Going Rogue

Rogue glances over his shoulder. The tall blonde picks up a red apple and then places it next to a green one. He has noticed her following him for over an hour. All the humans wander around the farmers market, everyone, except this woman. She is young, maybe in her twenties. Her skin seems pale, almost translucent. Rogue can push aside the peculiar skin, the coarse tailing, and the strangeness of her presence, but her eyes are where he stops. They appear yellow with specks of green glittered around the pupil. There is an air of familiarity about this woman.

"Wizera?" Her eyes widen slightly before she tries to mask her shock.

"I'm sorry?" She stands fully facing him.

He watches as she glances at his cargo shorts and takes in his floral Hawaiian shirt. Even though he is not a human, he has grown quite fond of their trends. He opens his arms, embracing his long-lost friend. Rogue is not from this planet. He is of a race of grand lizards with exceptional knowledge and incredible fighting ability. The woman whom he is currently hugging is, at least, he thinks, his friend Wizera. After graduation, Rogue was assigned to work on the planet known as seven-eight-three, or Earth. Wizera, however, was set to be an assistant to the Grand Council. She helps create elaborate battle plans and remotely lead armies. Letting go, he wonders why she is on Earth.

"Wizera, why are you here? When did you get here? How did you get here?" Rogue asks, holding onto the young woman's shoulders.

"If we are to speak, it must be done in private." Wizera does not even smile.

"Okay, follow me."

They walk in silence to what Rogue considers his house. It is a small building that he has spent the last four years decorating with whatever Earthly desires he wishes. The Commander stands in his small living room, looking extremely uncomfortable and out of place.

"Wizera, please tell me, why are you here?" He set down a tray with tea and small cookies as he slips into his comfy living room seat.

"Rogue, you stopped communicating with the Alpha. They grew concerned that you went, well, rogue." She pauses before gaining her composure, "I was sent to inquire about your whereabouts and catch up on the information you gained."

"Era, I can't do that anymore. These people-" Rogue motions to the empty room, "They may not be as smart as us, but they have something that we lack!"

"Rogue, I know not of what you speak; these simpletons are as basic as the language that they speak." Wizera shakes her head, "What have you done? This abode that you have set up shows your attachment to these apes."

"Era!? How dare you! You do not know anything aside from your great hierarchy of geckos. What they hold over us is slavery! Can you not see that, my Sister?" Rogue slams his palms on the table, "The hypocrisy! I understand respecting age, but to control us is absolutely insane!"

"Rogue, do not allow the Great Council to hear you speak in such a manner. It could be perceived as treason! I know you disagree with what the Council believes, but my Brother, you must not stray from the desired path! They have granted you life, Rogue. How could you forsake them after being gifted with such a glorious present?"

"That's a mammalian concept they have adopted from other races. They did not lay yours or even my egg! They are many vast generations from us. Even those who did lay our eggs are not considered our parents." Rogue clenches his reddening palms, "You know all eggs are given to the Broodwatchers, and as soon as we grow our first claws, we are handed over to the Claw Tappers so they can train us and decide our fate! Have you not seen the Broodwatchers eyes when we are taken? They are in pain. We are sent to fight a war that isn't ours!"

"The war is for our species, therefore handed to us." Wizera looks exasperatedly at him, "Have you forgotten what you have learned in training already, Brother? I know you never cared much for studying."

"Era, our species is in no danger! The only danger is the one we created! Our numbers are in flux due to our own pathetic wars. We, as a species, outlive every other race except for our own Elders. The Council sends the younger ones to fight and die for a cause they do not know or comprehend." Rogue's voice begins to rise, "And Era I studied! I studied more than any of you! What I learned you ignored! I did not just accept the ideas placed in front of me. I looked for the truth. I found the lines and put together the actual picture!"

"I did not ignore it, Rogue." Wizera hisses, "I kept my thoughts and ideas to myself. I knew that sharing them would cause me and everyone else around me pain. Do you forget what I did for you when we were younglings?"

"Era, I swear I will never forget!" Rogue gently grabs her hands, "I know that you feel the same as me... Please, my Sister, tell me why you are truly here."

"It's about Markath...." Wizera pulls her hands from his.

"What happened to Mark, Era?" Rogue looks at the young blonde.

"Markath is dead." Her face falls, but no tears slip out, for tears are against their custom, "The Elders they took his body to this room... Elder Rioskas placed Markath in this machine. After asking him some questions, they turned it on, and his body was transduced. It was gone Rogue, but I- I could feel him, his soul, his presence... He was crying! I fear that room, Brother."

"Why did the Elders decide to transduce Markath?" Rogue watches, his face blank.

"He- he was not listening... I told him to go and retrieve the Arkadiath, but he refused." Wizera's voice wavers; the Arkadiath is a powerful artifact that can consume entire species, "He was speaking fantasies... Myths about this Human Race. After he was retrieved I reported him to the Elders. I thought they would just speak to him, Rogue! He- he was charged with conspiracy against the Capital... You know the punishment is death... I am sorry, Rogue."

"Era, Markath was a fool... I had distanced myself from him long ago. I may have defected, but I knew how to be careful. Markath had no restraint, and for that, he was killed. Actually, worse, this machine you speak of it extracted his life force. The sheer power created from life force is more valuable than even the Arkadiath." Rogue stands from his seat and begins to pace, "Our people are getting killed by our leaders for power, and yet I am the one betraying our race? They are practically cannibals."

"Rogue, listen to me!" Wizera stands following after him, "You are in danger. I found your name in the list of soldiers to be tried, and I know if they catch you, they will not give you a fair trial. I came here to warn you! Please, Brother, stay hidden, and stay safe."

"Era, they have wanted me dead for quite some time. Do you honestly believe they could catch me?" Rogue places a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"I do not wish to find out." Wizera looks at the man, "Rogue, I must leave. My absence will not go unnoticed. Please promise me you will disappear. I need you to forget about me, our people, everything!"

With that, she walks from his house. Rogue wants to listen, to believe her, but a part of him knows he needs to stay. Weeks pass without word or incident. Then a letter arrives addressed to Rogue from Wizera.

Dear Rogue, We, the High Council, hope that the work you are completing on 7-8-3 was worth the life of your Sister, Wizera. We decided that her great mind would be sufficient to lead an attack against you and your Earthlings. We hope you enjoy your solitude, Good-bye Rogue. Sincerely, The High Council-Rioskas

Rogue holds tightly to the paper as the realization sinks in. Wizera is dead...

"You will regret ever turning on that machine." Rogue folds the paper putting it in his pocket, "That is a promise."