Her World

Chapter Fourteen "Confrontations"

   Just like me? How does she look just like me. Now so many questions are flying through my head at such a fast rate that I can't grasp a single one to respond to Tally's statement. Was I replaced? Did he plan this on the day he killed me? Why won't he say anything to explain this situation better? I need to get him to speak to me.

   "Commander, what do her words mean?" In a pleading tone, without looking at him I asked but I don't expect an answer from him.

   "Sky, I am right here so talk to me. My master is training me to deal with such little matters as this."

   "I am not concerning myself to you Tally, I do not wish for you to be involved with this being!"

   "This 'being' is my master Sky, unlike you I will obey him, and do as he requests me to do."

   She is scaring me with this brainwashed nonsense, I need to let her know that he isn't someone to rely on with one's life. "Tally the commander isn't someone to trust completely-"

   "Shut your mouth Sky! My master is my life line, and we will not tolerate you displaying such insolence in our presence."

   "No Tally! You need to understand-"

   "Enough! You will come with us to the main ship for processing, you do not have a choice in what happens." There is no use in talking her calmly, but I can't leave the city out of fear that I won't come out of this alive.

   "Tally I am not going, I died doing what I felt was right for a human, and I will continue to do so without you, or your master."

   "Sky, you have no choices. You acted like you did back then but now is a different story, you lived and created imbalance in the system, now soldiers seize her and prep her for transport back."

   The soldiers began moving closer, I looked at Tally only to see a smug reaction on her. Entitled to her status, is that how I looked.

   "I will not go down again without a fight to my certain death!" I got into a fighting stance with nothing but my fists, looking at all of the soldiers ready for anything.

   "Do not touch her."

   The Commanders' voice rang out, piercing my ears, stopping everyone from moving an inch more. Frozen in place as he moves from behind Tally, her dumbfounded look shows that she wasn't ready for anything to go south. His heavy steps coming closer was a haunting sound, throwing me back into those memories that I wished so long to forget. I can't bring myself to look anywhere but the ground. My only instinct is to run from him at all costs. "No." I made an attempt at running, feeling that big hand grab my wrist, tightening the grip, pulling me back towards him. Closing my eyes, I turned around and started hitting him with my fists, any sort of way, anywhere on his armor, I needed to get away. He didn't fight back, but he didn't let me run from him either. I feel like I'm being treated like a child throwing a tantrum, he always made me feel small and extremely weak. 

   "Why?! Just let me go, let me live peacefully!" Running out of energy to hit him anymore, my eyes still closed, no longer hitting him, just standing there, shaking, crying uncontrollably. "please." 

   "No." He grabbed me, and threw me over his shoulder. Walked away with me to the awaiting ship, seeing Tally trail behind him with an annoyed look, looking up at me. I can't think of anything to say to her, I can't bring myself to argue when I can't stop crying. Still so many questions for him to answer, when I get the chance. 

   It was either the excitement, the sheer terror, or my past trauma coming out. Or all of it at once took a lot out of me because I ended up passing out on his shoulder. for a moment, only a moment I thought of the past when he would carry me as a child, when he visited me briefly. Time doesn't heal, it changes events to make life more complicated so we grow numb to the pain that became memories. 

   Feeling little movements here and there, but too exhausted to wake up. Then waking to see that I was put inside a room with nothing but a counter, or table that I was sleeping on. No light except for the light coming through the window from the grounds below, lit up cities. A dim light but enough to see, "So high up, I forgot the main ship hovered in the atmosphere." He knew how to change the outcome, all for what.

   "Why am I so weak around him?" I sighed as I said this leaning against the window, gazing out. Lost in the thought that I failed to overcome my enemy, or is he my enemy? All the things I said means nothing if I just respond to how he wants me to. Its been a few hours since I woke up, but no one came by. Is this a prison chamber? Now that I recall, Tally was saying 'reprocess', just what does she mean by that. Re-add me to their system? I don't know, I mean, it's not like I'm the first to survive the Commander's wrath. Maybe I am, but even now I'm thinking he didn't try to kill me either. "Ugh! This is all confusing me too much!"

   Moving all over the place from time, to time. Feels like I was left here to rot away or something, or are they secretly watching me? Thinking they're spying on me, I planted myself down near the window, sitting there just wondering what he is doing. "How long has it been so far?" Just then the door opens with a blinding light covering whoever it is that walked in.

   "Sky." A gentle voice called to me

   I stood up slowly to catch a better look at this person, shielding my eyes from the light until the door closed. 

   "C-Captain?"

   "You look great for a phantom." Confused by his words, I realized that he meant about me being dead.

   "What're you doing here?" He slowly approached me, but I backed away from him. Only because I don't trust anyone rightnow.

   "Well, after years of you being dead, then suddenly a lowly human comes forward with information about you being alive. Searching, scouting the places he said you frequented. Then finally seeing you walking, talking, laughing......Smiling." He continued moving closer to me, he is sure to show innocent movements but I still move back until I'm flush against the wall.

   "You heard I'm alive through another human?"

   "Yes, he bartered for the information knowing what he knew would get him incentives. Sky, just how'd you survive?"

   "My friends, they took my body away and......I shouldn't say anymore, sorry." I want to trust him but he didn't help me when I needed him the most either. 

   "Sky....I am truly sorry for that day, but you have to realize that we are as dispensable as you humans. We can do no wrong because there is always someone ready to climb up the latter."

   I looked at him, trying to understand his predicament, is that why he was always so cautious around me? "Captain, I don't want to hear excuses, nor explanations, I just want you to know one thing."

   "What is it Sky?" He was so close that it embarrassed me, feeling like there was something he wanted to say too.

   Tears running down my cheeks as I looked up at him, wondering why he was always so timid and distant. "I just missed you." I said quietly, almost a whisper with a breaking tone. Remembering our long conversations as a child, how much he told me about the world, his world, everything he can think of. He is different then the rest of them, more human like even if I never seen his true form. He wasn't their height but he has his own strengths. I've come to care about him when I reached puberty, but I didn't want him to know. He just meant so much to me.

   "I missed you so much Sky." He wrapped his arms around me, and I did the same to him. Squeezing me tighter, his armor making it feel like he's crushing me but I didn't care. This familiar connection was gone too long for me to let go. 

   "Mind if I ask what you're doing here?"

   "I was told to check on you, and since everyone is still out dispersing the chaos in the city, I figured now would be a good time to catch up with you alone."

   "What chaos, which city?"

   "The city you dwell in, citizens are against our Commanders pet, her ideals for the city. Frankly I don't blame their anger, she is too naive, too immature in her ideas for the people."

   "Tally, She knows nothing of the realities of her master's policies." Just what are they trying to do?

   "She does not, and I have reviewed this to our Commander but he wants to test her."

   "Test her, why?"

   "It is of no concern for you Sky, she will no longer come near you if I have something to say about it." 

   "Are you protecting me from my kin Captain?" I remove my head from his abdomen to look up at him, to tease him.

   "Yes, I was there when we searched for you in the city, I just wanted you safe, but your sister convinced our Commander that your imprisonment would keep you safer." I could feel the tension he's harboring, his tone says it also.

   "So long as I'm alive, I won't be free." I don't want to be dark about this but this seems to be the only solution, them thinking I was dead is evident of that. 

   "Don't think such things Sky, I was thoughtless on what my past actions resulted, I won't make that same mistake any longer."

   "What do you mean by that Captain?"

   He rubs my arms seemingly thinking about what he wants to say, I don't move, but I show him how curious I am about him and his thoughts. His cold armor doesn't faze me, not seeing his face doesn't faze me, I just want to know what he actually thinks about me.

   "I always wanted to personally protect you, be there with you always making sure no harm came to you. no matter if you were a pet or not. Only doing as I was told, or ordered resulted in further distance from you, thinking that the distance would protect you, but I was wrong and I regretted it, seeing you die at the hands that cared for you, my superior, leader. All of it made me realize in the end I shouldn't have cared what anyone wanted."

  "Are you trying to say-" He shushed me so he could continue.

  "Seeing you, Holding you now, I don't care what my society thinks, nor your society at that. How do you humans express your affections?"

   Affections? does he really mean to say, "I love you, I adore you, or you would simply show-" He didn't let me finish, but he grabbed me, lifting me up, and tightly hugging me again, in turn I held him as tightly as I could back.

   "all of the above!...Can I show you who I really am?" 

   "Yes." Agreeing, he set me down to take his armor off. I didn't think to wonder what he looks like, I guess deep down I thought of him as an image closer to human because of his vast knowledge of human languages, and knowing practically everything about humans. Suddenly becoming nervous, I feel like I'm watching someone undress from their clothes, though I never saw that image, but I have seen the Commander out of his armor. All kinds of thoughts, images flashing through me again as he takes off his armor piece by piece. Am I really seeing him do this? Why does this feel so sudden though. But I did agree and I do want to see his true form. 

   His body armor came off, showing his darker skin tone, almost a dark grey in color. He has scars all over, but how if he always has this suit to protect him, his features are similar to the Commanders. Claws, long and sharp, massive muscle protruding every inch of him. They are different, I don't see this much muscle on humans men. I stood there, I honestly don't realize the face I'm probably making watching, gawking at him. He stopped moving and looked at me, then slowly moved to take off his helmet. Seeing his neck, then his jaw, feeling excited, nervous, happiness deep within me. Did I ever think I was going to find happiness again? he tossed his helmet down, came back to me, he looks very similar to human but with their teeth, and those beautiful eyes, like galaxies, sparkling, with different colors. Looking into his eyes, I then saw that he was seeing me without his armor. he doesn't have hair but firm, scaly skin covering his whole body. Pointed ears, from fairy tale books I saw when I was little, they were similar to elves. My hands explored his body and his facial features, thinking this would be the only time I would see him like this that I would explore him as much as I can and burn his image into my mind. I am not scared of him, and he noticed that so he relaxed more with my touch. 

   "Sky, I want to hear what you think of me now."

   "......Beautiful, amazing, you are perfect!" I said this while looking into his eyes, my hands placed on each side of his neck, with my thumbs rubbing his jaw. His forehead touched mine, and we stayed like that until he heard something in his helmet. 

   "I'm sorry Sky but I'm needed down at the city, I will return soon." he kissed my forehead and quickly put his armor back on. He left but the feel of his skin still lingered on my fingertips, I didn't want him to leave because of the doubts I held. But like he said, either he has to or someone else will. All I can do is wait now, for how long, I don't know. 

   A few days passed by, but he did not return. I half expected this result, but I more worried about his safety. I wondered how it is that he looked more human than the Commander, is there different types of them? The door opened, and Tally walked through. 

   "Tally, isn't this quite the surprise visit."

   "Why it is Sky, I just came by to check on you. My master and his subordinates have become very busy down in the cities, such a hassle." She looked out the window, seems like she's lost in thought.

   "As you can see that I am still alive, and well."

   "Don't get cocky Sky!" She exclaimed angrily.

   "I was only joking Tally-"

   "Nobody has time for your dry jokes! Because of the likes of you, no one will listen to my ideas for humanity's upbringing."

   "What do you mean because of me?"

   "All of the citizens think my idea that the humans race should be reduced by half, and divided into four sections on earth, is basically g******e. Like they know anything!"

   I am dumbfounded hearing this, it's a no wonder everyone is mad. "Do you really consider yourself human Tally?"

   "What? Just what do you get off by asking such a stupid question?"

   "You can't just throw ideas around like that expecting people to side with you!"

   "Because of you and your ideas that humans deserve freedom, and to be free-range, that people think they have rights to protest me!"

   "I only told people that we deserve to be treated as equals to the sky beings."

   "You ruined everything! Humans think they can survive on their own, thrive without help. I want to show them that they need to be controlled!"

   "Stop this Tally!"

   "It's your fault, I brought you here to control you, to keep you away from what I want to do!"

   I can't understand why she's doing this, does she want power? "It doesn't matter what you want, what we want as a whole race matters more! Peace, Freedom!" 

   "My master left me here because my presence cause nothing but anger, he is angry at me too."

   "Tally I don't understand-"

   "Shut up Sky! You are just like your father that everyone talked about!"

   "My father?"

   "Yes, he was stupid, he gave away the villages location, all to gain freedom from the sky beings, he sacrificed us all to help himself. That's what you did to all of us too!"

   "...I didn't know any of this, the village never cared for me so why would they say such things?!"

   "I know they didn't care, nor did I. Your ignorance killed my mother and everyone I knew! You couldn't even be a good pet."

   "That's all in the past Tally, You have to see the bigger picture!"

   "Shut up! I don't care about anyone, I just want to see my master succeed!"

   "All of your words make no sense at all Tally! Think for a moment!"

   She didn't hesitate, she rushed at me and started hitting me with all her might. A young girl with no experience in the real world, wanting power she can't control, or don't know how to use it. Taking all of her anger out on me, I didn't want to fight her so I just backed up against the wall deflecting her hits. Waiting for her to be done with whatever rage she built up, she is pulled away from me in an instant. So I removed my hands from my face to see the Captain restraining Tally while the Commander watches at the door. Just how long were they there for?

   The Captain turn Tally to another soldier waiting, and left with her. He then turned to me, "Are you okay Sky?" He kept a cautious distance from me because of who else is in the room.

   "I'm okay now, thank you Captain." I made sure not to be too obvious in my feelings.

   "Good." He nodded his head and turned to the Commander as they were saying something to each other.

   "Leave now, I wish to speak with Sky alone." I glanced up after hearing the Commanders voice tell everyone, The Captain looked back at me, gave a quick nod then ushered the soldiers out with him. Now I am alone with the Commander, as he just stands there like a statue. I am now terrified of what he wants with me.