135 CHAPTER 134

"There is no need to panic," Ham said as if sensing the fright that had enveloped her. He returned his back to the stonewall and closed his eyes as if the place was the most comfortable place in the universe.

"This whole thing is meaningless." He continued, "I can't see us getting out of here. Not anytime soon."

Kira licked her lips and rested her eyes on the single door. It's two days now. No food, no water. They had spent two days in this place, with sighing and grumbling as their only source of bread. She would have done things her own way. None of this would have happened if she had trusted her instincts and had carried out her plans without trusting anybody. No need for regrets. I just need to find a way to bust us out of here. 

As if in answer to her thoughts, a loud noise thundered somewhere outside, followed by a silence that seemed to stretch for an eternity. The three in the room exchanged a confused gaze with each other, but their expression spun to a frown when they started hearing voices, followed by footfalls that echoed wildly on the wall. Kira strained her ears to listen, but all effort to hear what the people were saying was futile as she could only pick out a gibberish undertone.

The lock finally left its place as the door flung open, revealing the crinkled face Boze and Xerta. Their skin seemed to be glowing, and they were smiling like a baby who had been given a nice candy. Kira's frown deepened when she saw the gold chain and the red royal robe of honor hanging loosely on their shoulders. If she remembered correctly, the royal robe of honor was given out to Miens who had risked their lives for the people. It was a robe to show the valor and braveness of the Founders. Until the last Founders, Kira had not seen the robe again. The reason was simple. There were no wars and nothing to prove how brave one was. But why do they have the robes on them?

"Enjoying your new home?" Boze asked. 

He shared a mischievous gaze with Xerta and they both laughed, even though Kira could not see what was funny. The calmness on Boze's shoulders also made her want to scream. These men deserve to be behind bars. They are the ones who should be suffering and not her.

"Better to die here that walk in your shoes," Kira spat.

"Oh, oh," Boze chuckled, "Walking in my shoes would have been a privilege. Can you see how beautifully I am dressed?" He spread out his hands, and Xerta clapped with admiration.

"Yeah, you really are well dressed. Are you off to some rituals or something? Cause red is no symbol of wealth." Matt asked.

The smiles on Boze's face waxed into a frown. He stroked his beards and studied Matt, not minding to hide the hate burning beneath.

"You," He said, "I can see you have not had your full."

"You can come inside and check," Matt said softly, tightening his knuckles, "I will be glad to show you."

The anger in Boze's eyes seemed to ignite as they studied Matt from head to toe. If gaze could kill, Matt would have been buried long ago. It was funny though, while Kira enjoyed the frustration that was welling up in Boze's face, she was surprised that the man could be so angry. She had been with the Founders for a very long time, but never had she seen Boze radiating so much hate. That brings her to the conclusion that Boze's acts among the Founders must have been an act. An act to win the minds of the crew so as to get the royal honor. Well, too bad he got it after all.

"I will make sure your tongue burn. It's a promise, human. I will make sure your kind never shows up on this planet again."

"Ah, you don't have to worry." Matt chuckled, "Just let me go home. I will send your message to the human community. Nobody in their right minds will ever step foot on this hellish place."

"Cease them," Boze fumed, shouting at the five guards on the entrance. "I want them to burn. I don't want to see them. This one especially," He pointed towards Matt.

One of the guards squeezed himself into the cell and tried to hold Matt. The Guards face widened however when he realized his mistake. The cell was small, and he had entered unarmed.

Matt and Ham didn't wait for the surprise on the guard's face to fade away, instead, they pounce on him, giving him the beating of his life.

"The keys," Kira panicked, pointing at the bunch of keys strapped on the waist of the guard. They had not been chained to the wall or something, but without the keys, there was no way they could make it out through the central door.

"Here," Ham said, throwing the keys to her.

Kira caught the keys just as Ham removed the belt of the fallen guard, arming himself. Matt picked up the guard's shoes. They both turned their attention to the entrance, daring any of the Miens to walk into the cell. Since the door could only accept one person at a time, the guards backed away, knowing how dangerous it was.

"I never like this cell. Shut the door. Shut the door now." Boze screamed.

One of the Miens hurried to carry out the instructions, but as his hands touched the door, Ham held him firmly and Matt, using the butt of the fallen guard's boot, slammed the Miens on the face, knocking him out.

"Do something. Somebody do something" Boze shouted as he hurried back the way they had come.

Seizing the opportunity, Ham hurried out of the cell, Matt followed behind and Kira too. The three Vugda's guards standing on the entrance attacked almost immediately. Even though they were heavily armed, their skill was nothing compared to Matt and Ham. Both boys fought with oneness. Dodging, deflecting, and attacking as if they were two forces that have been merged to become one. 

Kira could not help but watch. She had never seen such uniformity before. Not in a fight. Back in their training camp, the Founders always advises the Miens to fight as a unit, independent of each other. The reason for this was because it was easy to attack an enemy with different tactics. Even though the Founders happened to be right, Kira could see now that fighting together was much easier than fighting as a unit.

She smiled as Matt pulled one of the guards by the hair and Ham slammed the neck, sending the guard crashing on the floor. It was the last guard and by the time they were done, both boys were panting heavily.

"Impressive," Kira nodded, "I have never seen this type of fighting before."

"Yeah," Ham smiled, "Five years in the academy will teach you so many things."

"I see," Kira nodded but remained quiet.

"You got the keys?" Matt asked and brushed his blond hair away from his face.

"Here," Kira handed back the keys, "What's your plan?"

"My plan?" Matt laughed, "I really don't have any."

"I think I do," Ham said and searched his pocket.

Kira could not help but stare. The boy was perfectly built. Every part of his body was lined with muscles that were threatening to bulge out of the clothes she had given him. Most of the Miens were heavily built, of course, but it was lovely to see these features in someone else. In someone with a different skin tone from them. Kira swallowed.

"Here," Ham said as he removed his hands from his pants, revealing the object on his palms.

"Is that…" Kira heaved, too surprise to speak.

"Yes," Ham nodded, "It's the map. A second version, though. I stole it from Clare."

"Stealing is bad, Ham." Kira chuckled and collected the round object, "Lord Vudga will chop off your hands if he finds you."

"Well, let's make sure he doesn't." Matt laughed, "Oh, dear Ham. You are a genius. I will recite your bravery to your girlfriend when we get back to Anadan.

"He has a girlfriend?" Kira snapped.

The two boys turned sharply at her and realizing her mistake, she glowed with embarrassment.

"I really don't have a girlfriend." Ham said, taking the lead, "Matt, please stop calling Pinna my girlfriend. She is not my girlfriend."

"I will leave you to tell her that yourself," Matt said and followed behind.

Kira could not tell what the problem was, but for some passing moment, she felt a sweet sensation flowing from her belly to every part of her body. It was as if she was relieved when she learned that Ham had no girlfriend. Stupid thoughts. A voice cursed in her head. Even if Ham proposes to her, there was no way their relationship was going to work. Ham was a human and she on the other hand was a Miens. It has never happened before. A Miens and a human.

"Are you coming?" Matt asked

"Oh, sure," Kira said and hurried after the two.