Junitha continued to quietly sing the song to herself in Japanese.
“What is that song?” asked Janessa.
“Cruel Angel’s Thesis. It’s from a show. A really old show.”
“You seem different.”
“It’s been a long few weeks since we left the Solar System. I think we are all a bit different. But hey at least we’ve had time to learn how to use the strongarm system in the fighters better.”
“You never wear your funny t-shirts anymore,” said Janessa, “ever since Zai appeared. You started wearing that white jumpsuit all the time. I mean you look good in it, but I don’t really get it. Why is there a letter ‘A’ over the left breast? You look almost like some kind of superhero.”
“Maybe I am a superhero,” said Junitha playfully.
“I saw Zai. The night before we went into deep space. He was singing. He was singing this sad beautiful song. I guess it was whatever language he speaks. There is so much we don’t know about him. What is this thing he serves he keeps mentioning? What really happened to the rest of his people? Why is this ship all that’s left of them?”
Junitha did not even try to answer. She just listened.
“And Duron said he still loved me. I’ve been staying far away from him. But Dr. Bane said I should confront him to… I don’t know… Solve my feelings or some crap like that. I just keep burying myself in training so I don’t have to think about any of it.”
“I feel like I should say something wise or witty,” said Junitha, “But I got nothing. I am curious to see what this presentation Zai wants to give this afternoon is all about. I think some people are actually getting used to him just wandering around the ship and just standing there sometimes. I guess it helps knowing if he does judge us unworthy he’ll do us the courtesy of dumping us back on Earth before he leaves us all to die. Everyone was a little jumpy when they thought he would kill us all and jettison our bodies into space.”
“It’s not like any of this stuff I’m going through really matters,” said Janessa, “we’re supposed to be fighting to save humanity and I’m thinking about something that isn’t even important.”
“Don’t think its not important Janessa. It may not be the biggest thing in the world but it does matter. What you are going through right now, that’s this thing we call life. And that is exactly what we are fighting for, even the parts that kind of suck.”
Zai, last of the Raath stood alone in the western viewing room looking at the stars go by. They were in faster than light travel mode. None of the humans could even begin to understand how the engines worked. They were in pursuit of the Spectral Horde fleet after its retreat from the Solar System. They hoped it would lead them to the Spectral Horde home planet and answers to why the war was started in the first place and maybe a way to end it. Ryoko Jeagan approached Zai.
“I want to ask you something,” she said.
“Do as you please,” he replied without looking away from the stars.
“I want to learn from you. I want to be able to fight like you do. I want you to teach me. Teach me to be a better fighter, a better soldier. Teach me how to be a true warrior.”
Zai looked at her. His body language changed. He always stood and moved with purpose. Now he seemed almost confused or conflicted in his stance.
“You want to learn from me?”
“Yes,” she said, “I want to learn to be like you.”
And the confidence, the unshaken purpose of his body returned and he said, “You have no idea what I am.”
“You are the greatest warrior I have ever seen.”
“No I am not,” shouted Zai, “I am Raath. And you have no idea what that means. Do you want to know what I am? Do you want to know what it means to be Raath? I will explain it to you. First you must understand what I am not. I am not a fighter. I am not a soldier. And I am not a warrior. A fighter seeks to always become stronger. A fighter seeks out worthy opponents to test his skill and gain power. A soldier follows orders. A soldier is loyal to a leader, or a nation, or a group of people. A soldier fights to defend that leader or nation from all enemies that would do it harm. A warrior follows a code of honor and may seek fame or riches or some other goal. A warrior will take any action to achieve that goal but always follow the code. This is how I define these terms. My people called themselves fighters and soldier and warriors but we were none of these things. I am none of these things.”
Ryoko waited but when there was nothing but quiet she asked the question, “Then what are you?”
“I am a killer,” said Zai, “We were taught to be killers above all else. We were not taught to think of orders or seeking strength in battle. We were not even taught to seek victory. We were taught to think only of making the kill. We called ourselves conquerors but we had no desire to dominate or occupy the places we attacked. Raath only lived for destruction and slaughter. Our race was mad with hatred and bloodlust. When we found intelligent life that was different from our own we would kill it. Because they were not as strong as us and therefore undeserving of life. That is what the Raath were. They are gone now and I am all that remains. I will not allow the evil of my people to be resurrected. They have been wiped from the face of the universe and it is a better place for it.”
Ryoko had no idea what to say or do in the face of Zai’s words.
“Was this your idea or Kerrigan’s?” said Zai, “it is clear this was part of ploy to gain my trust. Whose idea was it?”
“It was mine,” said Ryoko, “although Mr. Kerrigan did approve. I meant what I said. I want to learn to be the best from you. If I need to learn to be a killer to be the best I am willing to do that.”
“You have not been listening,” said Zai, “I will not allow the kind of evil my people perpetrated to ever happen again. If I ever see humanity go down the path my kind did, I would destroy you all.”
No comments:
Post a Comment