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Protocol	By : Need2ScreamNow Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Avenged Sevenfold Views: 1993 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. I do not know the members of Avenged Sevenfold. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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The Koyra was looking sicker by the Zenka; his normally pale pallor was actually beginning to look grey in the morning light. Matt was leading them at a light jog, his own condition probably still wearing at him, but the Koyra looked like he was beginning to have problems keeping the easy pace. As they jogged he could hear the Koyra speaking rapidly in that strange musical language. Matt responded quietly every now and then but mostly he listened.

The sun rose higher and the chilled morning air began to heat to a more comfortable temperature but the Koyra was suffering more. Finally he came to stumbling stop breathing heavily, “Too hot.” He whispered. His breathing was ragged and he was unsteady on his feet. Matt grabbed his arm and hissed quietly but pulled him close and almost effortlessly pulled him into his arms.

“What’s wrong with him?” James asked coming to his side, the Koyra opened his eyes but his gaze was unfocused and he didn’t answer.

“He’s too hot. We need to cool him right now.” Matt said, “Johnny we need a body of water.” He shifted Zack in his arms and the Koyra whimpered pitifully, “Ahead, another fasch.” He said faintly. The small scout nodded once and then scampered off ahead of them. James reached over and pressed his hand against his forehead, “He doesn’t feel warm.” He said pulling up one of his eyelids. Zack’s eyes stayed glazed and he was mostly unresponsive.

“James, his core temperature is ninety-two point two.” Matt said quietly. James swore quietly for forgetting that little detail. Zack shuddered and Matt whispered to him quietly calming him and started walking quickly. James reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a thermometer and pressed the patch against the Koyra’s temple. In a second the numbers scrolled across the patch blinking with warning. It was calibrated to read Api temperatures and the Koyra’s feverish ninety-six point six was far too low for their species. He swore and watched the numbers slowly continue to rise; he was burning alive.

Johnny met them after they had covered a fair distance and led them toward the water. “There’s a stream not far ahead.” He panted. Matt nodded and his paced picked up a little more.

The stream wasn’t quite a roaring body of water but it seemed to aspire to be so. The water frothed angrily around rocks and debris and slapped the smooth rocks of the shore. Matt carefully set the Koyra on cold, glassy rocks and caught some of the frigid water in his hands and dumped the water on the Koyra’s forehead. The Koyra jerked and started to sit up but sighed and quickly collapsed again. Matt repeated the action and the Koyra relaxed even more.

Matt continued to pour water on his forehead and his neck and pressed his cold hands against his arms and torso. “We need to find someplace more secure than a lake bed.” Matt murmured. James nodded, “Did he give you another transfusion?” he asked quietly. Matt glanced at him, “No. Since he gave me the one I’ve been recovering faster from poisonings and bites.” He said while he lifted the Koyra’s shirt and pressed his hand against his chest. The Koyra sighed and relaxed a little more. James stared at him, “You mean,” he said slowly, “with only a small transfusion of Koyra blood we can immunize ourselves from their poison?” he forcibly swallowed a growl and waited for the captain’s answer. Without pausing in his work the captain answered, “It was absolute dumb luck that the transfusion didn’t kill me James. Unless you want to go out into the field and blood type every Koyra and Api out there it won’t work.”

“We don’t need to do direct transfusions we can create a better serum by studying their blood and anti-bodies.” He said angrily. The Koyra opened his eyes a little and whispered something to Matt; the captain sighed heavily and nodded. He finally looked up at James, “We need to find someplace to hide, without Zack’s eyes it will be to dangerous to travel at night and we need to keep distance between us and them.” He stood up and surveyed the area apparently forgetting their previous conversation but James wasn’t going to let him dodge the issue. “Why didn’t you tell anyone about the transfusion? Why didn’t you tell them about the bite? We could be saving thousands of soldiers every year with what you know!” he snarled. The captain glanced at him, “As of now Sullivan we need to keep our own hides safe. We can discuss others later.” His tone was even and James bristled but followed his orders and dropped the subject. He stalked off to find Johnny and Brian so he could vent, the little Koyra was too far gone with fever to make any sense of what he said.

The sun had passed its peak when the captain finally gave the orders to move out. The Koyra was still semi-conscious but his fever was down for the moment. Matt carried him easily through the frigid knee deep water and over the slick rocks on the other side. James didn’t want to leave the warm open space by the stream for the cold darkness under the trees again. “Why can’t we stay on the river?” He grumbled. Brian looked around, “Too exposed. This little detour has given those Api plenty of time to cover a lot of ground. I’ve been waiting for them to walk out of the trees for a mitka.” He said lowly.

James followed everyone through the freezing water dreading the cold trees. The captain surprised him though by avoiding the trees and walking parallel to the stream. Brian pulled up short, “Wouldn’t it be safer in the trees?” he asked. James glared at him. The captain stopped and nodded, “Yes, it would be safer. But if we’re going to find signs of life on this planet it will be near water.”

“Why are we looking for inhabitants?” Brian asked stubbornly. The captain’s patience seemed infinite, “Because if we can get to them first and convince them we are friends not only will we have shelter, food, and water we’ll also have allies against the other Api.” And with that he started walking again. Brian didn’t move for a moment and then scowled and followed the group as they started moving again.

Johnny left his side after awhile to talk to the captain, James stayed in the back with Brian and they both contented themselves with glaring at the captain.

“When are we going to set up camp?” Johnny asked quietly so as not to disturb the still sleeping Koyra. Matt glanced up and then at their surroundings, “We need to start searching for a place once the sun gets below the trees. There’s gotta be a little cave or something to shelter in for the night.” He said in a husky whisper, he smiled and shifted Zack’s weight in his arms, “You can go ahead and explore, just be careful.”

Without a pause Johnny raced ahead weaving from the stream’s shoreline to the dark undergrowth below the trees. James watched him uneasily, “What are you going to do if the inhabitants aren’t peaceful.” He said a little sharper than he intended to. Matt glanced back and then returned to watching Johnny’s rapidly disappearing figure on the horizon, “He’s a trained scout James not a child.”

Before James could say anything the Koyra jerked awake in Matt’s arms and looked around dazedly. Matt stopped and looked down at him, “What Zack?” he surveyed the area but there wasn’t anything to warn them of the other Apis’ approach. Zack shook his head, “Noise.” He said faintly. He said something too quiet for James to hear and the captain cautiously put him down. He stood a bit shakily but his eyes were only a little glazed with fever, “There’s noise.” He said again. Matt held his arm and pulled him close again, “Zack I think the fever is making you hallucinate.” He said quietly. The Koyra growled, “The fever has done nothing but make me weak.” He pointed to their left, to the trees, “The sounds are coming from there, it sounds like a lot of people. Like those games the Api like to go to, it’s that noise.”

Matt looked at him and then sighed and carefully picked him up again, this time without a protest from the Koyra. He gave three sharp whistles that made the Koyra snarl quietly and bury his head in the captain’s shoulder. Matt murmured an apology but James was certain the Koyra was already fast asleep.

“Are you really going to listen to him? He could be dreaming he’s at one of those games right now, what’s going to stop him?” Brian said incredulously. The captain shook his head, “He never goes to those things, the noise gives him a headache.” He moved to the trees so they could wait for Johnny to come back without being easy targets.

They didn’t wait too long for Johnny, he came bounding into the trees excitedly, “What’s up?” he panted, “Sir.” He added hastily. Matt snorted a short laugh, “There may be a settlement close by, Zack thinks he heard them.” He explained. The Koyra’s eyes didn’t open but he growled quietly. Matt ignored him, “We need to see if it’s really there.” He continued. The Koyra stayed quiet this time but James could feel the angry energy coming from him.

Johnny nodded “Which way?” he was lightly hoping with excitement and James fought the urge to tell him to stay. He looked so young, so bright; he’d seen too many young faces pale with death. He clenched his jaw as Matt tossed his head toward the ever deepening darkness beneath the trees. Johnny was gone again in a moment.

“What are we supposed to do until he gets back? Sit here helpless?” Brian growled as soon as the sounds of Johnny’s passage faded. Matt didn’t answer immediately but he had a thoughtful look on his face, then he shrugged, “We’ll follow.” He said simply.

James caught up with the captain as they moved deeper into the trees intent on continuing their previous conversation. Matt seemed to sense his mood and sighed lightly, “What were you yelling about earlier?”

James ignored the barb and started yelling at him again, “You can be tried for treason for this you know that? You’ve willfully withheld information that could help us win this war.” He glared at the captain, usually the threat of demotion had the higher ups scurrying for excuses but Matt just laughed, “Let them, they’ve already got me on their black list they’re just looking for an excuse to lock me up for the rest of my days.”

“I think they’ve found something better to do with you.” The Koyra said sleepily from his arms. Matt nodded, “True.” He agreed. James forgot his previous anger, “They black listed you? Why?” usually people who made the black list were conveniently killed in action. Matt looked at the trees and James had the feeling he wasn’t going to answer the question.

“If they’re here they’ve been listed too so it doesn’t matter.” Zack said opening his eyes. The feverish glaze was still there and James reached over and gently tilted his head to the side to get a look at the thermometer; his fever was coming back.

“What? We haven’t been listed!” Brian snapped. Matt looked over his shoulder at him and barked out a laugh, “I’m pretty sure you were the first one on the list Brian.” He chuckled.

“How would you know that?” James asked suspiciously, he well knew he wasn’t black listed; medics were few and far between. Matt looked at him again, “I read your file. It’s pretty obvious. I had a feeling this mission would be sabotaged as soon as I read over your histories.” He said simply. James stared at him, “I’m not black listed.” He said stubbornly. Matt shook his head, “You are, as is Johnny if only for the sole reason of being by your side all the time.”

“Why would the black list a medic?” Brian said rolling his eyes. James had to agree, the entire idea was absolutely absurd. The Koyra shifted uncomfortably, “Matt…” he whispered. The captain made a soft crooning sound and James looked at him startled, “What the hell was that?”

“It’s a soothing sound the Koyra use. It comes in handy when he’s injured and needs to stay quiet.” He said nonchalantly. The Koyra did relax in his arms after he made the sound.

“That’s insane.” Brian muttered.

“It works.” The captain countered, “Now. Back to the question at hand, why command would black list a medic. You tried to incite rebellion.”

James felt his mind hit a wall and crumple to the floor. He couldn’t speak and he was surprised he was still breathing.

“What! That’s absolute bullshit and you damn well know it! What game are you trying to play?” Brian exploded. He stopped and glared at the captain with his arms crossed on his chest. Matt didn’t stop, “I’m not stopping to explain, if you want to know you’ll have to keep up.” He said lightly. Brian growled a curse and jogged to catch up with them.

“Do you remember a couple years ago James when it came to light that command was using Koyra as test subjects for biological warfare?” Matt asked. James nodded stiffly.

“You were the first and loudest opponent to their methods, and command does not like to be challenged. You were black listed as soon as you opened your mouth. If you had stayed quiet you would still be on board the Star Destroyer with Johnny. But you spoke out against them and almost convinced the public that, though the Koyra are our enemies, they are still living breathing creatures and we had no right to torture them. If you had convinced the public at large to think that way a riot probably would’ve ensued. Thus, you were black listed for rebellion.” He finished. James opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words.

“That’s ridiculous.” Brian said weakly. Matt snorted, “You, Officer Haner, were also black listed for rebellion. If you had let them bury Benji like they did every other grunt you would still be on Star Destroyer too. But when you made a fuss you very well might have made other grunts question their treatment and burial rights and that could’ve caused a huge revolt among the lower ranks. So now you are black listed as well.”

Brian was quiet and James wished he would say something, anything that would call the captain out on a lie.

The walked in mostly silence for awhile, the captain would make that strange crooning noise every now and then and the Koyra stayed quiet in his arms but sweat was breaking out on his forehead again and he squirmed uncomfortably.

“Why were you black listed?” Brian asked suddenly breaking the silence. Matt looked back at him and then forward again, “That is a long story. Once we find food and shelter I’ll tell.”

Johnny burst through the bushes nearly scaring James and Brian into a coma; the captain greeted him casually while Brian cursed him and James tried to get his breathing under control.

“I take it you found something?” Matt asked conversationally. Johnny nodded shyly, “There’s a city up ahead, not as big as our capital, but pretty damn close. There are beings, vehicles, animals, and a ton of noise. I stayed and watched for a moment before I came back?” he admitted sheepishly. Matt smiled and nodded, “Any chance we’ll blend in?”

Johnny nodded enthusiastically, “We’ll disappear in seconds once we change our clothes, we share an uncanny resemblance to this species.”

“Alright, how easily do you think you could grab some clothes for us?” Matt asked looking around and sizing his soldiers up. Johnny puffed himself up, “Without a problem. They are a fairly primitive species; their security won’t be a problem to get through.”

“We’ll go to the edge of the city together and when it gets darker we’ll change and disappear.” Matt said. Johnny nodded and hopped over to James’ side glowing with excitement, “The place is big, it’s got buildings at least twenty levels high and the people! There are people everywhere! They’re walking and on and in their vehicles racing past each other yelling and talking. Everything was just a blend of noises, it was almost hard to think, it’s just amazing. You’ll love it I know you will.” He said breathlessly. James hugged him close and kissed the top of his head, “I’m sure I will.”

A/N: Sorry about taking so long with updates! There’s only one chapter left and I’ll get it up as soon as I can. Thank you for your patience and your reviews =)
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