At Luna’s suggestion we had all retired to a side room so as not to possibly spook anypony who was coming in to attend the hearing. The only new pony I saw during the time we spent waiting was a pony that Luna informed me was the mayor of the town; one Mayor Mare. God really must have had a sense of humor when he created these ponies given how they look, act and their names for everything.

Windfall had tried to engage me in conversation a few times but I wanted to be left alone so for the next two or so hours we stood around in silence. Eventually a gold armored pony with normal pegasi wings knocked on the door and announced that they were ready for us. Luna led the way and I was flanked by her guards though nopony made any moves to try and restrain me or disarm me or anything.

As I entered I realized I had been taken to the side entrance with a stand on my right, which I was led to and next to that was where the mayor was currently sitting. To my left was the gallery which was full of the multicolored little guys, all talking in that way that you can’t make anything out without looking at the person talking to you. Word quickly spread that I was now in the room and a sea of equine heads turned to regard me with ridiculously large eyes.

Fear was palatable from the mass, some even flinching as my gaze passed them. There were a few exceptions, such as the regular crew from the dojo who were sitting with Tough Hoof. Tough Hoof even tried to give me a reassuring smile and waved at me which did actually make me feel a little better knowing that not everypony was inclined to judge me right off the bat. I also was able to pick out the pegasus from the bar who had kicked the shit out of the diamond dogs.

Other faces that I recognized were that of Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash who were talking to three other ponies I didn’t know; a buttery yellow pegasus with pink mane, a white unicorn with curly purple mane and a very pink earth pony with poofy pink mane. Applebloom was sitting next to Applejack and talking with two fillies her age; an orange pegasus and a white unicorn. They weren’t the only fillies in the crowd as I spotted Faint Heart and her mom who was sitting next to a stallion with a grey coat and a grey and black mane and tail.

From the way Faint Heart kept inching away from the other ponies sitting around her and trying to hide behind his legs I was guessing this was her father. Finally I spotted Derpy in the crowd who gave me a wave and a smile which was lessened a little by her weird eyes still, like with Tough Hoof it did make me feel a little better. Windfall trotted over to a vacant seat and sat down as the mayor brought her hoof down like a gavel, quieting everypony down.

More gold armored ponies, some unicorns closed the doors and stood guard beside them while Luna sat on her haunches beside me. I would have sat down myself but there was no chair behind the stand so I remained standing and thus taller than everyone else in the room. The mayor turned to me and asked, “Would you please sit so we may begin the hearing Mr. Tracker?”

Raising an eyebrow I replied, “I’m not a pony Ms. Mayor, sitting on the floor is not customary for my kind and if I did my head would be below the height of the stand. Do you have a chair I can use?”

“Oh my, I am quite sorry. Yes indeed would somepony please go and get Mr. Tracker a chair?” One of the guards left and returned a short time later with a chair that, while a little smaller than I would have liked at least would suffice. Taking it with a curt nod I sat down and the mayor went on, “Today we are gathered here to hear about events that took place in Ponyville last night and to render any judgment that might be necessary.”

Pointing at me with a hoof she continued, “Last night at the Dancing Pony Pub a Diamond Dog raid was stopped with nopony being taken in the end. The reason for this hearing is that according to the testimony of the ponies on the scene several of the Diamond Dogs were killed by this creature on the stand. This hearing is to determine whether what, if any punishment if necessary.” Her glasses covered gaze turned to me, “What do you have to say Mr. Tracker?”

Grimacing I started, “Well first of all I don’t take too kindly to being called a creature. I’m not an animal, I’m a person. If you need to call me something other than my name then call me by my species which is human.”

Taken aback she said, “Oh, o-of course Mr. Tracker. My apologies, I had no intention to offend you. If you would be so kind as to give us your account of the details of what happened however?”

Nodding I stood up, feeling like it would add some kind of weight to what I had to say anyway, “Very well. Last night I went to the Dancing Pony with my employer, Tough Hoof to have some drinks.” My hands lay on the stand now and I leaned forward to glare at the ponies assembled, “Seems that he noticed how feared and avoided I was by the general pony populace here in Ponyville which I find to be funny considering I had been told that you ponies are supposed to be some of the friendliest beings anywhere.”

Taking a deep breath I continued, “Anyway Tough Hoof was hoping to make me feel more welcome here in Ponyville hence why we went to the pub. As we sat there and waited for our drinks the Diamond Dogs attacked. Once Tough Hoof informed me of what the Diamond Dogs were and what they do I killed them to stop them from taking anypony both now and in the future.”

Mayor Mare looked rather uncomfortable at that, “You admit to having killed the dogs then?”

“Yes.”

“Mr. Tracker you are not helping your case any you know.”

“Do you not have any laws regarding defending yourself or others?”

She tapped a hoof on her chin, “Well yes we do actually. Very well then, we shall begin to accept testimonies to determine whether or not your actions really constituted a defense of the ponies. Perhaps you would like to give us a bit about your background, for context purposes.”

Reflexively I wanted to tell her no however if I was going to defend myself I felt that I should cooperate and give them at least a brief idea of what my life was like. If I was lucky then at least they might be more understanding of my situation so I nodded and began, standing as I did, “Very well.” I was able to pick out Windfall and Luna looking with even more interest as I prepared to talk about myself.

Taking a deep breath and trying not to think too hard about what I was going to say I started, “I used to be a very different person than I am now. About ten years ago I was a student in school for higher learning when I was kidnapped not only from the school but also from my planet.” The entire courtroom was now dead silent as the ponies stared in shock. Whatever they had been expecting me to say that clearly wasn’t it.

Internally noting how that seemed to have gotten their attention I continued, “My kidnapers were the ones who taught me how to kill mainly by forcing me into situations where it was kill or be killed. While I eventually got away from them I was unable to go home so I took up mercenary work to earn some income. As a merc I saw a lot of the underside of the universe and after seeing some things that really hit home for me I became a vigilante.”

“I’ve been a vigilante now for about eight years give or take. During that time I’ve been dealing with the worst scum imaginable and whose lives I’ve taken so that they can’t harm others. With that in mind when I saw the dogs trying to kidnap ponies and I was told what they would do to them I acted in the manner I know best. What I saw were slavers who would use ponies as slave labor then discard them when they’ve taken everything they can get out of them. If I had not killed those dogs then there would be less ponies sitting here today and eventually the dogs would have come back but now they cannot come back and you are safer.”

Finished I sat down then looked around at a roomful of stunned faces. The least stunned pony in the room from what I saw was Luna who still looked shocked just not as shocked as everypony else. Minutes began to stretch on as the silence showed no signs of stopping. Their stares began to make me feel like a target and I began to fidget as the desire to dive for cover began to rise in me.

Eventually a cough ended the silence as Mayor Mare began to try to move the proceedings forward. She coughed again then said, “Well Mr. Tracker that does provide us with an…interesting insight into your state of mind though if I had known all that it would entail I might have sent the children out. If, as you say you were indeed defending our ponies from being taken by those horrible Diamond Dogs then your actions could be considered in defense of others. To that end I would like to have everypony who witnessed last nights’ events to please testify on what they saw. We’ll start with your employer; Tough Hoof if you could please come to the bench.”

Tough Hoof trotted from his seat down a central aisle and over to the witness bench which was on the other side of the mayor from me. As he made his way there he tried to give me a reassuring smile but the shock still came through on his face and eyes. Sitting down the mayor told him, “Please state your name, occupation and how you know the defendant.”

Clearing his throat he began, “I am Tough Hoof, I am the owner and a teacher at the local martial arts dojo and Mr. Tracker there is my employee.”

“And how did you come to be at the Dancing Pony Mr. Hoof?”

“I usually go there after work for a drink though nothing too heavy just something to relax with. This time I had invited John to come with me because I’ve been trying to make him feel more welcome here in Ponyville. He agreed so after work we went right there.”

“Would you mind recalling what happened last night?”

“Not a problem mayor. Well at first we were just waiting for our drinks when suddenly the Diamond Dogs busted through the door and began to chase everypony near them. They managed to snag one pony but were having some difficulties with a pegasus at the bar who was fighting them off. I got up to help since I’m a martial artist and John got up with me so I thought he was going to try and help me fight them.”

He took a breath and continued, “Instead of going at them with his hands-“

Mayor Mare interrupted, “Excuse me but his what?”

“His hands mayor,” At her confusion he explained, “He doesn’t have hooves on the end of his forelimbs there; instead he has hands. I travelled the Minotaur lands and they have the same things and that’s what they call them.” As he explained this I heard a happy sounding gasp from the crowd that I thought came from a minty colored unicorn though I couldn’t be sure. “Where I would use all four hooves to fight with as a biped he would primarily stick to using his hands if he were to use martial arts in a fight.”

“I see. However you said he didn’t use them so what did he do instead?”

“He reached into that big coat he’s always wearing and pulled out a device I had never seen before.”

“What did it look like Mr. Hoof?”

“Well it was black colored with an end for him to grip with his hands and another end that he pointed towards the dogs. After that he told them to let go of the pony they’d grabbed or else. They didn’t take him too seriously even when he warned them that he would kill them if they didn’t comply. The leader had two of his partners attack John and planned to put him to work in the mines like they would the ponies.”

His forehooves began to nervously rub one another as he recalled the killing itself, “Next thing I know the thing in his hands make a bunch of loud cracks, spits smoke and the dogs have new holes in them and are dead on the floor. The leader of the bunch tries to get out of it by dropping the pony he had hold of but John kills him too. With that the rest of the dogs tried to flee the scene but he kills them too.”

Tough Hoof was clearly shaken as he said those last words and the mayor noticed, “Are you ok Mr. Hoof?”

“Sorry mayor, I just…I thought he was going to let the rest of the dogs go because he didn’t attack right away, just watched them run but then as they were nearly out the door he killed the rest of them too.” He looked at me with a mix of apology and horror as he said, “That scared me to be honest. I’m trained to be able to defend myself, even take a life if I have to, but only when I have to. John you…you killed those dogs even after they had given up. Maybe that’s how you do things as a vigilante but…” He trailed off head lowered and shaking slowly back and forth.

Mayor Mare cleared her throat, also clearly unsettled, “I see. Thank you for your honesty during your testimony Mr. Hoof. Please return to your seat.” Her gaze turned to me, grave and unhappy as he left the stand, “Even if you were defending the other ponies from the dogs you took matters too far by killing those who were surrendering or fleeing. That is only one testimony however and I am obliged to hear the rest if only to give the fairest ruling I can.”

Adjusting her glasses with one hoof she looked at a list sitting on her desk, “Next is Hollyhock. Miss Hock if you could please come to the stand?” Trotting up to the stand was the pegasus who had kicked a lot of ass the previous night. “Please state your name, occupation and how you know the defendant?”

With no expression whatsoever she stated, “My name is Hollyhock, I am a travelling martial artist making a living competing in tournaments across and occasionally outside Equestria. Personally I don’t know the guy but I was there last night and saw what he did.”

“Would you please tell us from your point of view what happened last night?”

“Like the stallion said we were all there enjoying our drinks when the dogs attacked. Three of them tried to grab me but I fought them off pretty easily. After I had finished I heard John there make his challenge to the dogs. They attacked him; he killed them all then left.” She shrugged, “Don’t know why he left though it’s not my problem.”

Mayor Mare turned to me and asked, “Why did you leave Mr. Tracker?”

“Two reasons; one because I was pretty sure whoever was going to investigate the whole thing wasn’t going to be happy and I really didn’t want to have any altercations with your law officers and…well to be honest I’m getting sick off all the looks of fear I’ve been getting and I certainly got some last night.”

“While I am sorry for the looks of fear you’ve been getting normally Mr. Tracker I must say that it shouldn’t be too surprising that you got some last night?”

“I suppose not I just don’t like seeing that kind of fear directed at my by innocent people. I’m not a threat to those who are innocent only those who would harm innocents and if anyone should be afraid of me its those kind of people.”

“I see.” She turned back to Hollyhock, “Anything else you want to tell us?”

Hollyhock said, “Other than to confirm that yes, John was holding a weapon like Tough Hoof described and that he used it to kill the dogs, than no.”

“Thank you Miss Hock, you may take your seat again.” She cleared her throat before turning to one of the gold armored guards, “Do you have the weapon in question?”

“No madam mayor we do not. He has been in the care of the lunar guard the entire time.”

She turned to the bat ponies, “Do you have the weapon then?”

Luna stepped up, “Allow me madam mayor. I have allowed Mr. Tracker to keep his weapons for the moment. When we confronted him to arrest him became confrontational and informed me that he had been held against his will before. After hearing his story earlier today I can better see why he would be ready to fight rather than be taken captive and I myself have experience as a prisoner and do not wish it upon another. In any event I have shown him quite clearly that I can disarm him at any time if necessary that gaining his cooperation by being lenient was worthwhile.”

“I…see. Mr. Tracker for the record may I see the weapon used last night?’

“As you wish,” I said though not sure how relevant it really was. Pulling it out of my coat I dropped the magazine from the back and pulled back the slide, catching the round that leapt out before holding up the weapon for all to see. The nearest ponies leaned back in fear despite the fact that I wasn’t using it and in fact had rendered it safe.

Mayor Mare stared for a moment before clearing her throat again, “Thank you Mr. Tracker, you may put it away now. Now for the next testimony.” For the next hour we listened to various testimonies from ponies who had been there including the bar tender, the waitress who had served Tough Hoof and I, the pony who was being kidnapped and a few of the other patrons who had seen various parts of the whole thing. They all boiled down to confirming that I had indeed challenged the dogs, killed the dogs, did not hurt anypony but did not allow the dogs to escape or surrender either.

After all that the Mayor took off her glasses, rubbed her forehead like she was uncomfortable and put them back on, “Very well. Before I pass sentence is there anypony who would like to speak either for or against him?”

To my surprise a tiny voice followed by a tiny hoof rose from the crowd , “I-I would like to s-say something Miss Mayor,” said Faint Heart.

Mayor Mare was surprised as well but she said, “Of course Faint Heart. Please come to the stand.” The little filly squeaked and seemed rooted to the spot causing the mayor say gently, “Your parents can come as well if you wish.”

Both of them followed or rather lead her to the stand where she sat silently building up her nerve for a good five minutes though nobody tried to rush her. Finally she said, “When I first saw him I was very s-scared of him because he was big and different. He has been teaching me martial arts and trying to help me build c-confidence in myself. No matter how scared I’ve been or ready to give up he has been patient with me and encourages me no matter how bad I think I’m doing. I don’t think he’s a bad person otherwise why would he help me?”

After that it seemed like she couldn’t continued but her mother took it up, “I can vouch for that as well. I certainly was uncertain when Mr. Tracker was made her teacher but he has been rather patient with her and I am seeing some positive changes in her. They are small but they are there. Even with what he did last night I cannot say I see him as a bad person either.”

“Thank you Faint Heart, Loving Heart for your words, is there anypony else?”

Hollyhock passed the Hearts on her way to the stand, “I would just like to say I think John did the right thing, harsh as that may seem.”

Tough Hoof stood up, “As a martial artist you believe that? That goes against what we are taught about using our abilities.”

Hollyhock answered, “I learned my martial arts from being in the Royal Guard but I also learned that I have to be ready to do whatever is necessary to protect the ponies of Equestria. The reason I bring this up is because John said himself that if he didn’t kill them they would just kidnap other ponies anyway. Even if we see it as excessive and unnecessary in his mind and from my point of view he was defending not just the ponies at the bar but also the ponies that the dogs would have kidnapped in the future.”

Mayor Mare seemed to consider that, “A very interesting point of view Miss Hock. Thank you for sharing it. Is there anypony else?”

Luna stepped forward again, “I would like to say something myself.”

“Please princess, go ahead.”

“Many ponies do not remember it but before my sister and I came to rule Equestria times were not as peaceful and harmonious as they are now. Hearth’s Warming Eve may have helped the three pony tribes begin to put aside their differences but old prejudices run deep. On top of that there were beings like Discord who were incredibly powerful and used that power for their own selfish reasons. Back in those days peace was very fragile and always threatening to collapse so sometimes my sister and I had to fight to keep the peace or sometimes return it to Equestria. Not every decision was easy and sometimes I do wonder if we could have done better.” She looked around the room, the ponies rather shocked though Twilight Sparkle didn’t look as shocked, “I ask that you keep in mind as you make your decision, whether it be your verdict madam mayor, or your opinions on our strange guest that sometimes peace is something that must be fought for and there aren’t always happy moral solutions.”

The mayor put her glasses down blinking as she processed what she had heard, “That was, unexpected. Thank you your Highness. Is there anypony else who would like to speak?” No one took her up on that offer this time so she said, “Very well then I will render my judgment. John Tracker, it is the ruling of this hearing that your actions, while extreme were done with the intent of protecting the ponies of Ponyville and beyond. As such no charges of murder will be levied. A warning shall be served however, that such extreme actions will not be tolerated again. If you should find yourself in a situation where you feel you need to defend other ponies please find methods other than killing them and if they surrender please accept that surrender and leave them to the proper authorities. This hearing is over.”

She banged her gavel on the desk a few times then left through another door while most of the ponies in the gallery got up and began to file out, a mumble of conversation filling the room. For the first time since last night I was able to breathe fully, relief filling me. If she had decided to call me a murder and levy charges against me I was not looking forward to having to try and fight my way out of that.

Luna put a steel shoe covered hoof on my shoulder, “I am glad that turned out the way it did. Are you going to be ok?”

“Well I’m glad the trial is over but I have a feeling that the fallout from this is not over.”

She nodded sympathetically, “I believe you are correct. If it helps you can talk to me about it when I next visit; I know what that feels like. In the meantime try to enjoy yourself. As for myself I need to get back to Canterlot and help my sister with the royal duties.” With that Luna, accompanies by the bat ponies left the room, with salutes from the gold armored ponies. Windfall and Tough Hoof walked over to me, watching her leave.

Tough Hoof seemed to have a hard time meeting my eyes, “Sorry John that I was…am scared of you for last night and that I gave them reason to think you were doing more than defending ponies. It’s just…you seemed so casual about taking a life that it really scares me.”

I said the only thing that came to mind, “Story of my life Tough Hoof. Nobody is going to understand where I am coming from. Am I fired?”

He recoiled in surprise, “No of course not. You weren’t found guilty and like Mrs. Heart said you are doing good with Faint Heart and I don’t want to take that away from her. I’m still your friend John I just…don’t understand this is all.”

All that was getting more than a little uncomfortable for me so I said, “I’ll see you tomorrow normal time then,” And left without another word.

Windfall trotted alongside me, “Is everything ok John?”

“No.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Like I said during the hearing, I hate it when innocent people fear me. This whole experience drove home for me that I don’t really belong here; I’m just too different and there is no call for someone with my skills here.” That seemed to upset her but she didn’t say anything for once and just trotted on silently. What I didn’t tell her was that Tough Hoof reminded me all too much of how Brightmoon had reacted to my revenge on Empress Taliva and how I really didn’t have the high ground in those situations.

I clicked the detonator in my hand and a large section of wall, including the part that was a hidden door blew open revealing a hidden passage. With a red-dot sighted MP5 tucked into my shoulder I turned into the hallway, waiting a couple of seconds for guards to come running up the hall but nothing materialized so I began jogging down the hallway, gun ready. The building shook a few times while I made my way down the hall but I barely paid it any mind.

My mind was solely focused on what I was here to do, finish what I had started when I had kidnapped Paul Redriver almost a year ago; kill Empress Taliva. In that year I had done all I could to hurt her; took out her family, her friends, destroyed what she had built and strengthened those who opposed her. Even as I jogged down that corridor her palace was under siege from various rebel groups, all of whom wanted to see her dead.

Thanks to an inside informer in the palace I was able to get a map of her hidden escape routes. This one was her best bet to get out because it led to a secret spaceport hidden right in the palace and was located right in her private quarters. If the rebel artillery and air support had done their jobs right the exits should be covered in rubble and unusable, leaving her trapped for me to finish the job.

Turning a corner I was greeted by two plasma bursts flashing past me to gouge some holes into the wall behind me. Instinct took over and I fired a burst at the first figure I saw. The guard staggered but didn’t go down and no damage could be seen to his clothes either which meant that he, like me was wearing armored threaded clothes. Part of my mind processed that as I whipped over to fire on the second guard, a more sustained burst of fire.

Bullets hammered the armored thread enough that it could not hold itself together and the bullets tore through it and the furred flesh beneath it. As that guard toppled with a cry the other had gotten his balance back and fired another plasma bolt that seared my side, burning the coat, shirt and flesh that was in the way. Thankfully between the adrenaline running through me and the fact that I went into shock almost immediately I didn’t scream in pain but rather just yelled in anger and emptied the rest of my magazine into that asshole, turning him into hamburger.

Cursing the time it was costing me I grabbed a large bandage designed to look like skin and slapped it over the wound in my side though the heat of the plasma cauterized it so there was no bleeding. A shot from a stimpack heightened my adrenaline levels to where I could move and ignore any wounds I was feeling. Reloading I stepped over the two corpses and continued down the hallway, more cautious this time.

That caution paid off as I heard footsteps eventually moving my way. I got to a bend in the hall and hid there, one eye watching the direction the footsteps were coming from. Three guards came into view and from the brief words they exchanged they were scouting the hall to see if it was safe to bring the Empress back up. The news that she was indeed down this hall brought a small smile to my face even as I contemplated how to deal with these guards.

Of everything that could happen the last thing I wanted was them calling their boss or else they would go to ground and even with my skills getting them out without getting killed would be a bitch. Making up my mind I put away the MP5 and pull out a M1911 with extended magazines, my K-bar and a flash bang grenade. Taking out the pin I tossed it down the hall and waited for the noise and flash of light.

Once it went off I ran down the hall, glad for the stimpack I had taken to see the three of them staggered and clutching their ears or eyes. With a quick jab downward I stuck my knife into the first guy’s throat and he went down. As I pulled the knife out, still moving forward I stuck the barrel in front of the second guy’s face and pulled the trigger, ending his life. The third guy had just enough time to realize he was under attack before my blade slashed across his airway, causing him to clutch his throat as he went down.

I paused to see if anyone else was coming down the hallway but there was no sound or any other indication someone was on the way. Putting away the knife and pistol I took up the MP5 again and continued on my way. Without further incident I made it to the end of the hallway but did not exit the hall, crouching down in shadows cast by firelight from the hangar. Peeking in I saw that the entrance had indeed been demolished by the rebels, the fire coming from a destroyed spacecraft.

As I looked I saw the empress sitting on a nearby crate, head lowered as if she couldn’t believe this was actually happening. Five guards were moving around, looking for a way out or otherwise waiting for the report from the scout team I had killed. My mind raced as I tried to come up with a way to quickly take down the five guards without possibly killing the empress yet. Inwardly I cursed myself for not bringing my M-4 and its under slung grenade launcher.

The best I could come up with was the hit the guards closest to her first and hope to pick off the rest either as they ran toward her to protect her or as they tried to take me out from where they had cover. Taking a deep breath and steady my MP5 on my shoulder I took aim at the first guy, fired an extended burst to make sure he went down then turned and shot the second guy with another sustained burst.

They went down hard as the Empress looked up, stunned while one guard ran toward her and the other two jumped behind cover. I fired the rest of my current magazine into the running guy and he went down, skidding across the floor. Ducking back as plasma blasts came my way I reloaded then waited for the firing to stop or slow down. Hearing the rate of fire drop I quickly peeked out, saw one guy firing cover for the other who was running to other cover.

Desperately I fired a burst at the runner and caught him in the leg before having to pull back so I didn’t get hit as well. With his mobility severely impaired I was able to line up a better shot while he was vulnerable and took a chunk of his head off. That left one guard who decided to stop firing, probably waiting for me to pop up and give him a better shot. Grabbing my last flash bang I armed and threw it.

As soon as it went off I was up and running, feeling a little pressure in my side from pushing myself so much. Some plasma fire followed me but didn’t connect as I made it to the next piece of cover. Taking a deep breath I shouldered my MP5 and came up quickly so as not to give an easy target which allowed me to see where he was as he fired a wide shot. Thankfully my own reflexes had been honed by many shootouts and I drilled him in the face with several bullets, toppling him over backward.

Turning and standing up I was about to go over and confront the Empress when all I had time to see was maddened eyes, sharp teeth and slashing steel. I tried to raise my gun to block and jump backwards but I wasn’t fast enough and my chest exploded in pain as she raked her blades across it. Falling heavily to the floor and dropping my MP5 gave me a chance to better see what I was looking at; the empress, wild eyed and carrying a plasma pistol and a gauntlet with three long steel claws on it.

She aimed the pistol but I was able to trip her with my legs, dropping her to the floor and causing her to lose her grip on the pistol. With a crazed snarl she leapt back to her feet, eyes glaring death at me as I came to my own feet with my knife in hand. An animal roar chilled me as it escaped her throat and she leapt straight at me, no strategy other than to kill me. I barely blocked with my knife but she kept swinging and I was forced to back up defensively.

Spittle was flying from her mouth and roars rang my ears as she continued to just try and clobber me with blows. Eventually I purposefully missed a block and spun with the blow and around her allowing me to jab my knife into her backside. A scream of pain replaced her roars and she arched her back while I backpedalled, pulling out my pistol and shooting her in the back of both knees.

Down she fell, still alive but unable to come and get me. With a deep breath and a grimace as I held in a shriek of pain I lurched forward, coming into her view but remaining out of her reach. Her gaze reached mine, hate and madness in it, then in an instant the madness receded replaced by cold clarity though the hate remained. “Is this what you had hoped for human? To see me helpless before you as my empire burns down around us?”

“More or less,” I replied.

“If you hated me so much than why didn’t you just kill me? That’s what you do isn’t it? You kill those you think are evil to protect those you call innocents.” A smile grew on her face, “Yet in this campaign you killed innocents did you not? You’ve gone and done the same thing everyone you’ve ever killed has done…you killed innocent people in your way to get what you wanted. Oh the delicious irony of it all.”

While it’s not like I didn’t know I had done those things, I had done my best to rationalize and put aside what I had done to focus on my mission. Hearing her say it though made it suddenly far too real and I shivered, felt sick and nearly threw up. Her laughter didn’t help any but it did make me angry and help me remember why I was here regardless of what I had done. Straightening up I looked her in the eyes, “You’re right, I did all those things. Congratulations you’ve completed my transformation from normal human to complete monster. Does that make you happy empress? Maybe I should commit more monstrous acts would you like that?!”

With that I shot both her shoulders, “Well how did that feel?! Did you like that?!”

Glaring she spat out, “Bastard.”

“That I am. You’re right, I could have killed you at the beginning and saved a lot of time, but this time, I wanted something different. You see empress your assassin killed not only my wife and child but also my chance to be a better man than I was, to make a better future for myself. I have no past to turn to, its all gone; can’t go home, family is dead and I’m the only human left in motherfucking space.”

Taking a breath I continued, “But your assassin failed to take my life so I’m left to suffer the loss of my past, loss of my loved ones and loss of my future. To take your life would have ended any suffering you had in this world while I still had to live and suffer. We humans have an old saying, you have to live to suffer so I let you live and instead targeted the very things that have been taken from me.”

“So why kill me now?”

“Because I’ve run out of things to take from you. I won’t say I’m being merciful though I think in some ways it is a mercy but there was no way I was going to let you live after what you did, I just made sure you lost everything first.” With that I looked around the hangar until I found what I was looking for; a full fuel container which I brought back over to her. She watched confused as I took the container and then poured it all over her. I grabbed a piece of burning wood, carefully and walked over.

Her eyes lit up with understanding and she began to protest but I just threw it on the fuel, causing her to light up like a bonfire. I stayed and watched the whole time and I hate to say it, but her screams were like music to my ears.