We stood surrounded by hostiles and our backs against the cold metallic wall of the alien fortress. Though we had come in peace a single misplaced quip had led to strange weapons being pointed firmly in our direction as the threat of a swift death lingered over all of our heads. Sweats drips down by brow, If I didn't do something soon everything we'd worked so hard for would be lost in a single moment.

Hirohiko: “Hey, I know my friend said something stupid and now all you guys want turn us all into space dust. But can't we just talk this out?”

The aliens talk amongst themselves for a moment; chattering in a indecipherable dialectic of chirps and whistles. Their chat is brief -I imagine there wasn't much to discuss about the matter- and soon their weapons are once more targeted directly at our skulls.

Hirohiko:  I'll take that as a no.

Nervously I survey my surroundings for any thing that could be useful. Surrounded as we were there was no open route of escape. Similarly the walls were entirely bare, leaving nothing that could be pried loose and used as an improvised weapon. Seeing as negations had failed, one thing  had become very apparent in my mind. It was very likely that I would see be zapped to death and my ashes scattered to the solar winds.

 In my fit of panicked contemplation one of the alien's had turned his sights to Tsukiko. It was an awful sight to see such a small girl in such peril. It twisted every fiber of my being at once. Even if I wouldn't survive this moment, there was no reason she had to suffer. The alien's weapon crackled with energy of some kind as it began to glow a bright and rather menacing shade of crimson. Tsukiko in turn, even in the face of such imminent danger, didn't budge an inch. What was she thinking?! If I didn't do something now she may not live to see another day, without a second thought, or any regard for my own safety I launch myself into action; dashing towards her position while hoping with all my heart I didn't die before I got to her.

Hirohiko:  Don't just stand there, Tsukiko, your in danger!

Tsukiko: I am?

Hirohiko: Yes! So just move it already!

She gazed and me in a confused manner, as if she was completely unaware of the mortal danger posed by blood-red weaponry set to disintegrate her any second now.  Tsukiko is someone very precious to me; and if I couldn't save her now I don't think I could ever live with myself. Memories of her racing through my head I take a running leap arriving toward Tsukiko's position just as beam weapon reaches it's full charge. From it's ringed tip leaps a searing beam of heat and energy that speeds toward Tsukiko. And just as it does, by some measure of luck, I reach Tsukiko just as the beam does. Taking the brunt of the attack with my own body.

Tsukiko: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!.

As I fall the the floor below I feel as if I had been thrown into a raging fire. Every part of my body burns, If I hadn't known better I would have sworn my very soul had caught ablaze. But despite all of that I didn't scream or cry out in pain. Instead I wore a smile upon my face; knowing that I had done all I could to save that which was most precious to me.