Unforgiven: The Ty Smith Story....

[Ty Smith]

((I got bored, and decided to write Ty's view of things that happened before his retun to Earth.))

The sun was setting as I walked casually down the sidewalk, letting my mind wander. The was was drawing to a close, but one question burned deeply into my mind. What happens next?

To be honest, I didn't know. Maybe I'd settle down, quit all my mischief so I could raise Tyler better. Maybe even ask Cass to marry me once we were old enough...

The sun was now completely set, and the autumn air sent a chill through me because I'd been dumb enough to go outside in nothing but shorts and a tee shirt. Then, I saw him, and hatred boiled up inside me. Jay.

He walked up to me, his looks and smell telling me he was high. I brushed my blond hair out of my face as he spoke.

"Well, look who it is. Hey, how's my baby? You drown the little rat yet?" I glared and turned in the other direction, but he cut me off.

"Maybe I'll do it myself," he muttered, pulling out a knife. He smiled. "Maybe I'll even let you watch. None of you will live very long, anyway. I haven't forgotten anything, Ty."

I shoved him aside and tried to keep walking, but what he said next... "Maybe I should stop by. Remind her what a good time is like."

Turning, my fist connected with his jaw, and he staggered back. He laughed and advanced, but I leaped at him and we both fell to the alley floor. His knife fell to the ground, and he laughed at me. I grabbed it, and plunged the blade into where his heart should have been.

He died there with that smile still on his face, and it was then I'd realized what I'd done. Fear gripped my body as I knew I couldn't stay now. If any Antimorphs found out it was me, I was not only good as dead, but so were Cass and Tyler.

I ran home just as Cass was going to bed. I joined her, and gave her a last night to remember. As I lay there, in the dead of the night, with Cass snuggled next to me, I saw Jay's dead face again. My hopes and dreams were shattered thanks to my stupid temper. I had to leave town. I didn't know where, but I had to go somewhere.

I got redressed and scribbled a note on a piece of paper.

"Cass,
Baby, I want you to know that I love you more than anything, and you mean the world to me. I've done some things--horrible things that I regret. I'm going to end up getting someone hurt some day. The last thing I want is to hurt you. So...I'm leaving for a while. I don't know when, but I promise I'll be back for you. Take care, Baby. See you as soon as I can.
Love,
Tyler Vincent Smith"

It felt so weird writing my full name, but I lay the note on my pillow. Wiping a tear from my eye, I looked down at her sleeping figure; she looked almost angelic. The perfect girl. And here I was, leaving her. I stared at the silver ring on my hand; it had an emerald stone, and my name was engraved on it. I slipped it off, then slid it onto her right ring finger. I gave her one last kiss, then turned and walked away. The door shut silently behind me as my footsteps on the sidewalk echoed in my ears.

Stopping, my mind focused, and minutes later, I was no longer a confused, depressed human. Now, I was a confused, depressed jackal, running. I didn't know where, or when I would return. <I will come back for you, Baby. I promise...I'll come back for you....>

To be continued~

[Ty Smith]

((Part Two...))

I kept running, getting lost in the rhythm of my paws on the sidewalk. I stopped and demorphed in the middle of the unlit street, and had to wait for my eyes to adjust to the dark. I didn't have an idea in hell what I was doing. This was pointless. No matter where I went, they'd eventually find me. I was royally screwed.

Then, I saw a shadow of a figure walking down the street coming towards me. It stood about nine feet tall, and from the outline, I could see blades and a tail. "Okay," I muttered, "Now, I'm royally screwed...." I focused my mind again, becoming the Kodiak bear. After all, this was Guraff 427 coming my way.

He didn't see me yet, but every time we met, it resulted in a fight, and I didn't see why this time would be any different. However, it never crossed my mind that he was in his Hork-Bajir host walking on the street.

I moved and stepped forward into the light of a dim streetlight. Then he saw me. "Ty Smith. Always ready for a fight." He took a fighting stance.

<Not ready. I just happen to know when one's coming,> I said, my voice a little darker than my normal tone. <Kinda weird for a Hork Bajir to be walking down the street, ain't it?>

"I could say the same about a bear. Any particular reason you are out so late, or do you just have a death wish?"

<Might as well. I can't stay here anymore. At least not now. I....I've done some things I regret. Things I'd get killed over. Not just me, but my family....> I didn't realize I'd thought that last part to him.

"I see. Well, ironically, I just left the Empire. Their idiocy cost us, and I refuse to be a part of it any longer. So, I too am marked for death."

Then, it hit me. <Why do we always have to fight? Look, we're both fugitives in our own right now. How 'bout you and me team up, join forces? Maybe jack a bug fighter and get outta here. Leave all this behind and just fight any challengers until it's safe to come back?>

"That could be an idea. Having you as an ally would prove most interesting..."

<Right back atcha. So what do ya say?> I stood on my hind legs extended my massive paw, as a human would do for a handshake. The clawed Hork-Bajir hand shook my paw.

That was more than just a handshake. It was a symbol that strengthened a bond; making bitter rivals into allies. Forming an alliance that the gates of Hell itself would have trouble contending with.

More to come~

[Ty Smith]

--20 years later....--

I sat in the pilot's seat of the ship, actually flying instead of autopilot. I couldn't believe what had just happened. He was really dead. We'd spent the last twenty years traveling the universe kicking the crap out of all who dared to face us, and he was dead...

I still saw it. We were on the green desert planet of Nyoork. It looked dead, empty, void. Guraff and I had turned back to leave, when eight six foot insectoid creatures came from underground and attacked us. Guraff's nine foot Hork Bajir host managed to hold them off long enough for me to morph the Kodiak bear, and we tore into some Nyoork.

When the dust settled, all Nyoork were dead. I looked over, and Guraff was on one knee, a Nyoork impaled through each elbow-blade. My left arm was gone, and Guraff's host was wounded fatally. They wouldn't last too much longer.

Demorphing, I ran over to my fallen friend. My only true friend at the moment. I'd left the others twenty years ago...

<Still thinking about that?> Guraff asked in my head. I answered back out loud, a habit I'd gotten.
"Yeah. I can't help it. I'm just glad I was able to acquire Seer and let you into my own head in time. I won't be responsible for another life..."
<You wouldn't be. I am responsible for me. No one else.>
"Right."

I set my sights on Earth. I was finally going back, but I'd heard it was bad now. Worse than when the Yeerks took over. I just hoped my old friends would still accept me. Especially Cass, the love of my life. I'd left her when she needed me most. I just hoped I could make everything right. She probably found someone else by now.

I sighed as the ship entered the atmosphere. Only one way to find out...

What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never be
Never see
Won't see what might have been
What I've felt
What I've known
Never shined through in what I've shown
Never free
Never me
So I dub thee unforgiven....