Endure

"A man can only endure so much pain" said Thronir as he buried his dear friend Vlohrir. "But a beast feels no pain" he said looking at Seronn. Meanwhile Anatoly and the rest of the humans were wearing their oxygen gear and night vision goggles. "This is a very strange planet," commented Pacardy. "I have seen stranger," replied the private. Pacardy looked at him and could not figure out if he was joking or being serious. Then the both men, curious and one fearless decided it was best to take a stroll and explore the planet. As they walked, Aurokin walked behind them, albeit keeping a fair distance between them and himself. "This place needs some serious lighting" joked James. "And it needs some bikes," said Pacardy. And now it was the privates turn to look at his friend and wonder if he was joking or not. These people walk at a very leisurely pace, thought Aurokin who was trying his best to hide his footsteps from them! "Someone follows us," said Pacardy. "No shit," replied the private as he was well adept at knowing when he was followed. But he did not make much of it. He had realised that by now, if the enemy wanted them to be trapped or killed, he would have done so! "Should we be worried" asked Pacardy. "Not about what lies behind you, but about what lies ahead" said Aurokin. "How did he hear us?" asked Pacardy. "How did he understand us?" asked James. They looked back as the dwarf approached them. He was wearing a translator around his neck. "I do not approve of this, but I have no choice" replied the dwarf. "Ah, yes! the translator!" remarked the private. "You have seen your share of war, said the dwarf pointing at James" "But you," he said pointing at Pacardy "You should be wary of them" he said. "Wary of whom?" asked Pacardy beginning to sweat. "The ones with the eyes of purple" replied the dwarf as his own eyes had turned yellow. James looked at Pacardy as he removed his night vision goggles "I take my statement back, I have not seen anything like this planet" he said. "You have not seen anything" the dwarf said as the private felt a tingling sense in his spine once again!

Anatoly was starting to crumble with all the darkness around him. He looked around and had never felt so alone in his life. He rushed towards the craft and wore his robotic suit. As he rushed out Archimedes was alarmed. "Where did you get this from?" he asked the Russian. Anatoly was confused. "I made this on my own" he replied. Archimedes still not happy with his answer wanted to ask him a few more questions but decided against it. Anatoly moved his arms around, freeing his movements. Everyone was taken aback. He finally stopped his movements when Akira stared at him. "Sorry" he apologised. "What do you sense?" Seronn asked him. "War" he replied. "Good" he replied.

"Shhh" warned the dwarf. Pacardy and the private kept quiet and looked around. "Remove your night vision" said the dwarf and closed his eyes. Pacardy pointed toward something and the private saw it. "Purple eyes" they both whispered!