4

CAPT. CULL POV 6 months before Harvest time.

   I fight back a shiver of fear as I stare down the company of Rusckods soldiers fifteen yards in front of me. Their solid white eyes are drilling into me as if they are seeing straight through me to my fleeing men already down the hall and around the corner.

This is their second attack on our supply moon and we were gravely unprepared. This storage building doesn't even have a link screen.

"Bring it beasts," I growl as my grip tightens on my blades.

I refuse to draw my blaster. I will not die a cowards' death on this rock. I will kill as many of these bastards as possible while command gathers an available battalion. My men will be saved and that is all that matters.

  "Acting tough, Shikaz. Too bad we can smell the fear rolling off of you," one calls out and I growl.

Fear isn't something to be ashamed of... It's how you handle the fear. That's what my Father taught me on my first hunt.

I smirk and hold up my left blade.

"Aye. I do fear the pain of death. But you all should be fearful as well," I growl before my thigh muscles bunch up and I rocket toward them.

  I manage to slice four throats before a Rusckod gets lucky and cuts a chunk of flesh off of my right arm. When I feel the sting I dash backwards to keep them from getting a lethal blow in.

Four Rusckods choking on their own blood stare up at me from the ground and I give them a full smile. Fifty to sixty spaced out Rusckods isn't something to sneeze at, but get them all in an enclosed space like this...

I have a small chance of killing half of them.

Rusckods aren't as massive as their allied brethren. They typically run about the same size as Bronks. Their flesh is the same color as the Coks... It's their creepy eyes that set them about from every other species. The pupil less stark white eyes that see everything it seems.

"I thought you all had great eyesight," I tease while I caught my breathe discreetly.

  Their large frames expand with anger and I grin again. My people are lean and tall, but we are some of the fastest beings in the galaxy. Tonight I will have to pit my people's speed against the Rusckods famous sight.

"Stop pretending to be winning this fight, runt," one growls and I look down at my torn brown skin.

  My blood has already soaked my uniform and is making my grip slip on my blade. But that means nothing to me. Every second I buy my men is another life saved.

"I am still standing and four of your guys have bled out... I would say I am winning, asshole," I reply and he snarls.

  Their fangs shine in the dim light and I take another deep breath. They will be prepared for a quick attack this time. I won't get as many if I do the same trick. This is it. Fight until I drop.

  Three charge at me and my body tenses as time seems to slow down. Their tan hands armed with blades similar to mine slash through the air like swords, but I stay calm. I twist and deflect as many attacks as possible while slicing their arms and stabbing their torsos. When one of them falls another takes his place and the fighting continues. I can feel my body as my wounds grow more and more serious, but my mind isn't processing the pain correctly. My adrenaline is pumping too high for me to truly grasp how much blood I am loosing.

"FINISH HIM," one of them shouts in frustration, but that only makes me smile.

The ground is slick with Shikaz and Rusckod blood as we fight on. Slash after slash. Stab after stab before suddenly a hit to my right ear leaves my head spinning. My arms become noodles and I hear a victorious shout as a blade pierces through my stomach. Blood spews from my mouth as I laugh at them one more time. I have no idea how many I killed because my vision is dark now, but it doesn't matter. I can feel myself growing cold. To me I feel like a victor.

"CAPTAIN," someone shouts as my body falls backwards.

***** 3 hours later *******

"Wow," I breath while flexing my fingers.

I have never had a near death experience. I have heard from quite a few of my fellow soldiers how weird it is, but I didn't expect this. I really felt as if my soul separated from my body there at the end.

  "Captian, thank goodness," medical soldier Cur says as the door to my room slides open and he sees me sitting up.

"That was a close one, sir," he says as he sits down in a chair across from me.

"How close," I ask and he exhales loudly before answering.

"Your pulse was barely there. A second later you would have been gone... Captain, do you realize how many of those bastards you took down? You are going in the history records for sure," Cur says and I look at him with raised eyebrows.

  "How many," I ask trying to hide the smugness in my voice by examining my now healed arm.

"37. You single handedly annihilated half their company. When Commander Tranborn arrived with his battalion he felt as if they weren't needed. You saved every soldier on this moon. I heard your name has even been brought up for Harvest Champion," Cur says and my eyes shoot to his.

"Seriously," I question and he nods.

"Yes sir. I wouldn't tell you a lie. I am honored to serve under you. We were heavily outnumbered and you made sure we got a message out," Cur says while looking at me with clear admiration.

  "It's part of being your Captain. I would do it again," I reply before standing and placing a hand on his shoulder.

He nods and smiles at me before I leave the room.

I need to report to high council that I am healed and ready to return to active duty. Attacks happen fast in this war. The moon shouldn't be attacked again, but I thought that after the first attack. The enemy must be desperate to deplete our supply lines and our moon has the strongest raw metal for our blades.

  I crack my neck and press my transport button. Within seconds I am in the high council's main building. The secretary looks up from her desk and smiles.

  "How may I help you," she asks and I step forward.

  "Captain Cull. Shikaz. Injury report," I answer and she nods.

   Her report screen pops up between us and she looks at me expectantly with her fingers ready.

  "I am healed and 100% once again. I can report back to active duty," I state and she nods while typing, but as she enters my rank and name a beep sounds.

  "Captain it looks like there is an active note on your file. Council member Hik has requested a meeting with you," she says and my stomach leaps as I hear the name of the council member who handles retirement.

  "Is he available," I ask trying to keep my voice even and she nods.

  "He is. I will beep him. Give me a moment," she replies before pressing another button.

  "Councilman Hik, Captian Cull from planet Shikaz is here," she states and the clear button flashes green.

   She stands up and I silently follow her to his office. When the door slides open she disappears and I am left with a grinning Makskin male staring at me from his desk.

  "Come in Captain. I will pull up your file," he states and I enter with my back as straight as possible.

  I have never come past the secretary desk. I have seen several council members in passing, but I have never had a one on one meeting with a member. My nerves are pulled tight as I sit down in one of his chairs.

"Well Captain your actions today are very commendable. It is my understanding you fought a company of Rusckods alone while your small group of men secured our resources and contacted a near by Commander for assistance," he states after reading the summary under my name.

"Thank you," I manage to reply as I try to keep my face neutral.

  "No, thank you. You have served this galaxy well. Your name has been submitted for Harvest champion and I am pleased to say you have been selected. Your retirement is effective immediately," he says and my body freezes from shock.

  His dark purple eyes watch my expression for a short second before he smiles.

  "I know it is exciting and abrupt, but congratulations, Captain. Go get your things in order for your future mate," he says and I look at his smiling burgundy face.

  "I... I... Thank you, sir," I manage to finally say before awkwardly climbing to my feet.

  I am retired. I will be fighting in the Harvest tournament for a mate.