Another adventure, Not presently.
"Do we all go for missions immediately after another?"
"Do not reason that way, Shyva." Nyla's heeled boots click-clacked against the white marble floor, walking over to Shyva. She lowered herself to the chair and wrapped her arm around Shyva.
"The first task was to prepare you for the big world. You are a warrior and a smart one. These assignments develop your intellect to make the right decisions and make a quick one, too. It also speeds your survival instinct and gives you tactical knowledge."
Shyva nodded her head slowly, still doubting herself since the last one.
"Did you ever go on any of these missions?"
"Of course, dear."
Shyva turned, sitting upright, anticipating the stories.
"Very well, very well," Nyla placed her drink on a nearby glass, cubical stand.
"I can't remember how many, but there were so many. In the very beginning, I was scared and thought I was going to die, but eventually, I got conversant with saving the people around me and serving a purpose that killed my fear. Now, nothing scares me again."
Shyva listened attentively, not distracted a bit.
'I went for one, and we had to destroy a particular species of arthropods. Very unique, and I was informed it was a smaller creature compared to others. I drilled in my mind that size until I was face to face with six large pincer legs and four crawling ones. The antennas swished and swooshed, lashing at everything around them. A lash could divide anyone and anything in two. It was green and had many eyes around it, which made it very difficult to attack because of its full area vision. It was the first mission I wasn't prepared for because of the shock."
"How did you conquer?"
"It wasn't less intimidating facing a large creature towering over me. I did manoeuvre and improvise, but it was a hundred percent efficient. There was no help and the outer skin covered in chitin couldn't hold a weapon for support, I slipped whenever I climbed onto it. The support almost snapped, losing most of my ammunition. Laser beams bounced off its skin. However, it had a weakness, and that was its mouth. I had no idea why it took me so long to realize that. The mouth was right under, between its first pair of legs.
It crawled a vast distance as I clung to my life. I targeted its movement while it halted, swaying to throw me off its body. I slid under, shooting some explosives I had left with me into its mouth. It took forever before it blew up. It didn't go without a fight, hitting its pincers on the ground. I was trapped underneath it until it crawled forward and turned to chase me. I could never have tried racing against it, for I'd lose. But in time, it blew up so close its composition splattered all over me."
"That was heroic, Nyla."
"Don't flatter me, Shyva. I hate it, but I'll be lenient with you." She smiled, waving to dismiss the praise.
"I want to be like you, an expert at making the right decisions. I know I possess the strength, but I don't know if I'll make the right decisions without any assistance."
"Assistance?" Nyla asked, looking deep into Shyva's eyes.
"I didn't mean that; I only insinuated the soldiers from the dome and the tactical team."
"Very well then."
That was close; I hadn't envisioned she would see through that lie if I hadn't been quick to make up those words. She is a smart woman. I wish I could tell her. She seems to care for me.
"I want you to believe you're greater than them all."
"You mean my sisters?" Shyva was shocked.
"I do not mean them alone. I mean every soldier there is."
"You can always handle situations and be self-sufficient. You have come this far because you have the zeal and have been trained by the best. Promise me you won't let me down."
"I promise, overseer" Shyva turned to look at the acute gaze of her guardian.
Nyla nodded and gave her a warning stare.
Tell her, Shyva, now or later. I don't want her to see me as a liability; she gives me enough credit and awards me honour for being the first student to go on an adventure without the Dome's assistance. I can't tell her; I may let her down and lose her guidance.
Vakiyv walked into his overseer's office, hands behind his back, with a confident poise. Only if he knew.
Vermeen worked on his holo tablet, pretending to ignore his soldier. Vakiyv froze. Under the mask, his expression reflected respect and frustration. It was the first time Vermeen had treated him this way.
"You asked for my presence, Overseer Vermeen."
Vermeen looked above his tablet while scrolling hologram cypher documents. He dropped the tablet on his unconventional-shaped desk, which had no definite form and fell with a thud.
"You want to be Lord of the Land, Vakiyv." He roared, staring with menace at the shocked man before him. You can be whatever you want, but in my office, lair, and world, you remain in your place until I acknowledge your presence, or the consequences would be cataclysmic."
"Cologir, sir," Vakiyv yelled.
"Very well."
"Where were you cresces ago?"
Vakiyv penetrated his gaze through Vermeen's eyes; he would take full responsibility for his actions. He would sacrifice his pride for a girl he knew little about.
"Good; your best behaviour is to keep mute when I question your decisions and actions," Vermeen yelled.
Vakiyv still didn't answer his question. He was at attention, looking over his master's head. There was no regret in his eyes but an icy stare that lacked emotions.
"I have noticed since the fight with that little girl from the Dome."
"What about her, sir?"
"You've lacked concentration since you've been to the Dome. What do you see in her?"
Vakiyv didn't alter his countenance; there was nothing to say and nothing to hide.
"You answer me this instant, boy." Vermeen's anger was getting the best of him.
Vakiyv wasn't startled. He was the superior of all the male young soldiers. His training began when he was little. He was more brutal, and with a guide like Vermeen, he was impaired psychologically. He didn't feel pain, never shook out of fear, never raised his voice except when necessary, never spoke more than a few lines, and never felt love.
All these were the works of Vermeen, who saw to the installation of wires as an act of torture, inducing electricity, chemicals, heat, and cold as a means of punishment for his wrongdoings. It took two decades, and the young man had become a walking robot.
But still, Vakiyv respected his master.
"I see; let me tell you something," Vermeen jerked from his seat, "unlike the Dome, whose minds are still chaotic on their choice of the genders in their world. In our world, we have a specific gender to which we belong to, and it has a reason. You see, the female gender has many abilities, versatile abilities to make men delusional." Vermeen's eyes winded, absent-minded as he spoke.
"Sir, are you speaking from experience?" Vakiyv asked, confused about his master's countenance.
"Just remember that." Vermeen pointed his finger at his student. "Very well, you're dismissed." Vermeen shifted his lips and rolled his eyes with disgust.
Vakiyv turned to leave when the voice of Vermeen brought him to a halt. "Vakiyv, you are one of the best fighters we have here, and it would be a great loss if we lost you to your delusions and fantasy. Remember, you lead armies. A leader knows what he must do to protect the people he owes life to and his fellows. They trust you; remember that."
Vakiyv nodded with respect to the wise saying. He was relieved when he left Vermeen's office and took a turn only to be faced with two of his colleagues, their stances in lethal modes.
Vakiyv didn't envision Vermeen would do that to him. He took a step backwards and turned to flee, but he was ambushed as the other two blocked his path. He predicted the actions of their moves and was prepared to fight. Only he knew there were ways instructed to take him down. Vakiyv was shot with a tranquiliser, which took him out immediately, paralysing his limbs and lowering him to the ground before closing his eyes.
His last view was Vermeen laughing at him.