Betrayal

So I recently started writing short stories and decided to write them for Destiny. This is the first of my two I currently have done so far. Included will be a link to the Google document and a video where it was read for a YouTube series. I will also copy and past it below for those who wish to read it here. Document - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HkCwNzrolv2KDs1u5bhQKtgvw-m7fQG7jIa6oYNHKT4/edit The air was cool and dry. As I patiently stood, the city guard searched me before I was permitted to enter. “please stand still James” I was instructed as I waited to be scanned. Damn guards always flaunting their power. He should have addressed me sir but he knew I wouldn’t protest. If I did he would simply hold me up and claim he needed to recheck for safety reasons. As soon as I received the “all clear” signal from the guard I began moving again down the narrow passage. Korra had been captured by the Fallen weeks ago during a raid on an outpost near the city. It was my mission and my failure that caused her capture. While I know it was right, I still bear a small amount of resentment for my other squadmates who dragged me away as she lay there ahead of us, on the ground and out of our reach. There had been more Fallen at the outpost then recon had led us to believe. For the past weeks I had done nothing but sit, an empty husk waiting to wither away. We had known each other since we were children. When I was seven my parents died in a Vex attack on the city. Me and Korra had already been friends at that point, so her family took me in, after all who else was left in mine. From that point on we were inseparable. We spent the entirety of our lives together. [short pause] While my mind drifted I lost track of time and reached the end of the corridor without realizing it. The door at the end opened into a large room with Korra at the far end. Between her and I were various control stations and scanning equipment. The city council took every precaution when a captured Guardian was rescued and brought back. While hardly necessary, the tests and evaluations would continue regardless. When I stepped into the room I immediately turned towards where Korra sat while doctors probed and prodded her. As I approached her she stood and walked towards me. We embraced in a hug moments later, enjoying the moment and the reunion. I looked down at her saying, “I thought..” but before I could finish she cut me off. “You did your best, just be happy for now.” As onlookers started to draw more attention towards us we separated, simply staring at each other. The doctors had dispersed at this point and we were left alone to speak with one another. “How did you survive?” I asked. “They decided to capture me…” She paused, looking down in what looked like shame. I placed two fingers under her chin as she looked up into my eyes. She continued, “They tortured me day and night to get what I knew about the city. I didn’t submit, not to those creatures.” Filled with the pain of what I caused her, I kissed her softly on the lips then hugged her tight. While tears accumulated in my eyes I said, “I am so sorry for all of this.” Hugging me tighter, she responded with, “No, I am sorry.” In a feeling of absolute confusion I let go and stepped back. “Why would you be sorry?” I asked. As I finished the sentence, a great explosion could be heard in the distance. I scanned the room looking for danger. There shouldn’t have been any signs of fighting. We were at a secure outpost far from the city walls. No one knew about this location. Korra began speaking again, seemingly unshaken, “They told me things. They showed me the history of what happened. We were the aggressors, not them! We started all of this, now they are finishing it.” I responded, “You caused this? How could you betray us?” There was a noise above us as fighting could be heard outside. She looked up in shock and immediately pushed me back with all her force, driving herself back at the same time. Just as we cleared the area the noise had come from the roof blasted apart in a spray of dust and debris. Korra had escaped the explosion unharmed but I had been hit by a large chunk of concrete in the chest. My armor was damaged and I was disoriented from the hit. I lay there dazed as I see a hand holding a pistol reach across my vision. The weapon was pointed at my head. There was nothing I could do so I lay waiting for my death. Just as I was sure this was my end I see the head of the Fallen standing over me explode. His body fell, limp beside mine as I hear Korra shout, “Don’t pursue any runners and if any of you even dare touch him I will kill you myself.” Korra leaned over me, placing a hand on my dirt covered cheek. There was so much pain in her eyes as we stared at each other. As a tear began to form in her eye she spoke, “Our species must live on, but the tyrants that caused all this must be removed.” She paused for a long time as I tried to recover from the hit. She began to speak again, “We will fly side by side when the end comes.” She stood, tears rolling down her cheeks. Before she had fully stood I regained use of my mouth and said, “Icarus shall fall and daedalus will be powerless to stop him. But he will not look back this time.” With that she smiled, cheeks red. She turned to give commands again but I blacked out before she was able to speak. The next thing I remember is waking up in a medical bed with doctors ripping off my armor to treat me. [long pause] The air was cool. The sun had just set mere minutes ago. Light from the Fallen forces spread across the front of the city. While out of range we all prepared for battle. I would lead the defenses of the city, repelling the massing army that was ready to kill the last light of humanity. She would be out there, somewhere, leading the fight against us.