Nainea held on tightly to her copper badge, curling up around it to stop them taking it off her. The cave floor was cold, still wet with the blood of the guards she had managed to kill. At least the badge still listened to her, it still obeyed her.
But now, until she could get to another charging station, the badge was nothing more than a pretty copper broach. And that relied upon her getting out of this cave and back to the ship, before Markax could finish her off.
“Give it over,” her captain, Markax hissed, grabbing her wrists and pulling on them. Nainea screamed, her already bruised body could not cope with the sudden movement.
“You do not deserve to wear the badge,” Markax hissed, prying open Naniea’s fingers to reach the badge, “you’ve discredited it by helping them.”
Of course he would say that, Markax had not a single shred of decency left in his pathetic body. He would try and blame her for his corruption. He’d expel her from the Squadron before accepting that.
Naniea snarled, freeing one of her hands and landing a punch in Markax’s groin. He bent over, loosening his grip for a moment.
“I’ve earnt this badge,” Naniea replied, gripping the badge so tightly the metal began to bite into her skin, “you can’t take it from me.”
She slammed her knee up into Markax’s stomach, where his gut wound was from the last mission. He tried to grab her leg, but she was too fast for him even with the bruises she wore. Naniea grabbed a fallen dagger from one of the dead guards, holding it up to Markax.
“You think you’ll get out of here?” Markax asked, trying to stand. Naniea’s kick had hit well, his old wound was beginning to weep blood.
“I’ll take my chances,” Naniea said, flashing the copper badge at him, “and I’ll be taking this.”
“You’ll be thrown off the Register!” Markax screamed at her, “you don’t have a right to it.”
Naniea growled. “I have every right,” she said, walking towards the entrance to the cave, “and I will prove to the world your corruption, Markax. And they will listen.”
Stories on a Theme is a writing challenge to write flashfictions set on a particular Weekly Theme. It’s running from 6th July to 30th August – Check out my IG for more info on how to join in!
- One of the Crew (Stories on a Theme – “Family”)“Let us raise a toast, to Mito!” Captain Ralaydin raised her mug high into the air. The rest of the crew followed her example. Mito blushed. Not from embarrassment, he appreciated … More One of the Crew (Stories on a Theme – “Family”)
- Expel (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)Nainea held on tightly to her copper badge, curling up around it to stop them taking it off her. The cave floor was cold, still wet with the blood of the … More Expel (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)
- The Anyentr (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)Don’t move. Don’t move. Don’t move. Calsei changed the motto over and over in her head. Her backpack straps pulled at her shoulders, encouraging her to drop from her crouch and … More The Anyentr (Stories on a Theme – “Isolate”)
- Green Magic (Stories on a Theme – “Magic”)Magic had colours to it, everyone knew that. If it existed in the spectrum of light, there was a magic for it. Blue magic, for example, was the healing magics. The … More Green Magic (Stories on a Theme – “Magic”)
- Enchantment (Stories on a Theme – “Magic”)“Come on,” Vayner hissed at the tablet at his feet, “take Gods damn you.” The tablet, a piece of slate fifteen inches by fifteen inches, stayed stubbornly still at his feet. … More Enchantment (Stories on a Theme – “Magic”)
- Ruins of Palen (Stories on a Theme – “Weak”)“Finally,” Casei said, resting her hand on her knees as she caught her breath, “we’re here.” Sam snorted next to her. Casei glared at him. “What,” Sam remarked, pulling off his … More Ruins of Palen (Stories on a Theme – “Weak”)
