Moving Images Video Nights

Moving Images Video Night

     The Bendin family gathered in front of the Video Monitor in their Living Area, but it’s Jaimis who spoke. “I know that I say this ever week, but you should be used to it by now. Once a week we set aside one night to watch a Moving Images Video together. Each week one of us picks which one we will watch. This week it’s Karena’s turn. The best part of Video Night is that we are a part of it – sort of.”

     Karena loved love stories. Her favorite had always been ‘First Loves Never Die.’ The line she loved best of all was “I told you not to go there.”

     Scari didn’t get scared at horror. The best one she ever saw had to be ‘The Day the Instructors All Died.’ “I’m not going in there – again” really scared her.

     Jaimis watched Medical Dramas because his mother died from Bad Health. The closest video to his mother’s death was ‘Too Young to Die.’ “I’ll never be ready for you to die” always made him cry.

     Tonin couldn’t get enough Action and War adventures. The one he liked the most happened to be ‘Death comes in Many Forms’ and the only line he didn’t like in it was “I can only die once – or can I?”

<<<<<>>>>>

     “You are going into battle tomorrow Noram,” said Karena. “Why do you want to spend our last night together fighting?”

     “I don’t want to fight you – or in that War Morna,” Jaimes answered. “You act like I’m not coming back.”

     “That’s a very good possibility,” Karena said. “I don’t want to lose you again.”

     “I’m not going to die,” replied Jaimes. “I lost you right after Learning ended, and I had to go to War the first time.”

     “I know you survived that War,” Karena said. “It doesn’t mean you will survive this one. That was twenty years ago.”

     Jaimes and Karena had been hold hands from across the table in the Eating Area. Partially eaten food laid all around them. Suddenly Jaimes got up, and took his wife Morna out of there – still holding her hand.


     Three weeks later Karena walked up a walkway toward a small house. When she stepped up onto the porch a bell sounded. A few seconds later an eleven-year-old, Scari, girl opened the front door. “Boina, is your mother home?”

     “She isn’t home at the moment,” answered Scari. “I expect her home at any time now though.”


     Almost six months later Karena answered the bell sound. “Aren’t you a little bit young to be in the War?”

     “I’m not in the War. I am a Military Messenger,” said fifteen-year-old Tonin. “My name is Willin, and I have some bad news for you.”

     After he left she thought to herself. ‘It’s not a total death. I’m going to have his baby.”

<<<<<>>>>>

     Scari and Tonin were trapped in an old abandoned Learning Center with several of their friends. “Lonnic, you said you were going to get us out of here.”

     “I am Onica,” said Tonin. “I’m just not sure where I am at right now. It’s hard to see in all this gloom.”

     “You don’t have to say that,” said Scari. “We should never have come in here.”

     “It was your idea to do it,” responded Tonin. “You aren’t scared are you?”

     “I know I did, but I want to leave now,” said Scari. “No, I’m not scared. I’m just hungry.”

     “If you aren’t scared then why are you holding my hand so hard.” Tonin and Scari led the others. They were also holding hands in couples too.

     Suddenly Jaimes and Karena entered that hallway. Tonin and Scari couldn’t stop, and walked right through them, but the others could – and did. Jaimes and Karena both had bleeding heads of children in their hands. “Carini. I told you I hear Learners.”

     “Good, we can add more heads to our collection DeOm.” Karena held up her two heads.

<<<<<>>>>>

     Jaimes stood over the Medical Sleeper his wife Karena laid in. He held her hand and looked at the Health Monitors. “It’s almost over Florei,” Jaimes said.

     “I know it is Gallim,” Karena said. “Don’t be sad. We knew this day would be coming. I just didn’t expect it to be this soon.”

     “What am I going to do without you,” Jaimes started to cry a little. “I can’t take care of our kids alone.”

     Jaimes glanced over his shoulder at their two kids, Tonin and Scari, looking at their parents through a big glass window. “Robbic and Quina will be just fine. They are taking it better than they look,” said Karena.

     “I’m not worried about them,” replied Jaimes. “It’s me that don’t want you do die.”

     “I know you don’t,” said Karena. “You are stronger than you think too.” A few hours later Karena died.

<<<<<>>>>>

     “She’s going to get us all killed Commander Addon and Zille,” said Tonin. “I told you I didn’t want a female for a partner.”

     Jaimes and Karena was in a Ground Command Center with Tonin. A war could be heard all around them. “You know we can’t do anything about it Porth,” said Karena.

     “It’s the Law of War,” said Jaimes. “All fighters are paired up.”

     “You and Evanna have been paired together,” said Karena. “You’re just going to have to work out your problems together.”

     “Isn’t it bad enough we have to use children to fight in this War?” Commented Jaimes. “We don’t need hatred among males and females too.”

     Just then Scari entered. “You sent for me Commanders.”

<<<<<>>>>>

     Karena turned off the Video Monitor. She looked at her family. ‘Jaimes has fallen asleep. Tonin started crying - like he always does. Scari pretends to be sleeping, but I know she isn’t.’ “I know you all don’t like this video, but I have had to watch all of your favorites too over the last month.” After getting everyone up they left the Living Area together too.

The Word Count for this story, including the Title, is 1000.