By Beth Hoyer
Copyright 2012
Published by Smashwords
This story is for your enjoyment. Feel free to download and read it.
Eric's Purpose
Eric jerked from the angry rages clouding up his golden eyes’ eyesight with whiteness making him blind and roared loudly as he felt a toddler child clutch his left leg of his Human like form. He opened his eyes narrowing at the whiteness and grabbed the child yanking from holding onto his leg up to eye level. He shut his eyes as he felt the familiar headache of his mind scanned and opened them as the rages went away to stare held in his gloved hands was his niece Erica, a Highlander a species with pointed ears and an Asian look on their faces which the species was known among himself secretly to be mind walkers.
He stared at Erica which he heard her tiny feminine voice sounding in his mind “Uncle Eric?”
Eric stiffened and didn’t answer in response as he turned and thrust Erica to his sister, Erica’s mother Arielia who appeared to scrutinizing him. He handed her Erica backing up turning invisible and ran towards the doors to the cafeteria only to see Brianna appear standing in front of the doors blocking his way with a loud whooshing noise of her ability to move at blurring speeds.
He groaned as Brianna spoke unseeing him “Your not leaving the room, Eric.”
Eric turned visible as Brianna seeing he, appeared at his side with a whooshing sound besides him, grabbing his arm and yanked him to a chair where she pushed him to sit. He groaned as Brianna pulled his head towards her with her arms on his upper back rubbing. He placed his arms around her and burying his head on her form groaning loudly. Eric felt Brianna push herself from him and he released his hold on her as she leaned down stroking his cheek with a hand.
He stared at her as she spoke “Don’t worry it’ll pass.”
Eric sighed to the reference to his angry rage episodes that would come without warning and leave him without another warning as she walked away walking towards his sisters Ionela with Lana and Yuri mate of Lana all visibly talking to a Trigan with an ape humanoid form but having similar clawed hands like himself that gave up poison at the fingertips, words unheard. He closed his eyes leaning backwards in the chair and felt small hands touch his left leg. He opened his eyes to see Erica staring at him with her brown eyes.
Eric frowned as Erica’s voice sounded again in his mind speaking “Uncle Eric?”
He sighed and mentally spoke while staring at her back “Yes it’s your Uncle Eric.”
He saw Erica’s lips turn into a smile as she raised her hands at him. Eric groaned and picked up Erica setting her right side on him. He looked at her to feel her settle leaning against him falling asleep. Eric frowned as he felt hands touch his right leg and looked to see his nephew Drew a Highlander offspring same aged as Erica, with his red orange short hair staring at him with blue eyes. He frowned as Drew threw his hands up at him. Eric sighed as he lifted Drew up with one arm and settled his left side on him and felt him adjust his position. Eric leaned against the chair as he felt Drew and Erica stop their fidgeting to fall asleep held on his lap by his arms. He frowned as he saw Henry, mate of Ionela, walk to Brent mate of Arielia and Arielia, appearing to be whispering words he unheard to them in a quiet talk while seeing them all nod their heads in agreement as the male finished his talk which he looked away to look elsewhere. He saw his two ten year old children Ricky and Cassie with Ionela’s similar aged children Harry and Anna get up walking as a group towards the cafeteria entrance. He watched as they left the room and he turned his attention towards Henry whose back was towards him while still whispering to Brent and Arielia. Eric frowned as he saw Henry appeared to finish his whispered talk and saw him leave the room. He watched as Brent with Arielia walked towards him. He stared at his sister as she and Brent reached him.
Arielia spoke firmly to him “Eric, let me take Erica.”
He removed his arm around Erica as Arielia bent down to take the sleeping child from him and watched her leave the room carrying his niece while being followed by Brent. He sighed as he turned his head towards the others talking to a Trigan who he saw finished their talk. The Trigan he saw turned invisible with outline walking away. He saw Lana with Yuri following her walk towards him which reaching him, he stood up holding a sleeping Drew and handed the child to his sister who nodded her head then watched her leave the room with the male following her. He sighed as he walked towards Ionela as an outline of another Trigan in a hidden form revealed itself showing a male with a face of a fish form appeared standing next to his sister. He stared at Ionela who reaching him hugged him in a bear hug then let go of him.
He spoke “Ionela?”
Ionela spoke “Eric, Henry and I want to leave the ship with our children and live in the city with other people.”
Eric stared at her with anger forming inside him at the reference to the vast in size sea boat she referred as ship as she paused and continued “I think it’s a good idea worth doing. What do you think?”
He narrowed his eyes folding his arms as he spoke with anger “I don’t agree to this, Ionela.”
Ionela he saw frowned and then she spoke “But Eric the children deserve a better life than one living here-”
He interrupted “I think the children’s life here is fine. They don’t need to leave the ship.”
Ionela spoke “But Eric-“
He again interrupted “I don’t want to hear more of this subject from you or anyone again. The children are not leaving the ship period.”
Eric lowered his arms and gave Ionela a glare that flinched from the look then he walked out of the cafeteria towards his quarters. He saw doors to quarters were closed as he walked by them.
Reaching his quarters he walked inside slamming the door and went to the armchair to sit and grumbled out loud in anger “That Trigan she was talking to must have given her the idea of leaving the ship. I’ll see that he’s disciplined for that.”
He leaned back in the armchair folding his arms as he muttered out loud “The children are fine here. They don’t need to leave the ship. I don’t see anything wrong with life here worth leaving to live in the city. I think living on the ship is fine and no need to abandon it.”
He sighed as he felt his anger leave him and lowered his arms staring at the door to the room which opened to reveal Brianna. He smiled a small smile as Brianna entered the room closing the door behind her.
He stood up and spoke “Let me guess, it’s Ionela and Henry’s turn to watch the children tonight.”
He saw Brianna nod her head in agreement he heard Brianna speak “Don’t worry about the children. They’ll be taken care of, I’ve seen to it.”
He sighed as he watched her walk to the bathroom walking inside closing the door behind her. Eric sighed some more while taking off his shoes which he left piled on the floor then he put his clothes consisted of blue sweats in the dresser and put on his pajamas of white pants and a tank top and then went to the bed and got in pulling the blankets up to his chest. He lay on his side as Brianna wearing her nightgown carrying her clothes left the bathroom turning off the light. He saw her place the clothes in the dresser then he watched her walk towards him on the bed which she got in and saw her twist to turn off the lamp on the dresser besides the bed. He sighed as he felt Brianna lay her head on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her as he closed his eyes falling asleep.
Eric woke up hearing the beeping sound of the alarm and discovered himself spoon fashioning Brianna who he felt sit up turning on the lamp and shut off the alarm. He sighed as he stared at her getting up from the bed stretching her arms while walking towards the dresser where her clothes were lying in it. He watched as Brianna picked up the clothes after manipulating the dresser drawers and went inside the bathroom closing the door behind her. Eric smiled a small smile as he got up from the bed and went to exchange clothes from the dresser which he put on along with his socks and sneakers.
Eric spoke out loud “I might as well find that Trigan who gave Ionela the idea of leaving the ship and discipline him.”
He left the quarters and frowned when he saw no outlines of hidden Trigans in the hallway along with bedroom doors open. Frowning he went to the cafeteria and stared with shock when he saw it was empty with no outlines seen. He stiffened with anger as he remembered his conversation with Ionela the previous day and ran out of the cafeteria going to the open bedroom doors peering in each of them as Brianna came out of his quarters to stand watching him. He felt anger rising some more as he saw each of the bedrooms were empty of people and outlines. Growling he reached the last room near the double doors of the hallway and stormed inside to see it was empty. He walked out into the hallway as the rages arrived with whiteness clouding up his eyes sight. He roared loudly as he charged with hands in fists and met a hard wall which he punched repeatedly as the rages left him. He continued to punch the wall as his eyes cleared up showing clear eyes sight along with his anger leaving him. Eric left the wall and went to Brianna standing in front of his quarters which he grabbed her arms in a tight grip.
He spoke “Brianna, what’s going on? Where are the others?”
Eric
stared at Brianna who stared back at him meeting his eyes spoke
“While you were in our quarters, the others including our children
left the ship to live in the city.”
Eric exclaimed “What?!”
Brianna, he stared with shock on his face, spoke “It’s alright, Eric, the children will be taken care of as they live their lives out there in the city.”
Eric spoke while feeling anger returning to him “But Brianna I told Ionela that the children will be fine as they live here. Why do they need to leave when they have everything they want here?”
Brianna he continued to stare at spoke “Not everything they want is here.”
He
frowned as he released his hold on Brianna’s arms who continued
talking “What they wanted was to live among the other races in the
city and not live here being isolated from the world. They wanted to
join the world to learn everything they wanted to learn. They weren’t
getting it from living here.”
He growled out as anger arrived
“Hence them leaving the ship to live in the city.”
He narrowed his eyes as he stared at Brianna who spoke “I oath to you, Eric, that I will stay with you and that includes as long as you want to stay here even as long as I live. That’s a promise I aim to keep till death comes to me.”
He spoke “Death won’t come to you, Brianna.”
Brianna spoke “Yes it will for I’m not ageless as you are judging by your hair still not showing white like mine is now.”
He growled as he felt his stomach rumbling in hunger and heard Brianna speak again “Come love, to the cafeteria. You and I need to eat something for we need it to live.”
He stared at Brianna who took one of his gloved hands and pulled him down the hallway through the double doors of the cafeteria which she led him to the dishwashing machine and started taking out a tray and dishes which she handed to him. He followed Brianna while holding the tray loaded with dishes for both her and him to the food processing units next to it. He sighed as she loaded the dishes with food and drink then he followed her to a table where they both sat down and began eating and drinking from the dishes on the tray. Once done Eric went to the dishwashing machine and placed the dishes away inside it. Then he went to pace watched by Brianna sitting in a chair as anger arrived.
He growled out loud knowing Brianna could hear him “I’m disappointed in the others for getting the idea of leaving the ship. Why couldn’t they stay? Harrumph, they had to leave to join the world, Argh.”
He heard the cafeteria doors open and looked with annoyance to see the familiar Highlander dubbed Tikcanni leader guard of the nation Oceana an ocean length away from the sea boat’s docking at the city of Atlanta in the nation of Americania walking in escorted by four guards all Highlanders guard dubbed Kaddar.
He folded his arms and gave Tikcanni a glare who spoke “Eric, time for your punishment, so come along, you and Brianna.”
Eric responded by roaring some loud nonsense sound recalling himself poisoning Tikcanni’s twin brother by claw swiping and given punishment of whipping to keep himself and his people alive as payment for the death. He felt hands on his arm which he cut off to look at Brianna with a worry look on her face. He growled as she rubbed his arm and he turned his attention towards Tikcanni who left the room followed by his guards. Growling loudly he unfolded his arms and left the room with Brianna’s hands on his arm to follow Tikcanni and escorts to the whipping room. Once inside he gave Brianna his shirt then walked to the fence holding out his hands watching the Kaddar a Highlander wrap his wrists with the chains. Eric leaned against the fence eyes on Brianna as he heard a humming sound and felt the chains become tighter raising his arms above his head. He kept his eyes on Brianna as he grimaced while feeling the whip hitting his bare back hard repeatedly with the pain rising after each hit. He roared some angry sound as the pain got intense along with the whipping hitting his back. Eric felt the whipping stop and he sagged in relief against the fence and felt the chains peel off his arms which he lowered. He walked around the fence to meet Brianna handing his shirt which he painfully put on as he glared at Tikcanni watching him surrounded by his four Kaddar guards.
Tikcanni spoke “Your people stopped by Oceana’s Ambassadorial Headquarters to inform me that they had left the ship and were going to live in the city. I gave them directions on where to go. I assure you their doing fine.”
Eric roared growling loudly hearing Tikcanni’s words as the rages arrived. He felt his mind scanned followed by the rages leaving him along with the headache. He bore his eyes angrily at Tikcanni who turned and left the room followed by his guards. He looked down at Brianna as he felt himself relaxing from the angry feeling running throughout him.
Brianna spoke “Eric, it’s alright. The others will take care of Ricky and Cassie as well as taking care of their children. Don’t worry they’ll be fine.”
He responded to Brianna’s words was to snarl some nonsense sound as she went to his side gripping his left arm. He didn’t protest as she pulled him out of the whipping room into the all white hallway walking a maze of hallways and stairwells till they reached one of the outer decks facing the land deck where the gang plank sat.
Brianna, he heard continued speaking “Eric, we can leave to join the others if you want.”
Eric stared at her and at the land deck as fear arrived billowing through out him. He shivered shaking from the fearful feeling.
He turned his attention towards her and spoke “I don’t think I can leave the ship. I’m afraid.”
He shook from the fearful feeling running through out him as his hands shook.
He heard Brianna speak “It’s alright, there’s nothing to be afraid out there but our family.”
Eric felt her hands grip his arms as she pulled him towards the gang plank. He again felt the fearful feeling and shivered violently shaking visibly as he got closer to the gang plank. With a roaring cry he yanked himself out of Brianna’s grip turning around and took off running towards the stairwell which he ran down the stairs running a maze of hallways and stairwells till he reached his quarters and ran inside slamming the door. He fell on his knees as tears came to his eyes while rocking his form back and forth crying out in wails. Eric lay on the rugged floor curling in a ball still crying while feeling the fearful feeling running through out him. He shook violently as he cried wailing noises with his arms wrapped around his head. He continued to cry as he felt a hand touch his arm pulling it from his head as he blinked his tear stained eyes to see Brianna kneeling next to him with worry on her face. He pulled himself up and clung to her form in a tight grip as he continued to wail his cries while feeling her hands on him. He cried and cried till he was gasping and felt tears stopped flowing from his eyes as he felt the feeling of fear leave him. He sighed and pulled himself from Brianna’s grip as he let go of holding her to stare at her in the eyes.
Her brown eyes he saw were filled with worry as she spoke “Eric, Merra tells me that you’re fearful reaction to leaving shows that you and the ship are somehow connected together.”
He frowned at her words and referring to Merra a giant sentient mind walking plant that lived in the ocean rising to the surface at each sunrise and going underwater after each sunset.
He spoke “I don’t need to leave the ship. Everything I want is here. Why do I need to go out in the world when everything I want is provided here?”
Eric heard Brianna sigh loudly as he continued speaking with anger in his voice “The others can live wherever they want and who cares about them.”
He paused as he felt anger running throughout him and he added “I don’t care if they come begging for me to leave and join them for I’m not leaving period.”
He got up as Brianna got up and began pacing with his arms folded as he growled out “I’m not leaving not ever.”
Eric felt tiredness arrive overtaking his anger and he unfolded his arms to stare at Brianna looking at him.
He spoke “I’m tired, Brianna. I want to get some sleep.”
He sighed as he took off his shoes leaving his clothes on as Brianna pulled back the blankets and he got in the bed as she pulled the blankets to settle on his chest. Eric sighed loudly as he closed his eyes falling asleep. He heard the lamp click off followed by sensing darkness and heard the door to the room open and close as he let sleep over come him.
Eric woke up to hear the beeping of the alarm and found himself spoon fashioning Brianna who reached over to turn on the lamp and turned off the alarm. He got up from the bed as she got up. He went to his shoes as she picked up her clothes and saw her went inside the bathroom gently closing the door behind her. Eric sat on the bed putting on his sneakers. He sat staring at the wall with a frown on his face as he heard the bathroom door open from behind him followed by Brianna walking into his line of sight. He sighed as she took his hand and pulled him from the room to the hallway to the cafeteria. Once again he held the tray as Brianna loaded up dishes and silverware from the dishwashing machine then he followed her to the food processing units where she loaded the dishes with food. Eric followed Brianna to a table where he sat down next to her putting the tray on the table. He and Brianna ate and drank in silence then once done he took the tray to the dishwashing machine and put away the dishes and silverware then began to pace watched by Brianna. He sighed and walked out of the room to the hallway to his quarters as his meeting with Tikcanni for the first time flashed in his mind’s eye. He frowned as his feet took him to the meeting spot in the hallway as he stared at the area with a narrowed eyed glare.
Tikcanni’s words about Highlanders echoed in his mind which he exhaled breath thinking to himself about one of the species mind wiping him to have amnesia which his memories were later restored by another “I’ll never forgive them for what they did to me.”
He cut himself off as he felt his mind scanned followed by Merra’s feminine voice speaking sounding in his mind “I don’t like having to tell you this but the Highlander responsible for the mind wiping has died a few days ago which his last words to me was ‘Merra don’t let Highlanders do what I did to Eric happen ever’.”
He heard Merra paused then continued speaking “You’re free of this Highlander’s torture and his influence so be happy with that knowing that he can no longer torment you. Be happy living the rest of your life without being influenced by a Highlander like what he did to you ever again. I oath to you on that for I’ll see it won’t happen to anyone or you again.”
He sighed as Merra left his mind and spoke out loud “Finally dead. At least I won’t suffer from this again. Thanks Merra.”
He turned and walked to the door to his quarters opening it a bit to hear noises inside. Eric frowned as he recognized the noises as Brianna crying. He walked into the quarters towards the open bathroom doorway where he could see Brianna leaning over the sink crying tears while staring at the mirror.
He spoke “Brianna.”
He heard Brianna speak in a weepy voice “I’m losing my looks. I’m aging which is making my hair change from its state to another state along with getting wrinkles on my face and elsewhere on me.”
Eric
sighed and walked till he was standing behind Brianna and placed
hands on her shoulders that felt thin to the touch while rubbing the
areas.
He spoke “Your eyes will always be the same despite your
appearance changing. I can still see that look you always give me is
still there.”
Brianna moved out of his hands towards the rack next to the sink where she grabbed a towel rubbing her face into it. He stared at her as she placed the towel back on the rack and looked at him with affection in her eyes. He opened his arms wide as Brianna walked to him which he wrapped his arms around her in a hug.
He heard Brianna sigh loudly before speaking “Eric, oath me something.”
Eric groaned softly as he hugged Brianna before speaking “You have my oath so tell me what it is.”
Brianna spoke “I want you to continue living your life after I die and if you have an opportunity to live without me, you are to take it please.”
He spoke with a groaning tone “Brianna that is something I don’t agree with for nothing will replace you as my purpose to live.”
He felt Brianna’s hands on his cheeks and looked down to look at her in the eyes whose expression he saw had a serious look in them.
She spoke “Please, it’ll hurt me if you don’t continue living your life after my death.”
Eric opened his mouth to speak and found a hand forcing his jaw shut as Brianna continued “I insist on this just so you have my permission to move on and I can rest easy knowing that you’ll continue your life with a purpose to live.”
Eric sighed and with a hand stroked Brianna’s cheek as she removed her hand from touching his jaw to his cheek. He heard her sigh as he hugged her and felt her push herself out of his arms taking his hand. He sighed as she pulled him out of the bathroom to the bedroom and sighed again as she hugged him before letting go to go to the armchair to sit staring at him.
He spoke “I think I’ll explore the ship.”
He saw Brianna nod her head and he walked out of the quarters to lean his form on the wall groaning loudly. He straightened up and stood in the hallway with a frown on his face. He sighed and turned his form invisible and frowned as he saw Brianna with tears streaming down her face leave his quarters walking towards the double doors to the stairwell in the hallway. He silently followed her walking a maze of hallways and stairwells till he reached an outer deck where the gang plank was. Eric frowned as Brianna paused from walking to look behind her still sobbing away. He quickly and silently ran till he was ahead of Brianna and stood watching her as she turned and continued walking. He walked backwards ahead of Brianna watching her face that showed sadness with tears running down from her eyes. He reached the edge of the gang plank folded his arms and made his appearance from his hidden state as he saw a surprised look arrive on Brianna’s face.
Eric spoke with a begging tone “Brianna, don’t leave me.”
Brianna he stared burst out a wailing like sound and cried harder. He walked up to her and took her hand pulling her away from the gang plank.
He spoke as he held a firm grip on her hand “Stay with me, Brianna.”
Brianna in response to his annoyance gave up another wailing like sound as she continued to cry tears. Eric exhaled a breath and pulled her walking a maze of hallways and stairwells till he reached a grey wall with a small TV monitor on it. He put his hand on the monitor that flashed a white light and then the wall in front of him opened sliding like a door showing a huge room with large vertical tubes jutting from the floor with wires coming from the tops going into the ceiling. He heard Brianna gasp as he pulled her into the room walking by tubes ignoring their emptiness till he reached a tube and stopped. He felt Brianna stiffened with his hand on hers as he stared at the tube’s contents which he saw had a lumpy tan object he recognized as a brain with wires attached to it.
Eric spoke “Brianna, this is Anya what’s left of me who is talking through him.”
Brianna he heard gave another gasp as he continued “Eric isn’t aware of me and I will keep it that way and will make sure he doesn’t believe you even if you tell him.”
He placed a gloved hand on the tube partition and added “Eric won’t remember this after he wakes up from sleeping off a headache.”
He turned towards Brianna and gently rubbed a hand on her cheek as she wiped her tear stained eyes with her free hand. Eric smiled a small smile at Brianna then gently pulled her out of the room walking a maze of hallways and stairwells till he reached the hallway where his quarters stood.
He pulled her into the bedroom and forced her to sit in an armchair then spoke “Brianna, I have a headache. I need to sleep this off.”
Eric went to the bed and laid his form on it lying sideways facing Brianna and he closed his eyes. Eric opened his eyes with confusion in his face. He frowned as he looked around the room and saw Brianna sitting in an arm chair with a sad look on her face eyes staring at the floor. He got up from the bed and went to Brianna gently putting hands on her cheeks rubbing the areas. Her eyes he saw continued to stare down as he released his hands’ touch on Brianna to stare at her. Sighing loudly he walked out of the quarters walking towards the double doors entering the stairwell. He walked a maze of hallways and stairwells till he reached the outer deck leading to the gang plank and stood with arms folded staring at the land deck that was empty of people. He stared at the land deck seemingly lengthy and heard a whooshing sound behind him. He looked to see Brianna standing at his side with a frown on her face that was showing wrinkles on it. He groaned as she walked towards him and went in his embrace as he wrapped arms around her.
He heard her speak “Eric, what’s wrong? You seem upset about something.”
Eric spoke “I’m upset about the others not coming to visit us or let me know how their doing.”
He felt Brianna raise her head and he looked at her in the face where he could see was showing wrinkles of old age.
He stared at Brianna who spoke “What would happen if the others come visit us?”
Eric spoke “I’ll keep them from leaving again-“
Brianna interrupted “That’s why they don’t visit.”
He stared at Brianna with shock who stared back at him with a serious expression on her face.
Eric spoke in a groaning tone “If they can’t visit us then why can’t they sent someone to update me on their lives?”
He heard Brianna sigh loudly again before she spoke “Perhaps it’s best to not to know how their leading their life.”
He rubbed her back with his gloved hands as he spoke “I really would like to know about Ricky and Cassie growing up to adulthood, perhaps learn if they have mates which could result in them having children. I also want to know how Ricky handled his rages something I suffer with myself. I really want to know how Arielia and Ionela are doing living out there for I miss them.”
He paused as he looked at the land deck and growled loudly as he saw Tikcanni walking slowly towards the gang plank while being escorted by four Kaddar all Highlanders. Eric felt Brianna remove her hands as he let go of her back. He turned and walked towards the gang plank while being followed by Brianna. Reaching the gang plank he stood with arms folded a glare on his face as he watched Tikcanni looking wearily slowly walked on the gang plank towards him. He narrowed his eyes as Tikcanni reached him with tiredness. Eric glared at Tikcanni who took off the glove of his right hand and rolled his sleeve.
He stared at Tikcanni as the Highlander spoke in Basic “Eric, I never thought I would live to see this day when I will no longer see you as an enemy for killing my brother. The whipping, I oath to you will stop for your free of the punishment.”
Eric widen his eyes of shock as Tikcanni paused then continued “I see you as someone worthy of being an ally, a friend who I look with respect. Will you see me as the same?”
He frowned as Tikcanni rose up his bare right hand towards him but kept his arms folded.
Tikcanni added “I just hope the day will come when you will no longer see Highlanders as your enemy but your allies worth being friends with.”
Eric sighed softly as he lowered his arms and with his right gloved hand took Tikcanni’s bare hand and shook it.
He spoke as he let go of Tikcanni’s hand “I accept you as my friend for you see me as the same.”
Eric sighed again as Tikcanni nodded his head as the Highlander placed his glove back on his hand rolling down his sleeve. He stood and watched as Tikcanni escorted by Kaddar guards slowly turned around and walked down the gang plank to reach the land deck. Eric groaned loudly as he saw Brianna went to stand in front of him and he felt her arms around him holding him in a hug. He rubbed his hands on her back as he felt tears come to his eyes and continued to groan loudly.
He felt Brianna tighten her hold on him as he cried loudly crying out “Brianna.”
Eric cried and cried as Brianna’s arms continued to hold him in a hug.
He groaned out loudly during a bout of sobbing “Oh why, why did I have to kill a Highlander because of my anger towards Highlanders? I could have left one alive and found another way to express my anger towards the species.”
He broke off to cry as he heard Brianna speaking “It’s alright, Eric. That happened in the past. There’s nothing you can do to change the past but put it aside by moving on. Tikcanni let go of his anger towards you for what happened to his brother so don’t hold onto the pain of the killing, just let it go and free yourself of this torment.”
He closed his eyes struggling to relax from the crying. Eric exhaled air as the rages arrived and breathe through his mouth as the anger went throughout him.
He heard Brianna’s voice and concentrated on the words understanding them “It’ll pass, don’t worry, just ride this out.”
He continued to breathe through his mouth as he felt himself calming down. Eric rubbed her back with his gloved hands as he opened his eyes to look at her in the eyes. Her eyes he saw were filled with affection towards him as she stared back at him. He sighed loudly as he tightened his arms around Brianna while feeling her place her head on his shoulder. He leaned his chin on her head while smelling her hair’s scent as he felt her arms go around him in a hug then they let go to stand staring at the land deck. He stared at her appearance which was beginning to show her age. He could see her hair was white and was frizzy along with her skin no longer smooth but bumpy with wrinkles on it. Eric rubbed her back that felt thin to the touch with his gloved hands.
He exhaled air as he felt a headache and heard Merra’s voice speaking in his mind “Eric, Brianna, some things I think you should know. Terrania is now united ruled by a newly created title holder called Sun Lord who was introduced during the opening ceremonies of the Terrania Unity Games. The Sun Lord I should add rules with his identity hidden wearing a mask covering his head showing no features of his species. I thought I’ll let you know of this.”
Eric again exhaled air as he felt the headache left him as Merra left his mind. He sighed tightening his arms around Brianna who laid her head on his shoulder. He sighed as the light of the sky began to leave which the ceiling lights abruptly turned on illuminating them.
He sighed as the darkness of the night arrived and he spoke “Come love, its night time, let’s go in and get some sleep.”
He let go of holding Brianna who removed her hands to grip his right hand with her left hand. He and Brianna hand in hand walked towards the stairwell and entered it walking a maze of hallways and stairwells till they reached the hallway where their quarters were. He sighed loudly as he let go of Brianna’s hand to enter his quarters with her following him. He yanked off his clothes as Brianna picked up her nightgown from the dresser and went into the bathroom. He went to the dresser on his side of the bed and pulled out his pajamas as he stood which he put on his form. He sighed and laid his form on the bed closing his eyes as he felt himself falling unconscious.
Eric dreamed an eye sight view of himself lying in bed as if standing in front of the wall opposite from the area and the view shifted to show Brianna walking out of the bathroom doorway carrying her nightgown which she quietly placed in the dresser. The view showed Brianna looking towards the bed at himself with a sad look on her face then placed hands on the alarm clock and he heard small beeping sounds then she removed her hands and laid her form on the bed on top of the blankets while still wearing her clothes eyes staring at himself lying in the bed before closing them then the view went black.
Eric jerked to hear the beeping sound of the alarm along with confusion raging throughout him. He frowned as he sat up and leaned over Brianna turning the lamp on while shutting off the alarm. He stared at Brianna lying asleep in bed on top of the blankets while wearing her blue dress and shoes on her feet who didn’t stir. Sighing he got up from the bed yanking off his pajamas and grabbed his clothes from the dresser which he put on his form. He went to sit on the bed as he put on his socks and sneakers then he stood up to stare at Brianna who was still sleeping. He frowned as he went to Brianna’s side of the bed and gently with a gloved hand placed a hand on her head.
He frowned some more as Brianna spoke with a cranky tone weariness in her voice “Eric, I’m tired and I can’t shake the tiredness so let me sleep some more.”
Groaning softly Eric left Brianna and the room gently closing the door behind him. He went to the cafeteria to the dishwashing machine where he picked up a tray and loaded it with dishes and silverware which he filled with food and drink from the processing units. Sighing he went to a table and sat eating and drinking then once done he put the dishes away in the dishwashing machine then went to his quarters to stare at Brianna laying asleep.
Eric frowned as he thought “I might as well explore the ship.”
He walked towards the double doors at the end of the hallway and entered the stairwell which his feet led him through a maze of hallways and stairwells till he entered a familiar hallway with doors at the end which he recognized led to the whipping room. Eric growled some sound as annoyance arrived within him. He walked into the room where he could see a fence underneath a spotlight with chains hanging next to it. Growling loudly he stormed pass the fence to the whipping machine and its switch console nearby it. He felt anger arrived with a roar he charged at the whipping machine’s console which he grabbed yanking it off the floor with sparks flashing. He held the box pole in his hands and threw it repeatedly towards the ground. Growling he threw the console at the fence which it hit then tumbled towards the floor falling apart. Eric stormed towards the whip attached to a metal pole and grabbed the pole which he yanked out of the floor with sparks flashing. He angrily threw it towards the floor repeatedly as the whipping pole fell apart at each hit. He threw the whipping pole towards the fence which hit then tumbled towards the floor falling apart. Eric roared loudly as the rages arrived clouding up his eyes sight with whiteness. He growled roaring nonsense sounds as the rages ran through out him. He shut his eyes and breathed through his mouth while struggling to calm down from the rages. He breathed hard panting as the rages left him clearing up his eyes sight. Sighing he ran out of the whipping room running a maze of hallways and stairwells till he reached a wall with a monitor next to it in the middle of a hallway. He touched the monitor with his hand then the wall slid opened like a door and showed him a large room with vertical tubes jutting from the floor with wires attached on top going to the ceiling. He speed walked into the room as a compelling instinct feeling told him to where to go. He walked pass vertical tubes sparing them no glances till he reached a tube with series of wires inside attached to tan bumpy object that his instincts told him was a brain. He walked up to the brain’s tube and placed a hand on the glass wall staring at the brain inside. Eric jerked shutting his eyes as a headache arrive pounding in his head. He groaned putting a gloved hand on his forehead as the headache abruptly left him. He jerked his hand from his forehead opening his eyes as confusion arrive through out him. He stared at the tube his hand was on and its contents with a frown as nothing came to his mind telling him what it was. Eric lowered his hand stepping back from the tube as an image of Brianna sleeping in bed while wearing her blue dress came to his mind.
Eric spoke “Brianna.”
He darted out of the room running a maze of hallways and stairwells till he reached his quarters while panting for breath. He still panting entered the room to see Brianna lying asleep on the blankets in bed. He went to the bed and sat and took one of her hands holding it in his gloved hands.
He spoke softly “Brianna.”
Brianna he stared at as if sensing him opened her eyes to stare at him then she spoke “Eric, I want to watch the sun rise. Can you carry me?”
Eric without a word lifted Brianna up and felt her arms wrap around his neck as he carried her out of the room to the hallway. He walked a maze of hallways and stairwells guided by Brianna voicing the directions till he reached an outer deck and there was a metal bench in the hallway. He went to the bench and sat holding her on his lap.
Brianna spoke “Eric, wake me up when the sky is lighter just before the sun rises.”
He spoke “Will do, love.”
Brianna he felt placed her head on his shoulder and fell asleep. Eric frowned sitting on the bench with Brianna sitting sideways on his lap with her head on his shoulder and her eyes on her wrinkled face were closed. Eric sighed breathing the cool air of the night while looking with night vision which showed the scene as daylight in the color yellow. He looked up at the sky to see the moon. Then he looked down at Brianna and brought an arm around her form that stirred but kept on slumbering. He stared out at the moving sea that stretched far beyond the horizon ahead of him. He stared at the sky and frowned as his night vision began to blink out showing day vision back and forth.
He reached a gloved hand to Brianna’s cheek stroking it as he spoke “Brianna, wake up love, the sun will be coming up soon.”
Eric felt Brianna remove her head from his shoulder as he removed his hand as the sky became lighter and lighter announcing the sun’s rise. Eric sighed as the sun peered over the horizon shining rays illuminating the ocean and the sky with colors of sun rise. He blinked his eyes from the sun’s glare as his eyes sight changed from night vision to day vision. He saw the sun slowly rise from peering over the horizon till it was completely above it.
He heard Brianna speak with weariness in her voice “Eric, I’m so tired, I want to sleep, take me home please.”
He gathered her up carrying her as she wrapped her arms around his neck, head touching his. He carried her into the ship walking a maze of hallways and stairwells till he reached the hallway where his quarters were. He carried her inside their room and gently laid her on the bed then stood standing next to it.
Brianna he saw raised a wrinkled hand towards him and he gripped it as she spoke “Eric, I love you. I may not be with you physically but I will be with you in your heart. Remember that you oath to me that you’ll have a purpose to live after I’m gone.”
He stared at her as she closed her eyes and he lowered her hand onto the bed. He went to the armchair and sat. Eric sat in the armchair staring at the wall with his eyes not seeing them. He looked at the bed to see Brianna, laying there asleep while lying on top of the blankets. He could hear her breathing becoming lesser and lesser as her body began to give up its life. He got up from the chair to sit on the bed next to Brianna’s side taking her old wrinkled hand with his gloved hands. Eric held the hand and listened as there was a rasping sound coming from her followed by her breathing cut off. He placed a hand on her forehead and brought his hand back to her hand gripping it in his hands. He let the tears flow as he felt a shaking vibration. He laid his form on the bed on his side and brought his arms around Brianna’s lifeless body weeping as the tears flowed from his eyes.
He groaned out “Brianna.”
He felt the shaking vibration become harder as he lay on the bed clutching her in his arms.
Eric felt the familiar headache followed by Merra’s voice speaking “Eric, the ship is being pulled towards the ocean where it will sink. Get out while you can.”
He spoke “A life without Brianna is a life not without purpose.”
He heard Merra speak “Eric, I oath to you, you will have a purpose worth living but not when your dead. Get out of the ship while you can.”
Eric repeated his words as the shaking continued “A life without Brianna is a life not without purpose.”
He closed his eyes as he felt the headache left him and placed his chin on the top of white haired Brianna’s head.
He felt the headache again and he spoke “Merra, I’m not leaving the ship.”
He heard a male voice speak in his head “What will Brianna want you to do after her death? I’m at the doorway.”
Eric opened his eyes raising his head to stare standing in the doorway was a long black haired Highlander in a uniform with a male form.
He heard the male voice from the Highlander speak again “You oath to Brianna that you’ll live on after her death with a purpose didn’t you? Will you honor that oath?”
Eric stared at the Highlander with shock on his face as he continued mentally speaking “I know from your mind that she talked to you about living your life after she dies. Brianna made it clear to you that you were to live with a purpose as you oath to her.”
Eric turned his head away to stare at Brianna’s face who’s eyes were closed as he heard the Highlander mentally speak again in his mind “Your time with Brianna ended doesn’t mean your life is finished. There’s a new beginning with a new life. I know that you love Brianna but will you honor what she wanted?”
He raised his head to stare at the Highlander who raised a gloved hand out towards him. He heard the Highlander add “You can take Brianna with you. There’s a place prepared for her to rest for eternity until the day comes when you will join her. I’ll see to it that you can visit Brianna and look at her from time to time.”
Eric sighed as the headache went away and got up from the bed picking up Brianna’s lifeless body cradling it in his arms. He paused to look around and followed the Highlander out of the room into the hallway where lights were blinking on and off. He kept his eyes on the Highlander’s back as they walked a maze of hallways and stairwells till they reached the outer deck with a gangplank leading towards the land deck. He could see a crowd standing on the land deck and heard cheering like sounds coming from them as he followed the Highlander down the gangplank to the land deck. Once on the land deck Eric turned around to see the gangplank twist on its side before breaking in two falling into the ocean water below. He stood watching as the ship moved in a fast speed sailing past the land deck going into the horizon and soon was out of sight.
He felt a hand clawed on his shoulder and heard a voice he recognize belonging to a male Akylah a bird headed humanoid speaking in Basic “Today’s a black day with the loss of your home.”
Eric looked at the Akylah and spoke in Basic voice breaking “And the loss of Brianna, my mate, who I hold in my arms.”
He saw the Akylah turn his head to look at him with goggles covering the eyes and speak “That makes the day even blacker.”
He turned his head towards the open sea and felt the Akylah release his hold on his shoulder with a pat.
Eric stared at the moving sea as he heard a male voice of a Highlander accent speak in Basic “I’m not lying when I said there’s a place prepared for Brianna. Come with me as I take you to the place where Brianna can have her rest.”
He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked at the Highlander standing at his side and nodded his head. Eric numbly felt the Highlander let go of his shoulder and followed him through the crowd that parted forming an aisle going silent. He kept his eyes on the Highlander’s back who led him to a car like vehicle sitting with rumbling noises. Eric got inside following the Highlander who sat across from him as he felt the vehicle lift up in the air flying in the sky like a helicopter. He allowed the tears to flow as he held Brianna in his arms and buried his face on her chest weeping loudly. He felt the vehicle hover and land with a thud then was rolling followed by a stopping motion.
Eric felt a hand on his head and looked up with tear stained eyes at the Highlander who spoke “Follow me, we’re here.”
Eric kept his eyes on the Highlander as he followed him out of the vehicle passing by identical vehicles parked in a large room. He with the Highlander reached a metal door in a wall that separated in two showing a small room liked an elevator which they both got in with the doors closing. He felt the elevator go down with a humming sound then stop and then the doors opened showing a hallway with a large metal door at the end in the wall and two large barrel shaped devices besides it showing a green shield field between them in front of the door. Eric followed the Highlander out of the elevator towards the large metal door where they reached the shield field in front of it. He watched as the Highlander took off his glove and stuck his hand in the shield field which disappeared as the door slid open showing its thickness. The Highlander put on his glove as they both entered the doorway and went inside. Eric stared at a lighted by circular lights hanging from the ceiling vast room with shock as he saw too many to count long glass rectangular boxes some with bodies in them sitting scattered in the room along with some on raised platforms.
The Highlander spoke “A former Americanian Presidential ruler was said to discover this room by accident in his grief of losing his mate to child birth. He saw this room and its contents and ordered his mate put here. The shield guarding the door he discovered has a mind of its own and would only admit a select few to rest here. The shield has accepted me once because of your loss of Brianna and would not accept me again should I come back to visit.”
Eric looked around the room with a frown and heard the Highlander speak again “It’s your choice on where you wish to put Brianna.”
He stared at the glass coffins when something shiny caught his eyes. He looked to see the shininess was from a staff with a letter Z symbol carved on the top sitting on a raised platform feet away and in front of it was an empty coffin with a see through cover open. Eric felt his feet moving towards the platform and reached the two step stairs which he walked up towards the coffin. He kissed Brianna’s forehead and lowered her body into the coffin placing her hands together. Something shiny around her neck caught his eye and he reached with trembling hands to the gold chain necklace around her neck which he took off unclasping the metal.
He held up the necklace and spoke “In memory of you, I’ll wear this so I won’t forget.”
He placed the necklace around his neck held in place with a clasp and stepped back as the cover moved closing over Brianna’s body with a click sound. He stared at her form through the cover as he reached with a hand and fingered the necklace.
With a sigh he spoke again with determination in his voice “Life won’t be the same without you but I’ll see that I won’t forget you ever. I’ll oath my life on it that I’ll remember you no matter what happens to me.”
Eric heard the Highlander speak from behind him “Eric, the shield has a price on those who put their loved ones here. The price is that the shield will make people wait seven suns before they’ll be allowed to enter again which is followed by entering as many times they like.”
He stared at Brianna’s form lying in the glass coffin and then he turned around walking down the stairs giving her backward glances as he reached the Highlander who led him towards the doorway. Once out of the room Eric looked behind him to see the door slid shut followed by the shield field appearing between the devices guarding the door.
With a groan he went to the wall to lean on it with his hand and heard the Highlander speak “Eric, you have a life to live. Those seven suns will go by if you’re busy with something to do.”
He straightened up and turned to stare at the Highlander who gestured with a hand to follow him. He numbly followed the Highlander to the elevator which went up with a jerk. Eric jerked shutting his eyes as he felt the rages arrive and placed his fisted hands on his forehead growling loudly. He lowered his hands opening his eyes seeing nothing but whiteness and charged with fists hitting the metal wall of the elevator. He leaned his head on the wall panting as the rages left him and he unclenched his hands while feeling the elevator stop. Eric left the elevator following the Highlander down the hallway to a doorway where another Highlander standing there opened the door.
He heard the familiar Highlander speak “These quarters are for you to stay in. Do what you want with the contents. I have business that requires me elsewhere.”
Eric was pushed inside and heard the door close behind him. He looked around the room and saw two doors on opposite walls, one with glass squares in it. He went to the door without glass in it and opened it looking inside to see a large sized bed jutting from one wall facing him flanked by two dressers with lamps on top of them. He saw there was a window in the wall on his right and a door on the opposite wall. He went to the window and pulled up the cloth covering it to see the sun which was touching the horizon from peering through tall towering buildings of the city scattered in his eyes sight. Frowning he yanked the cloth down and went to the door opening it to stare at the contents of the room which appeared to be a bathroom. He closed the door and went out the bedroom to stand looking around in the quarters’ living room. Growling he yanked his gloves off and threw them onto the smooth yellow floor of the kitchen unit while grabbing the see through square small table that was in front of the couch and threw it at the bare wall. The table shattered as he went around the room picking up things and throwing them at the walls as anger arrived. Eric roared charging at the room’s padded chairs and couch clawing them with his clawed hands’ nails ripping off the material and shredding the padding. He charged attacking at the room’s contents with his hands as he let the anger take control followed by the rages arriving as his eyes sight clouded up in whiteness. He blindly looked around the room and charged with his fists in front of him. His fists hit the wall which he punched repeatedly pounding as the rages left him and his eyes sight cleared up. Growling he kept punching the wall till his strength began to leave him and stopped his punching to lean his head on the wall with his hands. He shook as he allowed the tears to flow from his eyes and twisted his form till his back was on the wall. Eric slid down till he was sitting on the floor and pulled up his legs with his face buried in his arms as he wept wet tears. He lay onto the floor curling in a ball still crying away as the light of the sun went away followed by night time. Eric gasped shaking of crying bouts through him. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to sleep dreamlessly passing out unconscious.
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