Joe hurried through the trees with Ginke beside him. The sounds of the fight behind them faded with no one pursuing them, so Joe could focus on the Birnstein ahead of him. With the Birnstein struggling to traverse the forest, Joe and Ginke would be on him shortly.
“Joe,” whispered Ginke again, but Joe pushed on silently.
The Birnsein soldier tripped over a rock and rolled a few times before he stopped next to a tree. He chirped out several curses as he fought to sit up against the tree. He brushed off his uniform and slowly looked up as he heard his pursuers approach.
With the target down, Joe slowed and aimed his auto-rifle. With his right eye, Joe could see the Birnstein had a weapon under his coat, but it still rested in its holster. Joe emerged from the trees and identified the admiral insignia on the Birnstein’s uniform and made out the name “Worc” under the collar.
Ginke stepped out from behind Joe and aimed his auto-pistol at the admiral. The Birnstein saw the Scincian and shook his head.
“Blast it,” mumbled Worc, his feathers standing up uneasily, but he still didn’t reach for his weapon.
Joe took another step forward and then lowered his auto-rifle. He let it hang under his arm as he reached up and removed his helmet.
“Okay,” whispered Worc with confusion as he watched Joe bring his helmet down.
Joe stared at Worc, and they maintained eye contact for several moments. Joe felt overwhelmed by everything that had led to this moment, but he maintained his composure as he spoke.
“Birquatia gas,” said Joe slowly.
Worc glanced at Ginke then back to Joe quickly. “What?” said Worc dumbfounded.
“Birquatia gas,” repeated Joe. “That’s what you used to destroy Pturllel.”
“Strain eighteen to be specific,” chuckled Worc before he coughed with his eyes not leaving Joe. “Why does a Human soldier care about that?”
“Pturllel was my home,” said Joe calmly. “I grew up on the streets of Aitupo.”
“Ah, I see,” said Worc with a nod of his head. “You were part of the filth I saw littering the surface whenever I looked out my window.”
“And I saw the cancer killing my world as I was forced to leave,” continued Joe. “I thought it was a natural disaster, but it turned out to be an attack by you.”
“Worlds exist for us, you featherless buffoon,” said Worc. “If I couldn’t have it, no one would.”
“Here,” said Ginke softly from next to Joe. “You want to do the same to Scincia.”
“You damn lizards should have just left,” growled Worc. “Couldn’t you see you weren’t welcomed here?”
“It’s our home.”
“Our home! Keep up, you small-brained creature,” shouted Worc before he started to cough again. “But the Humans had to come and interfere. Again! They did it with those dirty felines at Pturllel, too.”
“I enlisted to get my revenge,” said Joe sternly, “and kill as many birds as I can. Now the one behind it all is right in front of me.”
“So what?” said Worc as he looked around, his hands still staying away from his weapon. “Are you going to kill me or put me in one of your filthy prisons? I bet you don’t know what to do. You’re too conflicted by the target of your revenge right in front of you, hm? Well, I can’t sit here and wait for you to decide, so I’ll just get us there instead,” coughed Worc again before he said, “I surrender.”
Joe paused for a moment. He looked at Ginke out of the corner of his eye and saw the Scincian also surprised by Worc’s surrender. Worc shook his head and then turned away, looking to be more interested in the dirt than the two soldiers standing over him.
When Joe went to put his helmet back on, Worc found his strength. The Birnstein sprang forward, flapping his arms and shrieking loudly as he lunged at Joe with his claws aimed for Joe’s head.
Instinctively, Joe spun his helmet around with both hands to knock Worc aside. The Birnstein shrieked again before he recovered and turned back to face Joe. With his right eye, Joe saw Worc going for his weapon. Joe let his helmet fall to the ground and quickly brought his auto-rifle up, finding the trigger and discharging a single blast.
The shot pierced Worc in the chest and silenced his shrieking. Worc coughed as he stumbled and fell to his knees. After a struggled breath, the Birnstein collapsed onto his side and looked up at Joe. Joe kept his weapon on Worc as they stared at each other, Worc coughing up blood and Joe wide-eyed in shock. Worc started to laugh with a high-pitch chirp with the pauses growing longer between each one. After several seconds, Worc ceased to make any noise and died, but his eyes never left Joe’s eyes.
Joe stood there stunned and looking down at the deceased Birnstein. So many emotions flew through Joe quickly. His anger when he learned of Worc’s role in the destruction of Pturllel. His loss when he learned Pturllel wouldn’t be habitable again. His depression when he saw Pturllel disappear when the shuttle went to jump. His confusion when Cajo cried out to him. His pride when he graduated from the academy. His panic when he thought he wouldn’t get the chance for revenge. And now he froze over Worc’s body.
“Joe…?” said Ginke, bringing Joe back to himself. “Are you okay?”
That slowed down Joe’s mind. He had joined the military to get revenge on the Birnsteins after learning they had destroyed Pturllel. He even got his chance immediately after graduation, including coming face to face with the one who specifically gave the order. Joe got his revenge, and it felt good. But the loss of Pturllel still hurt. Joe had lost so much. He wondered where everyone else was now? How were they doing? What would they think of Joe’s actions here?
Joe felt overwhelmed and fell to his knees. A few tears rolled down his left cheek, and Joe used his sleeve to wipe them away before he took a deep breath.
“It’s done,” said Joe softly as he looked down at the ground to collect his thoughts.
Ginke came up next to Joe and rested a scaly hand on Joe’s shoulder.
“Demons,” said Ginke. “They both haunt and drive us, but they shouldn’t control us. Cajo helped me realize that, and I’m glad you stopped them here, too. But should we ever face them again, we should be there for each other. We have a connection now.”
“Thank you, Ginke,” said Joe with a sniff.
“Happy to help,” said Ginke with a smile.