Faces of Askani'son

by Shaianne K. PeriHawk

 

 


Disclaimer: I do not own Nathan Dayspring, nor do I own the Askani. All the rest are mine, as is the story. Please respect that.


Aleks

The fog covered everything. I held my plasma rifle ready. Who knew what waited in the mist?

That's when I heard the crying. The anguished sobs pulled at what was left of my heart. Someone was hurting.

Cautiously, it still my be one of Apocalypse's tricks, I made my way toward the sound. The fog parted in its patient time, showing a lump on the ground, a kid.

Nothing but skin and scars, he couldn't be more very old. He lay on the ground, crying as if his world had been destroyed in a single fell swoop.

He reminded me of me at that age.

And every other kid in the world.

There was no reason he should be different.

Then he looked up at me through those pain-filled blue/gray eyes. I couldn' t let him become just another casualty of the bystander.

I knelt down next to him. "Are you okay?" I asked shortly.

"S-Slym-"

"Are you okay?" I asked more insistently.

"Y-yes."

I hauled him to his feet. "I don't know why I'm doing this, kid, but if you want a snow ball's chance in hell of living, follow me like a shadow, hear?"

"Yes, sir."

Sir? No one had ever called me, sir. I was just a soldier. Fought in between meal times and rolling pretty women in the pleasure houses.

We slipped through the citadel. I have to admit, the kid was pretty good at staying quiet. We were yards from being free and clear when they spotted us.

They didn't bother with a polite "Halt!" They just started shooting. I threw the kid in front of me and pushed him to a run that would have done anyone proud.

I could see the door. Once we got outside, everything would be just fine. At least for the kid. You see, I'd already been shot. I was a goner any way the dice landed. But I could do this one last deed.

I shoved the kid out the door and sealed it behind him. I turned to the oncoming soldiers. I raised my plasma rifle and set it on automatic fire. I was killing off the enemy long after my heart stopped.


Terlin

He was quite a kid. Sixteen weeks of extensive training and his demeanor changed not a wit. * Something * had toughened this kid beyond anything I'd seen before.

"Dayspring. Please demonstrate Obani Sku to Commandant Otamu," I barked. Young Nathan Dayspring obeyed quickly.

Not the usual conscript. His every action spoke of something he had to prove. If I hadn't figured it out in sixteen weeks, I doubted anyone could.

When Dayspring finished, I laser-tattooed his serial number to his left shoulder blade myself. He was the top of the graduating class of soldiers.


Redka

"Class Edgin 9462. I am your instructor, Kari Redka." I paced the dais in front of the newest batch of soldiers in the leadership course. They looked promising, but looks meant nothing. That was the first thing I taught.

I scanned the crowd for the biggest, toughest looking cadet. I found the perfect one. He was almost six feet, with a mean looking metal arm.

"You!" I pointed at him. "Down here, now." He leapt to his feet and ran down the stairs. He all but saluted me when he came to a halt. I clasped my hands behind my back and casually looked him up and down. "Subdue me."

In the back of my mind, with my minor telepathic abilities, I heard the other cadets snicker in their own minds. Nothing escaped from the cadet in front of me.

He moved quickly, but was still no match for my training. Before anyone knew what had happened, young Cadet Dayspring lay on the floor at my feet.

I dusted off, crossed my hands over my breasts and addressed the rest of the cadets. "Lesson One, never underestimate anyone."

Dayspring stared up at me with new respect and comprehension in his eyes.


Kelsin

"Through this course, we have emphasized the taking of responsibility." I stood completely still before the class that was to graduate tomorrow. "Now comes the most important lesson you will learn."

I opened my eyes and looked up at the students without raising my head. "There comes a point when things go beyond someone's control. You will feel that it is your responsibility, if you are a good leader. But remember, you are not gods. No man is."

I finished the speech I gave to every class, and watched silently as they filed out. I spoke up when I saw the student I was looking for.

"Mister Dayspring."

Nathan Dayspring, one of the best students. He held a lot of pain in his face. I stared at him for several long moments. "I hope you remember this lecture in the days to come, Mister Dayspring."

"Yes sir."

"You may leave."


Soldier #404-7

It was a hell of a raid. Each time I remember it, I want to go back. I feel my claws itching to tear into Askani flesh.

Then I found the kid. He couldn't have been more than seventeen, but he was deadly with that plasma gun. He nearly took off my head with that thing. We spent a long time fighting. I'm not sure what chip he had on his shoulder, but he seemed to want to take it out on * my * lily hide.

We followed each other for over an hour. Neither one of us had much of an advantage at any given time.

But then he managed to get the upper hand. I still get phantom pains from the leg he took. Even the prosthetic doesn't make up for flesh. I don't know how, but I'm waiting for the day I see that Askani again.

~end~


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