Too late for regrets.

Zuri and the scepter gang members walked hurriedly toward Guara town, they soon passed the neighboring villages and entered into the main deserted town, then towards the palace where ten Hoorays are awaiting them.
Zuri knocked on the palace gate and it was opened by a young Hooray with a somber look.
"Welcome boss." The Hooray said with a bow. He looked shocked at the humans at Zuri's back but said nothing.
"How may Hooray inside?" Zuri asked.
"Four, the other five went for a stroll." The Hooray replied.
"Call them out," Zuri ordered, then penetrated the palace gate.
The Hooray bobbed his head, turned, and stepped hurriedly inside. a few minutes later, five Hooray sauntered outside towards Zuri.
"Welcome boss." They all greeted jointly.
Zuri nodded his head as a sign of response and said.
"As you are all aware, I have been penalized as a result of my ineptitude." He hesitated and looked into the eyes of the awaiting Hooray before resuming. "Am no longer your superior, and will be committing suicide in the next two hours as commanded.
But before then, I need to name a leader among you all."
"We already have Horus." One among the Hoorays cut in.
"Horus and the two Hoorays have been excommunicated and hereby declared an outlaw because they failed to obey my command when I ordered them back," Zuri responded and wait for further questions.
"Heard you lost all the fighters with you in a conflict against humans, will they be sending more fighters to us?" Another Hooray asked.
"Yes," Zuri replied. "Forty-nine more fighters will be sent over here soon."
"Forty-nine?" Another Hooray who had been silent all this while asked confused.
"Yes, Zuri replied. " I need a leader among you to train the incoming fighter."
He looked from one Hooray to another. "As you are all aware, survival of the fittest is our rule."
"What are the conflicts rule?" The tallest and biggest among the Hooray asked with a smile.
"I have connected with the other five and they are hearing our discussion, this is the rule." Zuri smiled, walked closed to the Hoorays in his front, and said. "The five of you should attack the other five on the way coming, and then fight against each other until the last man stands. The leader will be given the honor to kill me ceremonially."
The five Hooday smiled happily at the chance of being given a name, in as much as the chances of emerging the winners is narrow, yet, the fact that they have the honor to fight for a name is something worthy of accomplishment.
"What is a ceremonial death?" The youngest and probably a recruit among the Hoorays implored.
"The winner will have the honor to fight me with any weapon of his choice, while I fight back with bare hands," Zuri answered back, lingered for some seconds then began again. "The purpose is to celebrate my soul as it entered into another phase to be reborn."
"What if you still beat the winner?" The Hooray asked back.
Other Hoorays quickly burst into laughter at the ignorance of the speaker.
"It has never happened before, but if that should be the case, Zuri is still under obligations to fight the next Hooray, then the next, and keep fighting until he dropped dead." One experienced Hooray answered his question.
"Where is the arena?" Another Hooray asked.
"Here," Zuri replied. "The other five will be here in a few moments to join us."
Zuri told all the humans to form a circle and he went inside the circle and crouched on the bare floor.
The other five Hooray also entered into the circle to form a straight line.
Some moments later, five more Hoorays walked into the palace then into the drawn circle and they stood face to face with the other awaiting five Hoorays.
"Let the fight begin." Zuri cried out.
One young hooray with grey hair stepped out among the newcomer and brought out his weapon, then hovered it in the air.
The other Hoorays on the other side idled for a while as the Hooray with grey hair was known to be a formidable fighter.
The tallest among them soon stepped out and face his opponent and the fight began.
The two fighters circled each other for a while, then the taller Hooray struck his weapon at his opponent with grey hair in a bid to severe his head but the other fighter bend down some feet and rolled off the incoming weapon.
He then whacked his weapon back at the alien who fought against him.
Both parties attacked each other and fought bravery, but in the end, the man with grey hair was able to defeat the taller man, he cut off his head and walked back with pride amidst admiration and celebration from his team member.
The humans watching the fight stood with awe at the mastery of the fighters who fought like humans, except for their ferociousness, fastness, and swiftness.
They all agreed no human can match any of the fighting aliens, even to the weakest among them.
Apollon777 lead the way and was followed by Brenda, Bobby, Zuma, and Reagan.
The group soon reached the forest where Horus and his two guards passed when Apollon777 suddenly stopped on his track and said to Brenda.
"Three Hoorays are also after her."
"An alien called Horus and two other aliens are after her," Brenda replied.
"Yes, I saw them leaving before the twins emerged," Bobby added.
"How are you able to know this?" Zuma asked as he walked close to Apollon777
"I have a tracking device that shows me the position of every hooray in this vicinity," Apollon777 replied.
"And Maria?" Reagan asked. "She is not an alien."
"She is no longer the Maria you knew, she is now a deadly weapon that Horus now seeks," Apollon777 replied.
Reagan frowns his face in sadness. How can his sweet Maria become a deadly weapon?"
His hatred multiplied in double folds for the aliens who had captured him, thereby denying him the opportunity of staying with her when she aroused.
"They caused it all," Reagan murmured.
The truth suddenly hit him, the aliens had planned it from the beginning, they abducted her, tracked him through her to get the scepter.
Whatever they seek Maria for, Reagan believes it has to do with the scepter.
"Can she be cured?" Brenda asked.
"Not by any humans technology," Apollon answered back.
"And by your technology?" Bobby inquired.
"Until I see her," Apollon replied. "There may still be a chance to save her."
"There must be a chance," Reagan muttered softly to himself.
Big Tiger and Durell led the way and were followed by eighty armed men. The group walked through a narrow path until they emerged in a small deserted village with few houses.
"We can spend the night here." Big tiger said to his team members.
He put his arm around Durell and walked along with him into the entrance of one of the houses.
"What about her?" Durell asked his brother. "She hasn't slept in three days."
"Why did you insist on bringing her along?" Big Tiger asked back.
"I just want to help her, when I first met her, I thought she was drunk and I abduct her out of curiosity." Durrell paused in his speech, looked back at Maria tied around a tree in a sitting position. "Now that I have brought her this far, I believe it's my responsibility to care for her."
"Quite surprising." Big Tiger mumbled. "If the twins were here, I believed they are capable of healing her of whatever ailment she may be suffering from."
"The twins!" Durell cried out. "They are self-centered and only think of themselves. I won't doubt their involvement in this, as I found her on her way to Gujarat town where they reside."
"Don't you think you should have let her go?" Big Tiger asked.
"Maybe, I acted out of impulse, but now it's too late for regret. She will be my responsibility until she draws her last breath as am already attached to her."
Big Tiger slumped on the floor of the big parlor and motioned for Durell to laid closed to him.
He instantly ordered some of his men to stand as guards through the night.
"You will be free of her, soon. She can't last in this state without eating."
"Maybe, or maybe I will never be free of her.
Probably, I will be tormented forever with the nightmare of a lady who keeps walking until she dropped dead." Durell answered and gave a soft smile. "Which destination did you have in mind for all of your men?" He added.
Big Tiger snore back loudly in response. He had fallen asleep during Durell's speech and was not aware of his brother's question.
"Good night," Durell said in a whisper and laid his head on the cold floor. "Too late for regrets." He repeated aloud.