Three
'leesaan jolted awake, finding himself bolt upright and gasping. At his side Lahana also woke, tail coiling around the zn'hre academic's waist.
"What is it?"
"Warships. Above us. Papa says to get to cover…"
Lahana growled, hauling himself from the sleeping platform and dragging on bodysuit, armour, and his nitorine hand brace.
"Gotta go. Will you be all right?"
The prince nodded distractedly, then reached to hug the Saiyan tightly.
"Please take care. Please."
Lahana sighed and kissed him, one broad scarred hand stroking gently down the smooth back and cupping a lean buttock.
"I will, I promise. You do the same. Stay out of danger, ne?"
Nodding silently, 'leesaan watched his lover slip out onto the balcony of the small apartment they shared above the library, out into the snow, the freezing night, and take off in the direction of the palace… He shook himself and slid into his warmest clothing, pulling up the hood, then headed out to make sure 'haavok and 'honee, one floor below, were up and getting ready - and to alert the rest of the staff living onsite. He could already hear low alarms sounding, outside, throughout the city.
The Tsufuru-jin had incorporated basements and sub-basements under most of the buildings in the city, and all those inhabitants who were not combat-trained made their way downwards with amazing calm. Zaheen had been very impressed as 'leesaan escorted her away from her domicile and into a spacious, if not particularly comfortable, chamber underneath the museum: everything was proceeding in a quietly orderly fashion, no-one was panicking. Of course, that might be because as yet, no-one truly believed the threat to be real: it had started snowing again, and those on the ground couldn't see the sky…
They met 'haavok and 'honee, as agreed, at the far entrance to the basement. 'leesaan had smiled at the Hyoujin.
"My sire-sibs will look after you. They might be obstreperous brats" he paused for the expected hissed expletives "but they know their duties. And between them they have enough ki to keep you safe."
'haavok frowned.
"Between the three of us, you mean." His eyes widened as 'leesaan strapped a broad belt around his waist and snapped a bulky and deadly looking firearm into its holster. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?! Papa will kill you!"
'leesaan smiled tightly.
"I have been training. My ki might not be anywhere near 'raadiin's level, but I'm not helpless. And I'm a damn good shot, and sometimes a physical weapon gives you an edge. It's the element of surprise."
"But you aren't a warrior!"
"Maybe not - but I can fight, and I will not sit in safety while papa and Rhoi'i'dat'hzziu risk their lives on our behalf." He eyed his siblings for a moment, then grabbed them both into a hug. "Look after Zaheen. And if anything happens to me, tell Lahana… tell him I loved him."
Ry watched, annoyed, as 'raadiin climbed into two thin but warm undersuits then pulled a heavy fur bodysuit over the top.
"This is fucking stupid! It's too cold for you!"
The zn'hre paused for a second, grim determination on his face.
"You saw them. There must be thirty warships up there. How many do you think each holds? Five hundred? A thousand? Five thousand? More? We need all the warriors we can get."
"And if you freeze?"
'raadiin smirked.
"Then you'll just have to warm me up, won't you?"
"In the middle of a fucking battle?! Where'd you leave your brain?"
The prince folded his arms over his chest and scowled.
"You hit me with a jolt of ki. Like we discussed."
"We haven't fucking tried it yet!"
"Then we'd better hope it works, hadn't we…"
Ry could have hit him - would have, if it would have done any good. As it was, they were wasting time. He growled, dragging the zn'hre to him, arms tightly around his shoulders.
"Don't you dare die on me."
'raadiin nuzzled his mane, his voice low and husky.
"I've no intention of doing anything so stupid, aijin. On condition you stay alive too, of course." He pulled back, one hand cupping the Saiyan's cheek, then sighed, the tender moment over. "Let's go."
Side by side they flew through the blizzard to join their squad at Guard HQ.
Vejiita eyed the High King, his expression that of unwilling gratitude.
"Just as well you couldn't sleep."
Zha'haabron nodded absently: they didn't know yet how the warships had approached completely unnoticed, but they still weren't registering on any tracking equipment, either at the moon base or planetside. As far as the Empire's technology could tell, they simply weren't there.
"And that it had stopped snowing."
Radittsu hugged his bondmate close from behind, a cold chill shivering through him. An hour later and they'd have known nothing until the attack started: another blizzard had rolled in, covering the sky.
"That may work to our advantage." The Saiya-jin-no-Ou was thoughtful. "They may believe us still ignorant of their presence, unprepared for them."
"That would give us an advantage, Sire." Zorun frowned. "But it would be best not to assume it's so."
Vejiita smirked dryly.
"I'm not senile yet, Guardsman."
Zorun bowed his apology, then stiffened.
"They have started their descent…"
Ry swallowed hard, glancing at 'raadiin: the zn'hre was shivering slightly, nothing but his eyes showing above the cowl protecting the lower part of his face. He'd realised on the way to HQ that of course 'raadiin had to be there - it was more than likely that the Karilun would have Warui-jin warriors with them, and zn'hre and hybrids would be needed to spot them…
And they had precious few of either, and that, of course, was why the Karilun were attacking now, in the depths of the cold season.
Hijau had deployed their available resources as best he could, seconding 'raadiin to the main force, then Ti'ani, Le'leen, Ra'vahn and Za'rayne to separate special squads. It wasn't ideal - the hybrids fought best when they were together - but they had no choice… He'd taken the unheard of and highly improper step of seconding Zyelenyi to sit at the comms console at HQ, monitoring the entire operation: he'd worry about Vejiita's anger later, right now they needed every able-bodied warrior they had, and that included himself and Kyuri. At least the young diplomat wouldn't have to worry about relaying messages to the troops: there were times when Hijau blessed Saiyan telepathy. Though what they'd do if there were Warui-jin warriors… Radittsu had ensured that all the group commanders carried the little communication modules they'd used during the Budoushu campaign, but there were nowhere near enough of them for everyone. He groaned silently, then grinned to himself. They'd manage. The Saiya-jin military might not be the most disciplined in the galaxy, but by all the gods of the Empire worlds, when it came down to it, the instinct and drive to win, to overcome, to triumph, was in their very genes.
He flew out to take command of his own Elite squad, hoping against hope that this would be short and relatively bloodless.
"'leesaan? Ssii'irin? What the… Why aren't you under cover?"
Kyuri glared at the zn'hre as he presented himself to her where she was issuing orders to her squad for the defence of the centre of the city. 'leesaan inclined his head.
"I will be more useful here."
The Saiyan growled, then nodded. He was right, of course, especially if there were Warui-jin in the invading force, but…
"You can't fight."
"Yes I can. Maybe not as well as some of my siblings, but well enough that I won't need a minder from your squad."
She hesitated for a moment - she really should send him back, get him under cover - but then the first of the alien shuttles screamed to a halt a scant two second flight away, disgorging its deadly cargo, and there was no more time…
Radittsu stared - then shuddered with remembered pain.
Budoushujin. There were Budoushujin amongst the mixed bag of alien warriors storming their way onto the planet, ki and weaponry blazing.
He'd thought his force had wiped them all out when they'd destroyed the homeworld.
Obviously not. He swallowed and wondered how to keep Zha'haabron away from them - shaking his head a second later as he remembered that his bondmate was by far the stronger and eminently capable of looking after them both…
But it was freezing, and Zha'haabron wouldn't be able to fight as long or as hard as normal.
He growled at the thought, then let instinct kick in, directing his squad with hot efficiency, cutting swathes through the ugly saurian cannibals…
Ti'ani fought silently, his strange ki melting the brains of the invaders, the backlash sending others blind, *aware* of his twin on the other side of the city doing the same. But they kept coming, and coming, wave after wave of them, flying down or racing out of shuttles as they landed and took off again to collect another load. Saiya-jin and Korijin, fighting side by side, fighting and dying as they defended the city, the world, on the ground and in the air. Screams - voice and weapon and ki - bludgeoning the senses, the stink of blood; half-blind from the fierce energies thrown from all sides, killing and maiming and destroying indiscriminately…
A ki-blast blistered over the hybrid's ribs, throwing him backwards. Lahana caught him, big dark green eyes worried.
"You all right?"
Ti'ani wanted to say no, no he wasn't, he'd never be all right again - but others were suffering and dying around him and he couldn't let them down. Couldn't fail the family, couldn't fail his bondmate. He nodded, pulled himself upright and into the air and renewed his attack, gritting his teeth as he tired, continuing through willpower alone as the hours went by, unremittingly, in pain and destruction…
The palace compound was the first to be destroyed.
The invaders were obviously fully aware of its importance: the labs and medical centre went first, pounded into rubble, clouds of noxious gases from chemicals the Feeodoreeans hadn't had time to store safely before their flight to safety adding to the chaos, the damage. Guard HQ was next: Hijau worried frantically for a moment whether Zyelenyi had survived, but a brief *call* from the diplomat, who'd moved to the underground offices and was monitoring from there, let him know all was well. For the moment, anyway, though Zyelenyi was now trapped until he could ki-blast his way out, something he wasn't prepared to do until he knew it wouldn't jeopardise the situation.
Closing his eyes for a moment in relief, Hijau swung back to the attack, *aware* of his zkai'da's anxiety from the caves at Kamome…
Ti'aasaan clung to Zha'haarak, shaking helplessly, *feeling* the battle resonate within him from Zorun - and from Jagung and Merica… The King's Guard fought side by side with his lord, deep purple ki meshing with Vejiita's golden to rip through the alien horde, images of blood and dismemberment filling the zn'hre's mind as he fought to keep them from reaching his unborn hostling… Jagung and Merica, tense as they hovered low over the Academy, watching the blinding coruscation of ki over and around the palace, gold, purple, Hijau's crimson, the Ssii'iin's blue-white, Radittsu's bright copper distinctive amongst the shades of yellow-white of the other Elites, the two Guards forcing themselves not to give in to the urge to head to the centre of the fighting, fixing their minds on the reason for their being here… Kelapa side by side with Sasa, grim and silent in the freezing air… More shuttles hovering, disgorging their payload of vicious living fighting machines into the city, firing indiscriminately, buildings falling, Saiyan warriors moving to engage the invaders, fighting in the ruins…
The little zn'hre whimpered, closing his eyes tightly. Zha'haarak, his own fear for his bondmate overshadowed by Ti'aasaan's distress, *beckoned* to 'vaasaan; the hostling cuddled in beside them both, one hand holding pale green plaits as he tried to *soothe* Tia-chan's distress. It worked, a little, Ti'aasaan's panicky breathing becoming slower, his trembling lessening as the overwhelming fear for his mates eased to something more manageable. Br'yaan crouched before the zn'hre, golden eyes worried.
"Is there anything we can do to help, Ssii'irin?"
Zha'haarak shook his head.
"There is nothing anyone can do. We must simply endure."
At mid-afternoon there came a lull in the fighting, and for a brief hour no further troops landed. Hijau made his way through the flurrying snow to what was left of the diplomatic corps headquarters, where Vejiita, Zha'haabron and Radittsu had gathered to assess the situation. The Saiya-jin-no-Ou frowned wearily up at the Captain.
"Report."
Hijau shook his head.
"Not good, Sire. We've lost half our lesser-ranked forces in this first assault."
"Half…!"
Radittsu, slumped behind his bondmate, holding the king close to keep him a little warmer, shook his head.
"And the special squads are hampered by being in the city - they can't use nitorine safely in such close proximity to civilians."
Vejiita growled.
"If we don't beat these bastards off, there won't be anywhere for them to be civilians. Why haven't the squads tried attacking the warships themselves?"
"We have." Radittsu rubbed a torn and bleeding hand over his face. "They have some kind of defensive shield that… warps the augmented ki-beam around them." His eyes were haunted as he gazed at the king. "We lost two squads when the ships retaliated. Forty nitorine-trained warriors."
Hijau crouched down, head in his hands.
"At least a third of Vejiitamachi has been razed. The Alien Quarter's in flames; the residents are doing what they can - Kyuri's squad's nearest, they're helping - but the damage is extensive already, and Zyelenyi reports that power's out across the city. We don't have any information as to civilian casualties, although as far as I can gather most of the population made it safely to the shelters…"
Zha'haabron shivered, one gloved hand pressed to a gash across his shoulder, holding the fur bodysuit closed against the cold.
"R'ren'nkh'ian warriors are guarding them. The weather prevents them from assisting in the battle, but should any of the invaders break through into the shelters my people will defend those within."
Radittsu hugged him closer.
*You coping?*
**For the moment**
Hijau pulled himself upright with a grunt and gazed around at the smoking devastation that had been the palace complex, then flinched as a succession of high-pitched whines erupted from the city. Vejiita rose, squaring his shoulders as he *called* for Zorun: as they took to the air and headed towards the fighting, Zha'haabron stiffened in Radittsu's arms.
**The Academy…**
Sasa spared her superior a quick glance as she swerved to avoid a killing ki-blast from a thing with a mouth that could only just close over its fangs and six arms tipped by barbed spines. Merica was dripping blood, fighting grimly, lips a narrow line, armour and bodysuit in tatters from the beating he'd taken, pain and purpose ignored as he battled to keep the Budoushujin away from the unconscious body of his bondmate. Jagung had fallen a handful of minutes ago, finally overcome even as his seventh kill dropped headless onto the Academy steps, but no-one could spare the time to go to him… Kelapa had been hurt, one arm hanging uselessly, streaming blood, as she fought for her life… An anguished howl had her wincing as a stray blast caught Aguretsu, smashing him through the roof to be impaled on a supporting girder. He was still alive when the whole building gave way, caving in and collapsing to the ground.
"NOOOOO!" Merica dived for the smoking shifting mounds of brick and mortar, oblivious to the smirking invaders aiming at his back…
Sasa gritted her teeth, focussed, and played nitorine-enhanced ki across and through them, vaporising all but three - and destroying the four towering buildings behind them as well. She sobbed and, hands shaking, tried to take aim on the remaining warriors, spared the effort when twin blasts of blinding blue-white and fiery copper did the job for her. The three aliens joined their dead colleagues, bleeding in the snow on the Academy lawns.
"Sire…"
Zha'haabron spared her a quick glance, just long enough to check she did not need immediate medical aid, then streaked for what was left of the Academy, shoving Merica out of the way as he swiftly, and very carefully, ki-burned away the rubble.
**Bri'seiyis? 'tiisaan? 'viirel?**
But there was no answer. He worked faster, aiming for the top of the staircase leading to the Academy's underground store-rooms, knowing that the Academy's Director would have ushered everyone down into the cramped space as soon as he realised they were in danger. Radittsu joined him, *instructing* Sasa to stay on watch, eyeing Merica as he pulled a limp, bloody Jagung from the ruins.
*Is he…?*
On his knees, his bondmate cradled in his arms, Merica nodded.
*Alive, but hurt badly… Where can I take him? Do we have any kind of medical facilities at all?*
*The Feeds have set up a temporary infirmary under the central administration building.*
Merica struggled upright, Jagung a deadweight in weary arms, and rose unsteadily into the air. Radittsu glowered at him.
*See him there, get yourself checked quickly, then get back here.*
Merica stared at him in horror.
*But… I can't leave him!*
The Royal Liaison snarled.
*That's an order, Guardsman. The Feeds will tend to him. You won't be able to do anything for him. And we need you here and fighting.*
Biting his lip, with the utmost reluctance Merica nodded. It was true, it made sense, but…
*Fucking move!!* He took one look at the fury on Radittsu's face and raced for the centre of the city. The big Saiyan swung to Kelapa, glowering.
"Follow Merica. Get yourself patched up. If you can still fight, get back here with him as soon as possible."
As she saluted awkwardly and streaked off in pursuit of Merica, Radittsu turned back to his Ssii'iin.
*Anything?*
**No** It was clipped and taut with fear. **I can *feel* nothing**
Radittsu swallowed, then joined the king, tearing at the rubble with bare and bleeding hands, desperately digging a path towards the steps.
The stairwell had caved in, and part of the floor, crushing anything and everything below it. Feeling colder than ever in his life, Zha'haabron wrenched debris out of the way, careless of personal safety, until he could force a way through to the underground passageway that ran the length of the building. Squirming through the narrow space, he dropped heavily to the floor, then turned back to use ki to enlarge the hole enough for Radittsu to wriggle through before hurrying as fast as he dared to the only door still visible. The big Saiyan at his shoulder, he pulled it from its hinges, peering through the drifting dust and darkness within…
Whimpers greeted them, of fear, of pain. Students, and teachers, alive but injured, and terrified. Zha'haabron's voice was tight.
"Where is Bri'seiyis? The zn'hre?"
Lefelial, the unconscious Undosus cradled against him, tried to speak, choked on the swirling dust and pointed instead to the far end of the room, where the ceiling had collapsed. Zha'haabron leapt for the space, agilely dodging the bodies slumped in varying degrees of injury and consciousness on the floor, then knelt beside a limp form, gently rolling the songwright over.
**Bri'seiyis? Ssii'iir?**
A faint *response*, just enough to prove he was alive. Zha'haabron looked over his shoulder to where Radittsu was helping the walking wounded to climb through the hole and up into the frigid air.
**Zkai'da, I'll need you to carry him to the infirmary - he needs a ki-shield…**
Radittsu nodded, then grunted in relief: Sasa had *hailed* Kyuri, who'd just arrived with her squad and was organising the ferrying of the survivors to the infirmary. Leaving the task of getting everyone out to her, he hastened to his bondmate's side, lifting the Director carefully into his arms - then paused and eyed Zha'haabron's bleak, bruised face.
*Where are the hostlings?*
**… they would have been here, with Bri'seiyis…**
A cold chill spearing through him, Radittsu stared at the solid mass of debris. A Saiyan might have survived that, but it was unlikely anyone else could. He jumped as several bricks were dislodged - there was something moving in the rubble, trying to get out…
Zha'haabron was already scrabbling at the pile, careful not to make it any more unstable, and within moments a large clawed hand appeared, moving feebly. Radittsu very gently laid the unconscious Bri'seiyis down and reached to help…
They carefully eased the battered, bleeding Korijin from the rubble, not helped by the fact that she held something in her other hand that she refused to let go… seconds later Zha'haabron cried out and took the limp form of 'tiisaan from her, cradling the dancer against him.
**'tiisaan? Zk'vissin?*
There was no reply, but the hostling was at least breathing, his pulse thready but discernable. Zha'haabron glanced up as Kyuri laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Let me fly him to the infirmary, your majesty. I'll shield him, make sure he's safe…"
He wanted to say no, to do it himself, but knew he couldn't keep the chill from his sireling - couldn't keep it from himself - and reluctantly handed the cold, still body into her keeping. She smiled tightly then turned to race away, Radittsu, Bri'seiyis in his arms, following close behind.
Zha'haabron turned to Tion, who had slumped on the ground, rubbing her face.
"I am sorry, majesty. The others…" her deep voice tailed off miserably as she turned painfully to look at the wreckage. "Was the warmest end of the room…"
Zha'haabron buried his head in his hands. There had been twenty zn'hre students overwintering at the Academy, all due to take part in the winter performance in ten days time. Ti'nienan. Ti'kaanan. Ti'vadin.
Zha'viirel.
He looked up through tear-glazed eyes into Tion's sombre gaze as the Korijin touched his shoulder.
"Majesty, we have to go."
He blinked as he realised that what was left of the building was making ominous creaking sounds, dust drifting as the ceiling buckled slowly. Pulling himself numbly upright, he helped Tion to stand, taking most of her not-inconsiderable weight as she grunted with the pain of broken bones and internal injuries - then took off, easing them both through the hole and heading towards the city…
Zha'haarak was sobbing, silently, inconsolably. So, Mahrayne saw, her heart sinking, were the rest of the zn'hre. She turned to Kinu, who was cuddling his weeping bondmate.
"Sinam, what has happened?"
The little hybrid swallowed, his own tears close to the surface.
"It's the Academy, maazi. It was… knocked down in the fight."
She gasped, suddenly terrified. Her friends, Kelapa … But Kinu was shaking his head.
"The Ssii'iin *says* all the Hassinan got out all right. So did most of the others. But the zn'hre were buried when the house collapsed. 'cept for Bri-sama and 'tiisaan. The others are all d… dead…" He swiped at his eyes. "Gtislin had Rad-sama take him there with equipment that can tell if people are alive when they've been buried, but there was nobody to rescue."
Mahrayne's eyes closed in despair. 'viirel, his sweet pure voice silenced forever… he'd been the gentle zn'hre's hostling. No wonder Zha'haarak was distraught… And the others, Ti'zheenan's children, the musicians, and the dancers, the artists… those bright lives snuffed out… She stifled a sob.
"Any… any other news?" The Hassinan desperately wanted to ask about Kelapa, and Kuri, who was still in Vejiitamachi, but was too afraid to hear the answer. "Are they winning?"
Kinu shook his head.
"I don't know, maazi. I'm afraid they aren't."
She wrapped her arms around him - then winced as he suddenly froze, his voice high and frightened.
"Papa? PAPA?!"
Across the chamber Ti'aasaan had stiffened, skin paling to white as his eyes grew impossibly huge. Then he screamed Zorun's name, a long, hissing wail as their bond was suddenly, brutally severed…
© 2004 June 21st Joules Taylor
