variety of buttons, most of them black except for one large red one. Five slams his fist down on it.

Immediately when he does, an alarm sounds but the large docking bay doors in the side of the ship open wide.

The wind hits me immediately.

Five returns to my side and we stand together just before the drop. I look down and can see the overall land of Earth, thousands of miles in the air. Green fields of all different shades spread for miles. I have no idea which part of Earth we are hovering over, but I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Suddenly I feel nervous.

"You're sure your flight legacy will transfer to me?" I ask.

"It should. Don't worry Emily. I've got you. I won't let you fall," Five responds, trying to reassure me. "If you still don't want to do this, we can-"

"Let's get off this ship," I interrupt, offering him my hand.

Just as he takes it, I hear his voice behind us, "Not so fast."

We turn to see Setrákus Ra standing at the entrance of the docking bay, hands on his hips. 

I meet his gaze; gulp.

Upon seeing us, he walks closer, slamming his fist on the same button angrily on the side panel beside him.

The sirens cease and the docking bay doors begin to close, forcing us to take a step back into the ship to avoid being caught in the opening.

Setrákus Ra approaches, standing just a few feet away.

Five and I, still holding each other's hands, don't say anything.

"Five. I am disappointed in you boy. I trusted you, and you let me down," Ra begins. "I expected this type of behavior from Emily – you are still new and it will take time for our customs to sink in – but Five... I mentored you from the beginning. Took you in when no one else did. Taught you to fight and win. What is the meaning of this?"

Five's grip on my hand loosens. I notice that he's avoiding eye contact. I realize that I could use my telepathy to ensure Five does nothing stupid, but I don't. Five is helping me. I don't want to constantly be in his mind telling him what to do. Like he said earlier, I don't force him to take sides. Five knows what he is doing, and I trust that he is smart enough to make his own decisions.

Quietly, Five speaks, "I never joined your side old man. You're a sick fiend that enjoys death and destruction, and I won't let you carry on with your plans."

"You will regret this boy," Setrákus replies.

I sense Five pull out a knife from behind. I don't know what his plan is, but I hope it's a good one.

Five lets go of my hand entirely and charges the Mogadorian Leader.

I don't even have enough time to stop him.

"Die! You twisted prick!" Five yells as he thrusts the knife deep into Setrákus Ra's right shoulder.

Almost immediately do I feel a gaping hole open up in the area that the punctured blade rests.

I scream.

My vision goes hazy and teary and I begin to feel faint.

My legs go wobbly and I am suddenly unable to support my weight.

Then, I am falling.

Down to my knees. One hand on the floor in an attempt to stabilize myself, the other holding my injured shoulder that now pours blood.

Five stares at me, eyes wide.

"Now look at what you've done," Setrákus says, looking at Five yet gesturing to me.

Taking advantage of the surprise on Five's face, Setrákus rips the knife out of his shoulder – I scream again as he does – and he stabs Five in his right eye.

Five screams.

Setrákus twists his arm so far that even I can hear the snap.

His arm is broken.

The docking bay doors open again by an unseen force, though the alarms stay silent.

With Five lying motionless and in pain at his feet, Setrákus picks him up by the throat, still holding the knife in one hand.

"No!" I yell, thinking the worst, yet unable to do anything due to my weakened condition.

Instead of killing Five right there, he carries him by the throat to the open gap and holds him out of the ship, so his legs dangle out over the edge.

No doubt Setrákus took away his legacies, otherwise Five would've been able to turn himself to steel.

That means, Five can't fly.

Again, I shout, this time my voice even weaker, "No..."

Blood running down his face from his missing eye, Five tries to kick at him, but Setrákus Ra holds him out far enough that his legs don't make contact.

"You are my last mistake Five," Ra says.

As difficult as it is, I pick myself up from the floor, letting the arm from my injured shoulder lie limp at my side. Thus allowing the blood to flow down the length of my arm.

And I speak, my voice faint and dim, "Stop. Don't kill him."

Setrákus Ra looks at me over his shoulder, continuing to hold the nearly unconscious Five in his clutch. His expression is cold, as if wondering why he would listen to me or even consider my words.

Then, in the urgency of the situation, I say it without thinking.

"Setrákus Ra," I begin weakly but purposefully. "Leader of the Mogadorian Empire. I ask that you show mercy. Show the Loric in your hands mercy, and you will have my full loyalty."

Then, as weak as I feel, I get down on one knee. With my one arm smeared with blood and the other on my heart, I bow my head.

With a deep breath through the blood loss, I look into his eyes and address him with only two words, "Beloved Leader."