Goodbyes

A man walks forward and says "Thane, your father wants to see you." Thane and I turn to look at the man and see him and the others around him, flinch and back up. One man quietly speaks up saying "Commander... he doesn't look right."

The Commander stands his ground and snaps "Silent." He raises his voice, not realizing that Thane and I can hear them just fine and says "Thane... It doesn't matter what has happened. We will find a cure for you." Thane scoffs at the man and says "I'm gonna have to turn down that offer, Commander."

The guns all raise again, making their intentions clear. Thane pushes me behind him in a protective manner causing the Commander to look at me. He narrows his eyes on me before saying "We can help the woman too but we aren't leaving here without you."

He doesn't know who I am... good. He must think I'm some random woman Thane found while out here. Thane's hostility was growing as he bites out "I'm not going anywhere. The only way you're bringing me back is in a body bag."

The Commander looks at Thane with amusement and then smirks while saying "That can be arranged." He lifts a hand and yells out "Men! Thane comes back with us, no exceptions! Kill the woman!" Thane roars out in rage as the men all lift their guns and cock them. Shit...

I guess this is it...

I secretly lift the metal balls out of the bag again, splitting them up as much as possible and aiming them at the men surrounding us. Our odds are not looking good... Lightening crawls across the sky above us as the air around us becomes charged.

Thane's hand on my arm is almost painful as he stares down the men in front of us but I can't help but feel warmed by his actions. He knows they won't kill him so he's determined to shield me with his own body.

A single shot is fired and it hits right next to our feet. The Commander yells out "Last chance!" When I feel the hair on the back of my neck starting to rise, I brace myself. Blue, intense lightning cuts through the sky, striking several men as I shoot out the metal balls.

Chaos breaks out as shots are fired. I lift my hand and use the wind to buffer and turn the bullets as Thane and I work as a team to kill the men. Screams of pain and death are heard all around us as the Commander yells out commands but it's working against him.

Not only does Thane know those commands, I too know them. Every time he calls out a command, Thane and I counter flawlessly. Seeing this, the Commander yells out in anger "Shoot him with the tranquilizers!"

I throw my hand up, using the wind to stop most of them but when two hit Thane, I quickly reach down and pull them out.

There's just too many of them...

As I stand back up, Thane is hit again but this time it's more than just two. I curse out and stomp my foot. The ground under us moves like a wave, knocking over several men as I try to help Thane rip out the darts.

Another round of darts are shot at us from behind, nearly covering his entire back! Two hit me in the shoulder but I do my best to ignore it as I rip as many off him as I can. CheeChee suddenly falls from my shoulder and when I look down, I see a dart on his little butt.

I grit my teeth and try to fight the wave of dizziness as Thane unleashes another round of lightning. I continue to rip the darts out of Thane, wondering how he could still be standing right now. Suddenly, I bullet flies straight past my face, cutting my cheek!

Thane roars out in anger, sending more lightning down as I try to keep my metal balls moving but I was losing strength. Thane turns and grabs me, covering me completely as another wave of darts are shot at us.

Thane takes them all with gritted teeth. He lifts his head, anger and bloodthirst written all over his face as the men move closer. I grip Thane tightly as I realize there's no way out of this. I look up to him to see his eyes locked on the surrounding men but when a shot is fired, time seems to stop.

The shot came from behind Thane but when I feel Thane jerk, I feel the pain myself. Time seems to move painfully slow as I blink in surprise. I slowly look back up to Thane to see him looking down at me with just as much surprise.

I swallow hard and give him the most loving smile that I can. I reach up to him with a shaky hand and say "I love you..." Thane's face takes on a look of horror when he realizes that the commander had shot him from behind just to shoot me. It went straight through Thane and hit me.

Unfortunately, Thane's a lot taller than I am. The Commander shot him on the side, missing everything vital but it hit me right in the chest. Thane drops to his knees bringing me with him. He lifts a hand to my chest, trying to stop the blood as I flinch in pain.

I gasp for air and say "It looks like I caused you to get hurt again. I wasn't strong enough to stay by your side..." I cough and blood comes out. Thane grits his teeth and shakes his head 'No' as he tries to keep pressure on the wound.

My strength starts to fade and I go limp in his arms. He holds me to him and cries out "No!" I reach up and lightly grab his hand on my chest as I strain to smile at him. Another wave of darts are shot and I have no doubt his back is now completely covered.

His eyes show that the darts are starting to take effect. He struggles to clear his head, shaking it and holding me closer but when the men approach us, I know this is the end for me. They grab Thane, ripping him away and leaving me on the ground, bleeding out.