"STOP! DON'T SHOOT!" I scream at the soldierbots, getting in their way as much as possible to stop them from killing my friend. They finally seem to listen and take a step back.

"Designation alteration: Human Prisoner." the intact one declares and I blink with uncertainty. Both because I don't know what it just said that is now ensuring my friend's safety and because I still cannot assure him of it. My friend clings to my back and the soldierbots approach the door.

"Emer... Lemur! Emergency Authority backing off." a half-melted one notes as we take some steps away.

"Conclusion: Acceptable targets within." the intact one declares and the trio start to blast away at the door. It falls apart within moments and I shift my friend out of the way when the proper shooting starts. The noise stops too quickly. Two heavy metal thunks ring out to us and we head back up.

"I guess that's the one you're taking home..." Baltanthan tries to joke and we shuffle down the tunnel. Reaching the chamber the last of the human soldiers were held up in, I cover my mouth. I don't know how to feel about this. Maybe there was something I could've done or perhaps this is what I want.

I could have helped them escape but who knows if Inerish is out and about again. My focus has gone about so many times now that I do not know if their shield is gone. Maybe we'll run into them again. I glance back the way we came and shift my eyes to the ground.

Noting the two soldierbots that have fallen over, I see clearly that they've run out of power. Only the intact one has maintained anything approaching life but it too is dimming. The machine snaps to attention and turns. It marches further down and we decide to follow it.

Ancient security opens up without issue, some kind of hidden key possibly built into the machine. My mouth opens a little, the building reverting back to the state it once was always at with each step we take. Everything is still up, even the lights still being in their sockets makes me giddy. Eventually, we arrive at an ornate blast door that the machine does not open.

"Liadanann Aelcyrn, present hand." it says and I blink, looking to my friend who shrugs at me. Machinery starts to move until some kind of panel appears, one too alike a hand in its image.

"I think it wants you to put your hand on that..." Baltanthan suggests and I free a hand of its armour. Slowly, I put my hand into the slot and it comes to life with a line of moving light. Briefly, a flare of it lights up my face and I frown. Heavy machines shift and chunk into new positions and what sounds like heavy chains start to rattle.

The door opens up, revealing what seems to be the final chamber at the end of the facility. All three of us walk inside and I approach the still active container. That thing that came up on the screen earlier, it's not a soldierbot, it's another ddrai'och. There's someone alive in this thing!

"Emergency Authority, evacuate the sacred trust. Ensure survival." the soldierbot speaks and for what appears to be the final time. The armoured machine collapses against some kind of socket. Whatever remaining power within is sucked up by the greater machine and it crashes to the ground. Putting my hands together and moving them about without pause, I look around at all the computers and consoles.

"Uh..." I squeak, not sure what to do. I can't even recall what my mother tongue means, how am I supposed to read anything here!?

"Liadanann, calm down!" Baltanthan insists, his hands on my forearms.

Slowing down, I look and blink at him, "There's... There's one of my kind in there, Baltanthan. I'm not alone but this one might be the only one I ever see..."

"Hey, hey, hey! That's enough of that." Baltanthan goes, his fingers clearing away the tears for me. I nod, sniffling and looking around once again. Hearing a noise echo from elsewhere, I gulp. If Inerish comes stumbling into this chamber...

"I don't know what to do." I blow out, trying to keep myself in check by forcing some frustration into my tone. Knocking one hand against a machine, I try and beat some of my anxiety out but I think it only encourages it. Shuffling a little to the side, I start to look around more closely. On multiple screens, the same pair of words seem to flash again and again.

Moving closer and squatting, I cover my mouth with my arms, the pair over one another. How am I supposed to recall how to read the language I used to always read? We don't have time to be learning. Maybe it will be best if I just push the buttons and hope for the best. The soldierbots are all broken and destroyed now, I can't imagine I'll cause any problems.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

At least, not any that will cause us to be shot at.

"Uhm, Baltanthan, can you make sure there are no more security weapons in here?" I ask my friend, shuffling my eyes about as I do so. He starts to move around, staff at the ready but even from here, I can't see anything. The importance of this machine holding my fellow ddrai'och might've made it too risky.

Getting up properly, I shuffle towards the glass keeping them in their liquid containment. I place my bare hand against the glass and watch it fog up with steam. Peeking a little closer, I try to pick out some of the details on this ddrai'och's face and note all the scars. It seems to be a he, going by how little he has protruding on his chest, the features are too hard set as well.

I know I am not a human, but there are enough similarities and I feel like this man is closer to Baltanthan than he is to me. Well, beyond the redskin, claws, likely green eyes, the pinkish-tinted hair, the tail and everything else that makes a ddrai'och a ddrai'och. I spot a stamped plate on the machine's rim. Shifting over to it, I look closely and spot a reoccurring word.

I quickly go back to a console and spot that it's one of the same words. What comes before it is all different, but, that one word is the same. It's the same. Only, that doesn't really matter, does it?

"God dammit..." I whine, collapsing onto my bottom and clutching my head tightly.

"I'm sorry I can't be of more help." Baltanthan tells me and I start to shake my head. I free it from my grip and let my lips flap to my harsh blow of air.

"I don't know what I am supposed to do. I cannot read anything here. Even the one word that's shared on the screens and that tank, whatever it is. I have no clue!" I almost snap, rising back up to kick the downed soldierbot as at least that won't damage anything.

"Well, maybe you just need to remember that one word. Come on, let's at least give it a go." my friend encourages, gesturing me closer and I drag myself to him. Leaning onto the console, I point out the recurring word and he nods.

"I don't know what any of it says, I just know that this... Repeats here, but, what comes before is different." I explain, shrugging what despair out I can and Baltanthan drums his chin. He shifts to stroking it, pulling down on what little hair he has down there and flinching when he pulls one out.

"Maybe it is a name?" he suggests and I blink with uncertainty.

"How can you be so sure?" I ask back, crossing my arms and letting one drop. I squeeze the opposing bicep, stretching my grip to fit around the metal plating.

"I'm not, I'm just thinking that maybe, even with the thousands of years of difference between when you were a child and now... Maybe, just maybe... The best way to format a document hasn't changed all that much?" he ponders and I let out a noise of thought.

"A name..." I repeat under my breath as quietly as possible. Moving one hand to the console keys, I start to glide my fingerprints over them. For whatever reason, a jumble of words starts to come to mind when I focus on one of the ddrai'och words.

Love. Land. Of. The.

Love of the Land...?

I sigh and look at the ddrai'och who has been kept safe from the outside world for all this time. Bringing my amulet up a little, my head tilts in confusion at how bright it seems to suddenly want to glow. The liquid inside the container starts to bubble aggressively and a pair of eyes open up slowly. I flinch back and whoever is in here stares.

He can't seem to do anything and I raise the amulet a little more, wondering if this is what he's focusing on. His finger starts to twitch at what seems to be me. I step a little closer until my breath hits the glass. He starts to reach out, barely reaching the glass I can so easily place my palm against.

"Liadanann?" Baltanthan calls and I look to him, then back to the ddrai'och. I can't seem him anymore, the glass has been steamed over completely. Stepping down with a shrug, I rejoin my friend at one of the computers.

Typing in some things randomly, I scratch my head, "I don't know..."

"Liadanann. If you cannot be certain that what you are doing will get this guy out of there. Maybe it will be better if we leave it for now?" he suggests and I shake my head unendingly, doing whatever my gut dictates to me until the lights in the room suddenly shift to red. The tank suddenly armours up and the lights cycle through brighter and darker shades.

"I guess this will have to do for now." I mutter, slumping and walking away. Whatever I have done, I cannot undo it. Nothing makes sense to me right now, it's not worth the trouble. I just need to make sure to remember this place and find the time to get back here.

Although my reasoning is more to do with isolation as I owe that trapped man nothing, I still want to do it. I will spend as much time as it takes to get this sorted. I'll close the shop if I have to, sell it off and hire all the help I can get. We'll take all this saved loot and put it into my hands for safekeeping, we will get that man out of there.

I make a quick prayer, begging for the strength and wisdom I need to get anywhere with this. Stepping back into the chamber we battled in, I sniffle and wipe my eyes again. Baltanthan rubs my back closely and I steadily sit down. Bringing my knees close, I hide my face behind them.

"It'll be alright Liadanann. Don't worry. I hid the bombs earlier so there's a chance the others won't be able to cave this place in. We might have to wash the blood out, but, these soldiers left behind all the boxes and freight stuff we need. We can get all the stuff you want out of here." he tries to reassure me with and I just shake my head aggressively.

"It's not that... That's not what I am upset about. I might not be lonely with friends like you, Baltanthan. But, I was torn away from my home, everything that I am is gone. This place is the only hint I have of my old life and I can't do anything. These soldierbots were speaking my mother tongue and I couldn't understand it. I cannot read even the most basic of signs in here...!" I sob, breaking out into a series of hiccups before smacking my face up. I ignore the mild pain and trace whatever shape I can see in all the damage.

I whimper, hiding my face again and I fall slightly against Baltanthan as I feel him hug me.