QUINN DIBBEN

Content Warning: Violence, Gore

Colour fell in the air of Kaleido, landing in the breeze that surrounded Shirow. It moved in the thin blue of the waterfalls, weeping from the floating lands above. They rained on dark ships that cut through, weaving between islands. Precious minerals sparkled from the exposed soil; azurite and sapphire, emerald and gold. Brightness shook the leaves of wild branches, twisting out of restless trees. The colour of the grass moved with an invisible painter's brush. Each stroke brushed the brightness along in waves of rainbow. Shirow breathed in deeply, then exhaled into the heavy hues of her surroundings. 

            Again, five counts…

            She closed her eyes and entered the blank canvas of her mind.

            In. One, two, three…

            Between the blinds of static darkness, fire sparked in unwanted memories. 

            Four, five, release. 

            Her exhale swept them away.

            I am not my burden. In… 

            Distant shrieks of ships tugged at her focus. 

            Four, five, release.

            Bombs mumbled fire at the edges of her hearing.

            I am not my pride. Again… 

            Flicks of gunfire drew a sketch of battles drawing closer. 

            Four, five…release.

            Between Shirow’s stings of anger for her comrades, was a distinct calm.

            I am not my arrogance… 

            A woman in robes stands over her, flowers circling her head, one sticking from between her fingers. 

            I am my weapon…

            She smiles and holds the flower down to her. It smells like peaches.

            I am sharp, I am swift, and unmoving.

            Like the sweetness of her…  

            I bleed when I have failed-

            A flower tickled Shirow’s nose, shaking her out of her thoughts. When her eyes settled, the woman was before her now. 

            ‘Hi, sorry…’ She held a small hand over her mouth. ‘I just thought you’d like this one. I cut it before it could change from this red. And you seemed…trapped just then.’ 

            ‘I love it, Kate, thank you.’ Shirow’s eyes locked onto its glistening crimson. She pinched it with large fingers.

            ‘Beautiful, isn’t it?’ Kate’s look moved around her as she examined it.

            ‘Yes,’ Shirow’s gaze unlocked from the flower, meeting Kate’s. ‘very beautiful…’ 

            The red of the flower spread to her cheeks. Her posture shrunk–her hands held each other. Shirow rose from the ground and slipped the flower over her ear.  

            ‘What do you think, hmm?’ 

            ‘It would look better in your hair,’ Kate looked up and down quickly, ‘definitely.’ 

            ‘Oh, like this?’ Shirow tucked it awkwardly in dark strands of hair. She placed her hands behind her and grinned proudly. Then the flower fell.

            ‘No,’ between quick giggles, Kate's hand moved back to her mouth again, ‘I’ll show you, come here.’ 

           Shirow stepped forwards, leaning slightly downwards to Kate. Her genetically engineered build towered over her. Small against her shoulder, Kate’s hand pulled her closer. She gathered the long threads of Shirows hair, making quick movements with her fingers Shirow couldn’t see but feel. Kate slipped the flower between the bun she just tied and Shirows tucked hair. 

            ‘See? You look elegant, my liege.’ She stepped back and smiled, the corners of her soft cheeks pressed upwards by it.

            How she glows in these moments… 

            ‘Oh,’ Kate's eyes widened, ‘I almost forgot, your clothes.’ A wide wicker basket hissed against the flat grass below as she picked it up. 

            ‘Thank you, but really, you don’t have to bring me my washing, Kate.’ Shirow folded her arms. 

            ‘Well, ‘a servant's duties are a servant's life’,’ Kate shrugged, ‘yes?’

            ‘But a lazy woman makes a lazy warrior.’ 

            A short chuckle left them both, followed by a sharp silence. Shirow went to speak, but a blaring alarm stopped her. 

            ‘It’s time…’ Her eyes tightened. ‘Will you wait for me?’ Softly, slowly, she placed a hand against her cheek. 

            ‘Yes.’ Kate’s expression put up the same fight as Shirow’s, ‘If you don’t-’ but a vigorous shudder tore it down in tears. She swiftly buried her face in Shirow’s hands as she pulled her closer. ‘If you don’t come back, will you think of me?’ Kate managed, her eyes finding the strength to look at her lover.

            ‘Kate…’ Shirow whispered. 

            ‘Please!’ The servant's eyes streamed rivers brighter than Kaleido’s waterfalls. The stare she held, locking them in place, together.

            ‘Yes, my petal.’ Shirow reflected Kate’s sorrow in quick tears. The stream of their pain flowing as one. ‘I promise you.’ And she kissed her, for as long as she had left. As they parted from each other again, Kate nodded, then swallowed. She looked away to wipe her face. With a heavy sigh, she handed Shirow the basket and slipped back inside. A warmth in Shirow’s chest was frozen by her sudden absence and the present responsibilities. 

*

            ‘Do you understand our situation, Captain?’ Her father sat back against a tall gold throne with sleek leather padding. Multiple steps separated it from the floor that Shirow stood on. Two guards stood either side of him, layered in shimmering metal and blinking lights. Large rifles slung over their chunky shoulders. 

            ‘Yes, the pirates are upon us,’ She swallowed hard, ‘my lordship.’ 

            ‘Are you ready,’ He leaned forward, eyes piercing into her, ‘to lead my blades, to defend the Kanemaru family, your family?’

            ‘I was born so, Father.’ The scabbard of Shirow’s heat blade steadied in the grip of her armoured hand. Her gaze deflected the sharp glare of her Father back to him. 

            ‘Your meddling with that servant girl suggests otherwise.’ It passed right through. ‘You’re distracted. I had you so my blood could have the honour of defending this blessed world, the honour of a Kanemaru Blade, and you waste that life on girls below you.’

            ‘My Mother had me, not you!’ Shirow jabbed a finger towards him, then restrained it when she saw the guards raise their weapons slightly. ‘I loved her, unlike you, and who else I hold dear are mine. Kate is not below me, I rise with her affection; the affection a father should know. You don’t believe I am ready, but I do not care, because I will prove it. To you, to our family, to every family. I fight for our name, and our people, but not you.’

            ‘Oh, my esteemed daughter, I’m so certain you will.’ His eyes rolled away from her, and he sat up on his throne. ‘You will take your soldiers to the frontline and eradicate these animals. They will destroy everything if you fail. Do you understand?’

            ‘Yes, my lordship.’ Shirow lowered to her knees and bowed. 

            ‘If you do well, I might even let an offworld lord take you.’ 

            He says it like it is a reward, the pig…

            ‘Dismissed.’ Her Father shooed her away with a flick of his hand, his expression sour and cruel. 

*

            ‘Are we deploying, Captain?’ Finn, a new and perhaps too eager recruit jumped down from his bunk. 

            ‘Yes,’ Shirow clapped twice, ‘listen up!’ the sound slapped the rest of the barracks to attention. ‘Pirates have been bombarding our lands for weeks, taking what isn’t theirs, and today, they dare to reach for our gates.’ Shirow strode back and forth, her soldiers' focus locked onto her. ‘We will lead the charge, as one army, one unit, an unstoppable blade sharpened by our numbers. We are the Kanemaru Blades!’

            ‘AYE AYE!’ The soldiers roared, stomping in unison.

            ‘My warriors, they know our names, and after today, they’ll know to fear them.’

*

            The red flower in Shirow’s hair squashed beneath her armour's thick helmet. A dark visor blinked the world in front of her again. Green outlines popped in gradually, until a thin heads up display formed. Finn sat across from her in the back of the dropship, harnessed within his equally bulky frame. On the reflection of his visor, Shirow saw the monstrous jaw that stuck out beneath hers. Gold teeth touched the edge of its darkness, complemented by two gold horns which protruded along the top. 

            I am not my burden, five counts.

            Across her lap, her long machine gun shuddered with the dropship's turbulence. Its belt of bullets bounced slightly. 

            ‘I finally get to fight!’ Finn wouldn’t keep still either. ‘Today will be my-’

            ‘Focus, young warrior, focus…’ Shirow pointed at him, and his posture lowered into his seat. The soldiers beside him laughed quietly. 

            I am not…my Father’s daughter. 

            Outside, the sounds of strafing runs spat by, missiles popping mid air, flairs hushing. 

            I am my weapon…

            A swarm of metal killing machines thunked against the ground below. The mechanised units were deployed now. 

            I bleed when I have failed…

            The lights began to spin red around the tight dropship. Everyone rose to their feet.

            My enemies bleed when I have won…

            ‘Prepare to drop!’ The pilot announced over the fuzzy radio. ‘One…’

            And today, 

            ‘Two…’

            their red will rain upon me.

            ‘Three…Go! Go! Go!’ With a series of loud clicks, the ramp at the end of the cabin lowered, and the war outside looked back. Shirow stomped ahead and jumped. Her feet slammed into mud, brown water exploded around her. 

            ‘With me!’ She called behind her. Her squad unsheathed their heat blades, and roared. Shirow held hers above her head and forwards. Its metre long glow stroked blazing orange against her. She rushed forward with a growl that burned even brighter. Three pirates ahead of her raised chunky rifles forwards. Their green jumpsuits and thin armour tore like paper between the searing slices of Shirows blade. Mechs matched her pace beside her, their goliath limbs tearing through the colourful grass. More pirates advanced forwards. A variety of weapons pointed at her. Their muzzles cracked in a blue and red fire. Bullets shrieked over Shirow as she ducked. Some bounced off her armour, until she dashed for a few boulders at the bottom of a steep hill. Her back pressed against the heavy stone, her breathing slowed. 

            Five counts…

            She saw more Kanemaru Blades not far from her, moving to assist. 

            One…

            Shrapnel sparked and spattered, engulfing them.

            Two…

            Only a handful of torn limbs remained. A head rolled beside them, with eyes that glistened like Kate’s. 

            Three…oh, Kate…I don’t know if I’m strong enough. 

            She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. An allied mech stood over her suddenly.

            Four…I-I can’t- 

            Its enormous gun fired four quick bursts. Spent shells avalanched down the boulder Shirow leaned against. 

            Five…I can. 

            The mech looked down at her and speared a finger forwards. She nodded up at it, and unslung her machine gun. 

            And out…I will! 

            A long exhale left her, a few thin tears, then her fear. She dashed around the boulder, machine gun raised in one hand, heat blade in the other. Her feet stomped as hard as her breaths. The pirates that pinned her down were now soot and blood. Bodies as still as the colour of the torn grass beside them. Beyond the hill stood more, clad in exosuits that challenged Shirows size. Her heads up display highlighted the weak spots in their armour. She fired a long burst across them. One fell, their neck bursting. The others darted around her, small thrusters spitting with each movement. They had heat blades just like Shirow’s. 

            ‘Thieves!’ She yelled before they charged her. The first one swung downwards, but their form was weak. Shirow parried their strike. Her blade seared through their titanium chest, then left an orange line across it as she sliced it out of them. Another swung at her leg from behind. It got through, cutting the surface of her skin. She grunted, then swung back three times. The arm, the waist, then the head. In three pieces, they fell to the ground. The last pirate's head exploded into a red mist after a gunshot from the left. 

            ‘Captain!’ Shirow swung her head to see Finn holding a long rifle forwards. 

            ‘Thank you, young warrior. Let's move, stay close ok?-’

            A deafening shot killed all the sound around her. Warning messages flashed in Shirows cracked visor. She fell to her knees, her hands trembling under her. Her vision felt suffocated. She realised why when blood began gushing from the left side of her face, soaking her hand. When she looked up, she still couldn’t hear. But she could see the battle slow before her. Finn's body was splayed out beside her. Everyone stopped to look at something behind her. Shirow turned to see it. A white flash, then a mushroom cloud, growing over her city. 

            No…

            Turned to dust. 

            This place was not my home, but Kate… 

            Both sides began to flee.  

            She was, she was the closest thing. 

            Shirow rose, and started moving towards the coming shockwave. 

            I will find her, where I was born, and where I never truly lived. 

            Nuclear fallout fell from the clouds, piling on her bloody armour. 

            I will breathe for the first time, when I find you, Kate… 

Science Fiction • Romance • Prose