Discovery: Chapter 2

A young woman aged 24 dressed in military clothing, her hair braided and wrapped up walks by with her brother who is also in military clothing, his hair hidden under his hat. It is early morning around 3 o'clock, the two survey the area for missing equipment from their last mission, or any lurking traps or enemies. "We been at this since midnight, quadruple checked all the possible spots and we not going back to base because?" Her brother looks at the ground reloading his pistol. "Everyone is asleep, you'll get your special food before anyone else so stop being a baby". She trips over the boy's arm catching herself. "The hell was that?" "Girl I don't see shit you just clumsy". She bends down and picks up the boy's arm which has spots of blood on it. She pulls the rest of his body out of the stream and examines him. "Aww... poor kid". "Looks like he's been through hell." He leans down and sees an Akai symbol on his arm standing up quickly. "Nope, nope, nope. He's an Akai, let's get the fuck outta here, he probably got his people all around us waiting to attack, and yo dumb ass wanna be tripping over traps, you gonna get us killed." She rolls her eyes and looks at the boy's eyes and listens to his breathing. He's been poisoned, and his breathing isn't normal. Let's take him back with us. He could help us take them down." She looks up at him. "No, nope. Fuck that, we not taking him back". He looks back down at her and notices that she has a tear coming down her face. "Ooh.. oooh I hate you. If we get in trouble I'm blaming you." He picks the boy up over his shoulder and walks back with her to the base, "Better be worth it kid." "Med room," his sister says, checking the boy's pulse. "You want us to get in trouble?" "Where else we gonna take him, hm? Besides, the twins aren't on duty at this time so stop being a pussy." The two get closer to a small building, "Need to stay hydrated Damien. I can hear your heavy breathing from here." Says an older woman age 49 fixes a bed, putting on a pair of gloves and taking out the proper tools. "Well Tatiana always finishes it before I even get any." "Because I know when to stay hydrated." Damien lays the boy on the bed. "We found him this morning during our patrol. His breathing is unusual and he's been poisoned. Tatiana walks over towards the bed. "Nora, is there water in the fridge?" "Yes yes now go and stop bothering before this boy dies from the poison, and a lot of other things." "You just- never mind." Nora injects the boy with the antidote, the boy gains consciousness gasping loudly, his eyes opening wide. Nora and Tatiana step back away from the bed at a good distance. The boy grabs a scalpel flipping off the bed holding it towards them. Damien aims his pistol at the boy, the boy moves quickly getting behind Damien disarming him and holding the scalpel to his neck baring his teeth. "Stop!" Tatiana says. The boy grunts tilting his head at the word "Stop" "St- o-op?" He looks at Tatiana.

Tatiana looks at Damien and whispers "Gun down". Damien drops the gun. "He doesn't speak English." Damien says his hand raised like he's in class. "Yes we know that idiot." The boy tilts his head at the word "idiot" "Idi-ot?" He drops the scalpel and sits back on the bed saying the word numerous times. "Look at what you started Tat." Nora takes notes looking at the boy. "Interesting." Tatiana looks at Nora's notes, the boy jumps down and perches on the ceiling light above them looking at the notes as well. "Tat" Damien says again looking up at the boy. "Tat" the boy says without hesitation. She smiles at him and waves. "That's my name," she says, pointing to herself. He points back to her "Tat?" She nods, "Your name is?" "Tat!" He replies "Ugh!" Damien plops down on the bed. "You're so impatient it's gonna take time." Nora chuckles and puts her notes away. "I think you two have suffered enough. She walks over to the boy and speaks in his native language. He turns and speaks back to her. "Where did you come from sweetie?" "Akai gave me a trial. I turned twelve last night". "They used the poison? Red or green plant?" "Red. My vision got blurry. They wanted me to shoot a flower that they think is dangerous. The arrow was drenched in poison. I failed... I escaped after I was due for death, then another flower, blue. He looks down, "True self was shown." "Slaughtered many". He motions around explaining his story. Tatiana watches him, Damien looks at them like a deer in a headlight. "Warriors and leaders dead. Then another flower, purple, passed out and fell off a cliff." He looks back up at them. "Damn bro that's tough". "You don't even know what he said" Tatiana rolls her eyes looking at Damien with an annoyed expression. "I know but his tone was sad you know, I felt every piece of that non-English story. I feel you bro, I'm sorry for almost shooting you." Nora and Tatiana roll their eyes. "What's his name?" Tatiana looks at Nora. Nora looks back at the boy, "What is your name?" The boy shakes his head. "Failure. No name. That was my reward." "He doesn't got no name". "Oh how'd you figure that out?" Tatiana looks over at Damien with her eyes wide and hands in her hips. "He shook his head so I'm assuming." Tatiana and Nora laugh, "I hate y'all".