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Commander G’throkka recounted every moment of that night. Only a few days ago and yet the horrid memories live on fresh in his mind. Hearing the cries of the men, women, and children of his planet running in terror as their loved ones are being brutally killed. The sky was red with smokey black clouds from the burning ashes of the homes. Among the havoc, G’throkka did his best to help the civilians get to safety. Ordering his troops to put out the fires, find lost children and return them to their families, and freeing those trapped under rubble from the falling buildings. Their own planet has become a battlefield. Many first assumed it was The Triceratons, their sworn enemy for over a millennium who was causing this nightmare, but the true answer was someone the Salamandrians never expected.
One of their own kind.
K’Vathrak; once a highly respected warrior in the Salamandrian army, someone G’throkka even once called his friend, now has gone rogue. All Salamandrians find enjoyment in the art of battle, but for K’Vathrak, he has crossed the line. His eyes were not the same. Once full of hope and determination now erratic and soulless as he killed the innocent, their blood spilled, staining his armor. It brought an unsettling grin to K’Vathrak’s face. He was no longer a Salamandrian warrior - he was an out of control monster.
G’throkka knew he had to step in and end the nightmare. To stop his former friend from his reign of terror, but it quickly proved to be a challenge. For K’Vathrak, he saw it as a game, with the prize being the joy of ending the Commander’s life, and he was nearly successful.
The Commander recalls the fight; every punch, kick, gun shot and cut. Their blades clashed as they engaged in an intense battle. While G’throkka was fighting to save time for others to escape, K’Vathrak was out for blood. G’throkka fought with all his might, but he soon found he was no match for K’Vathrak. The rogue knew all his moves, his fighting style and techniques, so K’Vathrak was able to go beyond his former comrade and get the upper hand. Taking his plasma sword, he swung the blade, leaving a deep large cut right through G’throkka’s lower left stomach. His cries of agony echoing through the burning city.
Falling to the ground, G’throkka bled out in agonizing pain. G’throkka desperately tried to prevent the bleeding by pressing down on the wound. While trying to stay conscious, his enemy approached him. The eerie grin K’Vathrak gave grew larger as he saw the Commander suffering. Like a predator about to consume his hopeless prey. K’Vathrak stood above him, his foot pressing down hard on his opponent's bleeding chest, crushing his bones under his foot as more of G’throkka blood seeped out from his body.
“ARRGGHH!!!”
“What’s wrong, G’throkka?” K’Vathrak laughed maniacally. “I thought we Salamandrians loved a glorious battle such as this one! Are you not having as much fun as I am?!”
Gasping for air, G’throkka used the last of his strength to ask, “Wh-What has become of y-you, my… friend?” His voice was broken, holding back tears. Trying his hardest to keep up with his heavy breathing so as to not lose consciousness.
K'Vathrak was silent, the wicked grin remaining on his face. His eyes were deranged, no mercy or hope beyond them. G’throkka looked on in horror as K’Vathrak lifted up his blade high over his head. The Commander’s heart quickly raced as K’Vathrak with all his might slashed his blade towards him.
Suddenly darkness.
When G’throkka woke up, he found himself in the Salamandria infirmary. His body was wrapped in bandages. Left eye covered and wrapped in cloth. It wasn’t long after awaking that the doctors informed him of his condition. The lower abdomen cut open and exposed his inner organs and bones, internal bleeding, a few broken bones, and his left eye cut out. Permanently gone forever. It would take months for the Commander to recover and even longer to wait for a proper replacement for his eye and patch for his stomach, but the Commander was able to keep himself entertained by the many visits of his numerous acquaintances from the military.
Most of his allies in combat or pupils he’s trained over the years would stop by to see how he was doing, but out of everyone, G’throkka requested the appearance of two specific comrades. After patiently waiting a few days, he got his wish.
Rushing through the doors was a young Salamandrian couple. The female, tall and slim, with her skin shining soft blue. A reflection of her gentle caring nature so well known to G’throkka. She had sparkling silver spots that ran from the back of her head and down her body, with bright yellow eyes. With her was a male. A muscular fellow, taller than the female, with dark nightly blue skin. Though he looked intimidating and aloof, his look of concern in his fiery ember eyes showed his open heart and empathy.
“G’throkka!” The woman cried as she rushed to the Commander's bedside. She greeted him with a hug as she frantically rambled. “We were so worried about you! I’m sorry we couldn’t visit sooner, we’ve been busy with-”
“V’lantha, my love, don’t squeeze him too tight,” the male Salamandrian said to the woman. Gently placing his hand on her shoulder, he carefully pulled her back from the Commander. “He’s still recovering. You don’t want to open his wounds.”
The old Commander chuckled, “I’ll be fine, T’gythron,” he assured the male Salamandrian. “The doctors said it was a miracle I survived, though with my old age, it’ll be impossible for my limbs to regenerate on their own. I will need artificial replacements. They're already working on building me a new eye. It should be ready in a few days.”
“Who did this to you, Commander?” T’gythron asked, “The Triceratons?”
He slowly shakes his head, “It was K’Vathrak.”
“K’Vathrak?!” V’lantha gasped, “One of our own kind?! Why would he do this to you?!”
“Where is he now?” T’gythron demanded with a growl. “We can send troops to hunt him down, have him face justice for his crimes!”
“Don’t bother,” G’throkka tells them, his tone calm but a feeling of disappointment hid within, “After the attack I was informed he went off world, somewhere our scanners couldn’t track him. He must’ve gone into hiding, like a coward, but hiding won’t prevent anything. Just delays the eventual punishment. I will find him one day and make him pay…” G’throkka tries to adjust his seating position and quickly feels a sharp pain in his lower stomach. He grunts, lifting up the blanket to reveal the source of his pain; a large metal patch on half of his stomach where K’Vathrak cut him during their fight.
“Please try not to move so much,” V’lantha carefully helps him lie down, “You need to rest.”
The Commander sits back in his bed in defeat. There was no time to rest and heal, he wanted to go find the man who took his eye, but he knew deep down that would be unwise. In his condition, he is an easy target. K’Vathrak would finish him off quickly with little to no effort. G’throkka knew he just needed to be patient. Take time to heal and one day, their paths will cross again and when that day comes, G’throkka will not show mercy.
"G’throkka?” V’lantha’s tone spoke with the goal to cheer him up. “T’gythron and I want you to meet someone."
G’throkka looked at the couple curiously as he saw a smile from them both. Their eyes gesture down to their feet and he follows their gaze. There below he spotted a little girl hiding behind T’gythron’s legs, nervously holding his tail. Her skin is dark blue like T’gythron, along with inheriting V’lantha’s yellow eyes and silver spots running across her back. A perfect combination of them both. G’throkka could tell just from the sight of her, she was the couple’s child.
“Is this who I think it is?” G’throkka asked softly.
The couple happily nods.
G’throkka has heard of the news that his two former soldiers were blessed with a child, a daughter, but he never had the opportunity to meet her. Too busy leading his air fleet across the galaxy or training new recruits to have time to socialize.
The little girl looked at the old veteran, intimidated by his fresh wounds wrapped in bandages. The blood from them was soaking in the cloth. She hid behind her father, but her attempt at retreating failed. Her parents picked her up and had her sit on the edge of the bed next to their Commander so he could have a better look at her. She was obviously nervous and overwhelmed by the Commander's many wounds, clenching onto her tail and avoiding eye contact.
G'throkka looks at the young girl with a welcoming smile, "Don't be afraid, little one. It's just a few scars. I won't hurt you."
The girl gives a faint smile at the Commander, still shy but more comfortable with him now from hearing his gentle soothing voice.
"What's your name, my dear?”
"Y'Gythgba, s-sir..." the girl says timidly.
He smiles, "That's a lovely name.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He chuckles, looking back up at the proud couple, “I can already tell she'll be a great warrior one day. Just like her parents.”
The couple smile, honored to hear such kind words from their Commander.
G’throkka let out a sigh, sitting back on his bed. Trying to relax, he confesses, “I completely forgot the two of you are parents now… If I knew, I wouldn't have requested your presence…”
“Even if you didn’t, we would still come by.” V’lantha smiled, picking up her daughter to rest in her arms, “What is it that you need from us, Commander?”
“There’s no point in asking now… but due to my injuries I’ll be unable to participate in any future battles for our planet for the next few months. I’m required to choose a temporary replacement. Someone to take my place in battle and lead the troops. I was going to ask if the both of you would take that position.”
“G’throkka…” V’lantha was touched by the proposal she almost couldn’t speak, “We would be honored-”
“No.” He says sternly, “I cannot have you take my place now. You both have a child to look after.”
“We can do it!” she jumps, puffing out her chest with confidence, “It’s been too long since we’ve been in a good battle. We’re Salamandrians afterall! We never turn down a fight!”
“My love,” T’gythron says with concern, placing his hand on her shoulder, “What about Y'Gythgba?”
“She can stay with G’throkka.”
“Hmm, that could work!” he smiles, “He’s done an excellent job at training us back in the day, so he’d be perfect to-“
"I'm in no position to train your daughter." G'throkka objects, lifting up a hand to touch the bandage covering his missing eye, "I'm practically falling apart..."
"You don't have to train her!” T’gythron corrects, “Not yet at least. We just wish for you to look after her while we take your place in the mission."
G’throkka thought it over, looking at the couple then to the little girl. Perhaps it is not a bad idea to look after their child. The mission is not a long one, only a month. A quick scouting mission on one of the Triceratons newest armory bases and retrieve some new intel from their systems. Besides, he knows T’gythron and V’lantha are fully capable warriors. Some of the best he’s ever trained. There is no doubt that they will be able to lead this mission with ease and return home safely.
"...Very well. The both of you will take my place in this mission. In the meantime, I’ll watch your daughter until you return.”
The couple smiled, jumping with excitement as they hugged one another, so happy to be back in the field of battle.
“Thank you, G’throkka,” T’gythron salutes. “We promise we will not let you down!”
“And I have no doubt that you two will succeed. If you wish, you may contact General R'Kavaka to inform him of my decision.”
“Will do.” he turns to his partner with a smile, “Come, V’lantha. Let’s inform the General of our return to the forces together!”
“Of course, my love.”
Before doing so, V’lantha looked back at her daughter, still resting in her arms. V’lantha placed her daughter down gently to the ground, kneeling in front of her and taking the little girl’s hands to hold in her own, “Y'Gythgba, you’re father and I must go on a long journey. We will be gone for a while, but in the meantime listen to Commander G’throkka and do whatever he says. Understand?”
She nods, “Yes mother.”
“We love you, our Little Starlight.” T’gythron says, leaning towards his daughter to kiss her forehead.
“I love you too.”
The mother and father look at their child with a warm smile and hug her tightly. As G’throkka watches the parents head off to the communication room to inform the General of the news, Y'Gythgba climbs her way up onto G’throkka’s bed, to once again sit on his lap. The veteran saw his newest pupil look up to him with wonder, “Will my parents be back soon?”
“Of course, my dear. Do not worry. Your parents are strong and honorable warriors. I have no doubt in my mind that they will win the battle and return home before you know it.”
“My parents are very strong,” the little girl says with a proud grin. “You think I’ll be as strong as them one day?”
G’throkka smiles, “I think one day you will become an even greater warrior, better than any that Salamandria has ever seen!”
“And one day I’ll get to beat up those dishonorable Triceratons like you?!” Y'Gythgba asked. G’throkka could see the sparkle in her eyes as she said that, her tail sweeping with excitement. He couldn’t help but snicker, amused from the girl's energetic determination.
Gently G’throkka places his hand on her head, patting her gently, and in a calm tone he tells Y'Gythgba, “I think you and I will get along just fine.”