Bird of a Wing - Chapter 18: Chapter 18

For the rest of the night, despite the storm raging outside, Eyeri slept peacefully in the arms of his mentor and his sort of foster brother. One of the safest places in the world he could be. In the arms of a protective k'nairi who would rip apart anyone who tried to harm those he had sworn to protect.
The peace did not last long.
Aw'endo stirred, the seal on his wrist burning hot. He sat up slowly and shook Ryraso. Eyeri groaning from the movement. "Ry!" he whispered, not exactly wanting to wake Eyeri just yet if he did not have to.
"What Aw'en?" Ryraso groaned back, looking up at his foster son with sleepy eyes before blinking and becoming more serious. He looked at his own wrist, suddenly aware of the burning too. "Tai'ray," he hissed, but before he could do anything the sirens started to cry out.
"Red alert, this is not a drill, all personnel to battle stations," rang out Taidra's voice on a pre-recorded message.
Ryraso cursed viciously before rolling out of bed and getting his boots on, grabbing the few weapons he kept in his room. Knives in his boots and a gun which went around his neck.
"Eyeri! Wake up," he yelled out above the noise, the boy sitting up and looking dazed and confused. "We got to go, now!" he yelled as he grabbed the boys and pulled them off the bed, slipping into emergency mode. Ryraso pulled his jacket on, watching as Aw'endo put his own shoes on, Eyeri having to dig in Ryraso's closet for his spare pair.
"Hurry up," Ryraso scolded, opening the door and checking the corridor for any signs of enemies. As it was that floor was mostly people rushing to their stations half dressed but aware.
There was a list of rules and regulations Ryraso was supposed to follow as the head surgeon and caretaker to the youngest on the ship. Notably, while the ship was grounded, he needed to get them both off the ship in case the D'mar tried to board. As a healer, Ryraso was a high stake prisoner. Eyeri was mostly unknown to the D'mar but it wouldn't take the D'mar long to put two and two together. More importantly, with Tai'ray's decree, if the enemy got a hold of Ryraso, he wouldn't be fighting again for a long time.
"Here, carry this," Ryraso passed the emergency first aid kit to Eyeri, who took it willingly before following Ryraso out the door. Aw'endo close behind, the k'nairi keeping his wings low.
They moved at a fast pace towards the nearest exit point. A loud boom went off and the ship rocked slightly, Taidra's prerecorded message stopping but the siren continued to wail.
"What's going on?" Eyeri called as he jogged to keep up. They passed a few soldiers who were all armed and ready to fight, walking towards the lifts. Most of them nodded at Ryraso as they passed, one reaching out to ruffle Eyeri's hair but none answered his question.
"Tai'ray's attacking the ship," Aw'endo murmured, to Eyeri as they paused, Ryraso fiddling with his watch to turn on the emergency comm unit inside. "I think they must have fired some missiles at the ship?" he furrowed his brow, unable to join the link because of the seal and slightly scared by the situation. He needed to keep Eyeri safe, he had promised.
"Gods," Eyeri whispered in horror, knowing they had no way to repair the ship if the damage was too great.
Ryraso ignored both boys, making a sound of victory as he managed to activate the unit. "Taidra! Talk to me, what's going on?" he yelled into his comm, holding the side of his head as he heard gunfire coming from the corridor in front of them.
Unfamiliar D'mar grunts came around the corner and started firing at them. Ryraso dived to the side of the corridor wall for some cover, the two boys following him, all three ducking for cover as bullets started to fly towards them. Ryraso aimed with his own gun and started firing as Namya soldiers headed towards them to help. He was not going to lose Eyeri and Aw'endo just yet. The two boys trembling in fear and keeping down out of the way, Aw'endo clutching on to Eyeri and shielding him with his wings.
"We got fighting on decks 1, 2, 7 and 8. 5 and 6 are completely no go. Decks 3 and 4 are still safe at the moment but won't be for long so I'd suggest getting your ass off the ship," Taidra called to him over the comm link. "K'nairi are heading your way now, not just the D'mar grunts. From the shouts no longer just for Aw'endo so be careful!" he hissed.
"Where's Inai?" Ryraso demanded as he reloaded his weapon, gunfire hailing overhead before firing again.
He knew Aw'endo wouldn't be the only person the k'nairi were after, not after Tai'ray's threat but the way Taidra said it...If they got out of this alive, Taidra was going to be on him about why Tai'ray suddenly wanted him. Inai would too, he thought bitterly, Ryraso's secrets were about to come crashing through the roof it seemed.
Ryraso stopped firing as the twins appeared, Kelenn bracing next to him to keep on firing. Sayskel on the other side of the corridor, the Namya troops pushing forward. Ryraso didn't have to ask why they were there, he knew who would have sent them.
"Eyeri! The hatch," he yelled at the boy, who nodded and quickly uncovered one of the service hatches. Typing in the code to open the door, being one of the few of the ship to know them.
"Deck 2 fighting Loror! Isst's with him," Taidra answered over the comm. Ryraso could hear the man's furious typing. The security office was on deck 3 and from Taidra's admission, it was still safe but was doubtful for long. Taidra had to ensure the safety of everyone on the ship and he could only do that by staying in the room as long as possible.
"Loror's here? I thought it was Tai'ray?" Ryraso frowned, not sure if he had heard properly because of the gunfire.
"Tai'ray led the attack. Loror must have thought it was a good chance to take. He came in screaming something about insubordinate seconds," Taidra commented, his voice grainy over the connection. "One moment!" Taidra's comm link blinked offline just as Eyeri opened the hatch with a heavy grunt.
The service vents were small, only just big enough for Ryraso to stand up in, but they were solid and only a few people had access to keep them safe.
"Twins!" Ryraso yelled as Aw'endo and Eyeri got in the hatch. Kelenn and Sayskel nodded. Kelenn provided cover fire while Sayskel moved across to their side of the corridor. Ryraso began shooting as well, Kelenn using that as a chance to duck into the hatch.
"You first Ryraso," Sayskel yelled over the sound of shooting. Most of what was attacking them now appeared to be enemy drones rather than actual fighters but the drones were never sent unless there were troops nearby. Ryraso nodded and slid into the hatch. A few moments later there was a loud boom and Sayskel jumped in, slamming the door closed behind him. The locks engaged with a heavy clung and the sound of shooting disappeared.
"Eyeri, Aw'endo. You two okay?" Ryraso asked, panting slightly. He was used to being behind the front lines, not on them. The service vents were dark, lit by blue glow lights. There was an unpleasant smell in them, but not one Ryraso could name.
"I'm fine," Aw'endo said, sounding remarkably calm. Eyeri made an agreeing sound, but was obviously scared and rattled. Aw'endo was holding Eyeri's wrist, the boy not complaining.
"Kelenn, Sayskel?" Ryraso asked next, looking at the twins.
"We're good," the warriors answered in unison, reloading their guns. "Isst sent us to you. He said that you'd need help," Sayskel admitted, his voice sounding strange with how serious he was being. Neither twin could stand up straight in the corridors but neither were they complaining about the situation.
"Thank you," Ryraso breathed, leaning against the wall. He paused, turning on his comm again as Taidra called him back.
"Right, Tai'ray is on deck 2 as well, heading towards the elevators. Unfortunately, they are open and he will be able to get to any level of the ship. I have all the doors steel-locked but Tai'ray isn't your normal grunt so he will be able to get through them. Nel'os and Dyn'ad are about somewhere, but I can't find them on the monitors... Oh shit, Dyn'ad is on your level, heading your way."
"Roger, we'll get moving," Ryraso pointed in a direction and the twins nodded. Kelenn taking point, followed by Ryraso. Sayskel brought up the rear, but not before handing Aw'endo a small gun.
"Shoot if you need to defend yourself," He growled, "Not at us or we will take it from you."
"Yes sir," Aw'endo replied in strict army fashion. He knew a serious order when he heard one.
"Taidra! Shouldn't you be bailing out by now?" Ryraso said into the comm link., slightly concerned by the director still being in his office.
"Not yet. Watching Tai'ray at the moment. Fuck it," Taidra cursed viciously into the comm link before a ship-wide alert went out. "This is Taidra! I repeat this is Taidra! All Namya forces be warned the rest of the D'mar are on the horizon! I repeat the rest of the D'mar are on the horizon. Bail now people and get to safety!" The alert cut out and siren finally stopped.
"Not good," Kelenn murmured darkly, "Eyeri, do you know the nearest exit by using these shafts?" he asked.
"Err, the next left will take us to hanger Delta," The boy offered, using his knowledge of the maintenance shaft to think of the quickest routes out.
"Any others? That's where they got in." Sayskel explained.
"If we double back and take the second left that route will take us to hanger beta," the boy murmured, pausing in his steps.
"Taidra, which hanger is safer, Delta or Beta?" Ryraso asked over the comm.
"Beta," Taidra replied firmly, his fingers having stopped typing, "All files wiped from the system now," he exhaled.
"Then bail and get your ass out of there," Ryraso ordered. Taidra would not do well in a one on one fight with any of the Dmar warriors.
"Too late. Tai'ray broke the lock on deck 3. He's currently trying to get through my door," Taidra's voice was oddly calm about the situation despite its severity. "It's been a pleasure serving with you Ryraso," he whispered with a haunting finality in his voice.
"Taidra! No, don't think about it! Surrender, Tai'ray won't kill you," Ryraso yelled down the comm, making the others jump.
Aw'endo turned and watched as Ryraso yelled at Taidra not to do anything stupid. Sayskel grabbed Ryraso's wrist and pulled it to his face.
"God dammit Tai! Don't do anything stupid, we still need you!" Sayskel yelled at his cousin.
"Tai'ray might not, but Loror will. I'm dirt remember? Not worth anything with my deficiencies," Taidra said softly. Taidra was asthmatic, diabetic and to top it off had an allergy to nuts. He was weak, the sort of person who would have been expected to have died by now but instead he was on the flagship.
"Taidra..." Sayskel whispered.
"Sayskel, Kelenn, live well. Goodbye Ryraso, I hope we all met again," Taidra cut the connection as Ryraso yelled not to fire at Tai'ray. Kelenn said nothing, looking down at the metal floor, his hands shaking.
"Ryraso? What's he going to do?" Eyeri asked, his tone worried. Aw'endo not looking at any of them. His leader was about to kill someone close to his foster family.
"Taidra's going to pull a suicide attack on Tai'ray," Ryraso murmured his voice almost emotionless.
"Tai'ray might not kill him. He likes Taidra," Kelenn murmured softly, Aw'endo looking up at him in surprise of that statement. "Taidra's not a real threat to him, the Winglord knows that."
"The Winglord isn't exactly sane at the moment," Ryraso pointed out before letting out a sound of frustration, hitting the wall with his fist. "Dammit, Taidra!"
They all paused for a moment in complete silence before the sound of metal being ripped open could be heard.
"Let's keep moving," Sayskel yelled as they all followed Eyeri, who was now leading them to hanger Beta. Ryraso nodded, running with them. This all meant nothing if they couldn't escape.
Suddenly there was a dark chuckle of delight over his comm."So that's where you're all hiding," Tai'ray purred.