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The original was posted on /r/hfy by /u/Risesohigh33 on 2025-11-04 18:48:08+00:00.
Klara and Joshua don't waste another moment to tear toward each other. I see a flurry of three, no four, no five moves between the two of them in the blink of an eye. A kick from Klara, a jab from Joshua. And then the two Soulless are slamming into the dirt on top of each other, taking it in extra close.
Matteo takes that as our opening and hauls me by the back of my clothes before tossing me forward. Goodness, is he strong. "Ship! Now!" Matteo roars behind me as there's a discharge of energy fire from the fighting Soulless. I take a glance to see neither was hit, and they're exchanging blades again. Both have been cut.
I also notice that the other groups of lifeforms near their ships around this dockyard, about the take off, either do so in a hurry or scurry away in a panic. They see the two killers going blow for blow and realize they want no part of it. Warning lights start to shine. The entire dockyard is being notified, evacuated and giving the Terrans center stage for their duel.
I can't tell if that's good or bad for us. I don't care.
I dart up the ramp into the ship with Matteo right behind me. Getting to the top of the ramp, I stop to see the cargo hold. Boxes and crates and other machinery are parked around us, and I realize I haven't really spent much time here since we took this ship.
I spot the door beyond the cargo hold that will take us to the rest of the ship. I turn my head back to Matteo. "I see the door!' I yell. Matteo is almost up to me. "We can get to the cockpit that way--"
Out of the corner of my eye, something flashes in the darkness. Matteo sees it too. So, Joshua wasn't completely alone. Should've known.
"Sheon!" Matteo yells, pounding his way toward me, moving far faster than a man that big should. "Down--"
I manage to jerk my head back as quickly as I can, but it's not enough. Crippling pain rips across my forehead, and I feel a rush of warm blood immediately. I'm falling, crumpling to the ground not on some battle instinct, but in sheer agony.
I can't see. I can't see a thing. Did it hit my eyes? I wipe away at the blood. No, no the excruciating pain is coming from above the eye. I try to squint, furiously wiping away my own blood.
It's a good thing I dropped to the gorund, because another blade flies through the air, one that would have made a nice, comfortable home in my neck had I not moved. But it's chattering harmlessly down the ramp as Matteo bellows and hops straight over me. He reaches into his belt and pulls his pistol, firing three quick times.
I don't see what happens as I use my sleeves to wipe my eyes. I press my hand straight on the cut and immediately recoil. Fuck me, that hurt! I gut through it and press my hand to the wound again, clamping down with a hiss. I stagger to my feet, finally taking it in, as I brace against a wall.
Matteo is standing over one dead Terran, who took what has to be three rounds straight to its chest, because I see the upper half of its body at least three or so feet from the lower half. Matteo's aim cut the main straight in half.
Matteo is ducking behind some cover as more shots ring out. He growls in annoyance. "You'll kill us both, you fucking idiot!" He yells. "Hit the wrong thing, and this whole place blows fucking sky high! You can see the fucking gas lines!"
"Fuck you, traitor!" Another few shots from the other side of the cargo hold.
Matteo actually laughs. "That's just disappointing," he says. He reaches into his pocket, removes an orb and kisses it before pressing on it. I squint to watch as Matteo tosses the orb over his shoulder and then does a double take as he sees me up and moving. His eyes go big.
"Sheon! Don't look at it! Drop!"
This time, my instinct saves me. I've learned that when a Terran tells me to cower, it's best to do so immediately. I've gotten good at it and let my body go limp, curling into myself.
There's such a flash that I can almost see it through my arms wrapped around my head. A loud bang that rips at my hearing. Then, slowly as it comes back, a happy tune. A...what does James do sometimes? Whistle?
Yes, a whistle. And as I uncurl myself, I see Matteo holstering his pistol. He flips a knife out from his sleeve and disappears around a corner. There's a sickening sucking sound and a gasp, and then Matteo reappears with blood on his hands. He jogs over to me.
Matteo bends and carefully, delicately, places a hand on my forehead. "You okay?" he asks. His breath is heavy. That was textbook, but he hasn't done this in a while, clearly.
"Yeah...I'm good," I say, taking deep breaths as I steady myself against the wall again. "Got me pretty deep though."
Matteo removes his hand and takes a look by gently removing mine. He lets out a tsk from his mouth. "Yeah, they got you good alright," he says. He reaches into his waist and pulls out a strip of something. He places me against the wall as he wraps my wound in whatever it is. A shirt? A bandage? I don't know.
I just know it hurts like hell when he finishes it with a knot and a good amount of pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding.
Then Matteo slaps my shoulder. "Med bay is needed. But that'll have to do for now, because we have to make sure there's no one else around," he says. There's a huge bang from outside. The Terrans are upgrading their weapons against each other. Sirens are going off now.
Either the city or the planet's government is clearing the stage so the Terrans don't kill anyone else in their blood feud. Honestly? Not a bad way to keep the peace. And all good for us, I've decided. Gives us a runway to leave.
Another slap on my shoulder. "Gotta do it now."
Then Matteo is darting that big body toward the door at the front of the cargo hold. He gets to the opening and pulls back just in time as an energy round comes screaming into the hold from further inside.
It collides with the ceiling at the back of the hold. Just as Matteo warned, something ignites. It's not large, and anti-inflammatory systems kick in to suppress it.
But it just drives Matteo into a further rage. "Just like I fucking said! The fucking gas line!" he roars as he discards a pistol behind him as I approach. He points to it, then to me, then to the hallway leading into the ship.
"Don't care if you don't know how to shoot!" he yells. "Cover me!"
I pick up the gun, steeling myself and knowing that I have done this before. I do not like this feeling. I've told you that.
But sometimes, a Gyn just wants to live. And sometimes, you can't let everyone else fight for you. So, sometimes, I have to fight for that.
That's why I fire on automatic over Matteo's shoulder without a thought.
...
Matteo and I are crouching over two Terran bodies and peering around the corner to the cockpit. It was a bit of a game finally getting them to the ground. Attack and retreat. Attack and retreat. They are good, but Matteo is a revelation. Klara was right. There is a soldier in there.
He was the one who delivered both of the killing blows. I definitely wounded one, and I provided covering fire to take the other down. So, I'm not innocent--I've played my part here. My hands are dirty too.
I tap Matteo's back hip as we wait to see if anyone comes to answer the alarm that went off two minutes ago. Matteo is panting now. He doesn't have much energy left, I don't think.
We haven't heard anything from Klara. Just a lot of breathing over the comms. Some shouting. They're still going at it.
James has gone dark. Not a word.
My head throbs something terrible, but the pain and fear are keeping me focused. "Why'd you leave Earth, Matteo?" I ask out of nowhere.
He doesn't even look at me, but he scoffs. "Not the time, Sheon," he grumbles.
"I know why James and Klara left. I need to know why you left," I say. "So I can trust you."
"Why would you need to trust--" Matteo pauses and turns to me. His eyes are still sharp, despite the exhaustion.
"Right," he says, seeing something in my eyes. "Family was killed. Car accident. You don't know what cars are, but it doesn't matter. The fact that it was an accident does. And that I didn't have anything left to live for." He frowns at me. "You? Why'd you leave"--he makes a motion with his hand--"your home."
I swallow. "Father was king. His generals pulled a coup. Killed my entire family." I cock my head. "So, similar."
Matteo opens his mouth. Then he looks around the corner, sees nothing and looks back at me. "I'm sorry, Sheon," he says quietly.
"So am I," I say. Then I nod. "But I have something to live for now. And so do you. So, let's not die, right?"
Matteo looks at me for a moment before breaking out into a smile. "Amen to that. To the cockpit. Stay behind me. I'll block you from view in case there's anyone in there."
I smile back. "Yes, you will. You're big," I say.
Matteo coughs and laughs at the same time. He starts to move forward. "Little shit," he says to himself.
I stay far enough back from Matteo, but still close enough and to his side, that anyone opening the closed door to the cockpit wouldn't be able to spot me. We have no idea if...
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