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| Undiscovered Territory | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CHAPTER SIX:� Research and Revelation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dende fought the urge to hold his breath, knowing that it would not help his situation.� Though there likely was not a great deal of air in here:� a small room in which were two other people and a crowd of unpleasant looking devices.� Not that the two people were any more pleasant. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He continued to wriggle in Scree's grasp, unwilling to resign himself to the next happenings, whatever they were to be.� The only thing he knew for sure was that they were likely to hurt. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Just as always, Scree did not seem to notice his struggles.� He pulled him along effortlessly and hoisted him up onto a table.� "Just calm down, little one.� This is only the early stage.� You've nothing to worry about . . . yet." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As if that were encouraging.� And even less encouraging was the form of Doctor Gneiss, who had her back to him, puttering around the small enclosure like anyone else would a living room.� Such a homey sight was out of place here.� Downright eerie, fact. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scargo, as frightened as he probably was being alone in the other room, was probably in better psychological shape than Dende was at the moment. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finally, he managed to slip his wrist free, and briefly considered making a break for the door, but thought better of it.� He would have to go through both Scree and Doctor Gneiss, plus punch a code into the keypad in order to get the door open.� To be stuck here . . . | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Doctor Gneiss turned, flat blue eyes carrying an expression akin to glee as she held a small pointed object in her yellow hands.� "This will do to start."� She paused, noticing that Dende was no longer in Scree's grip.� "Ah.� I see you've decided to be sensible.� Rare feat for a child."� Casually, she advanced toward him, and he scooted backward in response.� "Oh, hold still.� All I'm doing is taking a blood sample.� Why every creature seems to be so sensitive to this . . ." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dende's brow wrinkled in puzzlement, a match for the expression on the scientist's face.� The female appeared to be genuinely confused that anybody would object to being stabbed with pointy objects.� Dende wondered for a moment if she would like it if somebody tried to do that to her.� Though perhaps she would; she seemed mad enough for that. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The needle entered his flesh, sinking into his upper arm.� Startled, he jerked it away, aggravating his injured shoulder and sending a hot slice of pain across and beneath his skin.� He cried out and huddled against the wall, pressing his hand to the wound.� The cut was deep, and blood sluggishly rose up from its depths.� An urge to try and heal the wound suddenly came upon him, but he refused it.� He would not dare show such a talent when an enemy was about.� The last time he'd done that, he had ended up dead.� Not that bleeding was going to help him much, but perhaps he would get some time to himself later. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Such a touchy little thing you are.� You wouldn't have gotten hurt if you'd just held still as I'd ordered you to do.� Scree, hand me a cloth." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Curiously, Dende opened one eye (he had squeezed them shut in response to the pain) to find the scientist calmly regarding the bloodstained object in her hand.� And she was not just calm, but held an expression of intense interest.� Yes she was mad, to hold an intense interest in blood.� She took the cloth when Scree offered it to her and casually wiped it off.� | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This one is going to be trouble, Scree," she said, nonchalantly throwing the cloth aside when she was finished.� She raised the needle closer to her face so that she could better examine the blood.� "Before we go any further, we're going to have to sedate him.� Get him ready while I put this in storage." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sedate him?� That was not a pleasant thought for Dende to be left with as Doctor Gneiss left the room, if only for the moment.� While he wasn't thrilled of being an experimental subject as it was, he rather preferred to know what was happening to him.� If he were unconscious or otherwise incapacitated, who knew what kind of procedures they would decide to perform upon him? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He tensed as Scree stepped toward him, strange eyes focusing on him pointedly.� Though Dende paused for a second, as he thought he saw a hint of sadness in those eyes.� The pain must have been making him see things, for after he blinked he could detect it no longer.� Yes, simply his imagination. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'd told you that it wouldn't hurt much yet, boy," Scree said almost softly.� "The struggle only made it worse."� He paused, sighed.� "I don't really like experimenting on children, you know.� Seems cruel, not like experimenting on adults." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tentatively, Dende spoke.� "Experimenting on adults isn't cruel?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Adults are better specimens.� They can stand more punishment, and . . . yes . . . well they just tolerate it better." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What a strange man.� He seemed almost amiable, almost like he could be an ally in this dark place, but his logic was nearly as twisted as that of Doctor Gneiss.� How anybody could come to hold a set of beliefs like this was something that Dende would never understand.� It was just too bizarre. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Whoa!� What --"� Dende had been so caught up in analyzing the statements that he hadn't noticed that Scree had kept moving while he'd spoken.� A mask of some manner was placed over Dende's mouth, and he tried to squirm away, but his back was already to the wall and he had no room to move. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| And a few breaths later, he lost the ability to move entirely. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * * * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A wave of heat shot past him, very nearly grazing his cheek as he lunged to the side.� The ki blast burned a trail in the sky behind him, and presumably flew off harmlessly into space.� Letting free a sharp breath, Chiton locked eyes with his attacker. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| And there they hung, suspended a mile above the ground, wind tossing Chiton's antennae about while not having a visible effect on his assailant.� Indeed the assailant had nothing to stir.� No hair, no antennae, and it was dressed in armour as opposed to cloth garments.� The only distinguishing feature was the piece of rose-coloured glass over his left eye.� An ensemble not unlike one he had seen before . . . | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The creature reached up to said piece of glass, pressing a button on the earpiece.� "This thing must be defective.� It should have picked you up a long time ago."� A pattern of foreign symbols scrolled over the glass, and the creature frowned.� "Hmm.� You seem to be not much stronger than the normal vermin of this planet, though I'm surprised that you managed to dodge my blast.� Still, this shouldn't take very long." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chiton suppressed a smirk -- no need to appear cocky before the enemy.� While he was not all that powerful despite the fact that he was a warrior class Namek, nor was he broadcasting his true strength.� And what he lacked in power, he could make up for in strategy.� "Perhaps it will.� Perhaps it will not.� Either way, I doubt that it is of much substance." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This appeared to ruffle the alien.� Good.� For all Chiton knew, this alien could be masking his true power as well, so it was perhaps wise to fluster him.� To keep him from all important thought in battle.� Plus, it was rather entertaining. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is your species so fatalistic?" the alien sneered, then suddenly gave a slight smirk.� "No, it must just be the adults.� The children seem more blatantly foolish." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Children do not understand the concept of fate."� Chiton shrugged.� "Though I do not seem to be much better.� Or perhaps it is you that is little beyond the comprehension level of a child." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This got a reaction.� Smoothly, Chiton ducked as another ki blast blazed in his direction, then shot forward to drive his fist into his assailant's gut.� And he followed it with a kick that sent him flying backward. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| But a third blow did not land.� Or it did, in fact, though this one was absorbed by Chiton's face. �He felt a crack below his skin, but his cheek did not give way under the force.� Hurriedly, he cleared his head, just in time to send up his arm in a timely block.� A jarring sensation rang up his arm; obviously this blow would have caused him serious injury if it had struck his chest as had been intended. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gathering his ki throughout his body, Chiton whirled out of the block and slammed a knee into his attacker's back.� The alien fell a short way, but caught himself and turned about, snarling. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It does seem to be you that is worse off," Chiton tossed out, continuing his taunting strategy.� "I had been wondering if that would be the case.� Truly a relief, as I am not a child anymore." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Strange.� You certainly act like one." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oh, he could not resist a smirk this time.� A good verbal spar was always enjoyable, when somebody actually was willing to get into one with him.� Not like real battles, where miscalculations could kill instead of, or as well as, making the miscalculator look like an idiot.� A pleasant thing death was not. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sadly, his impressions that the battle would become physical again proved to be true.� Such a shame. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The alien charge at him full out, fist cocked, and Chiton barely stopped himself from shaking his head.� What bad tactics; his opponent had left himself wide open.� Tensing, he slipped into the opening, launching his fist forward -- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| And missed.� The alien vanished into a blur of purple, and Chiton's punch struck nothing but air.� Instinct called to him to check his rear, and he spun about to find still nothing.� What in the world? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ungh!"� A heavy blow slammed into his back, knocking the breath from him.� Before he could react, another one fell upon the base of his skull.� The world bobbled crazily in his vision as he dropped from the sky. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| After a few seconds, he managed to right himself, and gathered his ki for a full stop.� He looked up to see a painfully bright light growing ever larger over his opponent's hand.� The level of power grew greater, and greater . . . | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And it seems that you fight like a child as well!" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chiton gasped as the alien launched the ki ball, the giant gathering of power that heralded the end of a life.� Desperately, he crossed his arms in front of his face in a ki-assisted block� . . . | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| And an explosion seared the air. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * * * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hmm?"� Limpet pulled himself up short and gazed off into the distance.� A brilliance that dwarfed that of the sun originated from there.� "Whelk!� Hold it.� Look there. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Obligingly, Whelk halted.� Why he was frowning though, Limpet did not bother to guess.� "What is it?� Have you actually found something this time?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Limpet sighed.� "Have you no trust in me?� I do have a fully functioning brain, you know." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just barely." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes, well it still counts," Limpet agreed, chuckling.� "Seriously, though.� Look." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Whelk followed his gaze, and his frown grew more pronounced.� He closed his eyes, relaxed his posture:� his traditional pose for detecting ki, something which Limpet had never really gotten around to learning.� Things were usually peaceful, so he just didn't see the bother.� Whelk on the other hand, ever the uptight perfectionist, practiced the skill constantly.� Limpet had to concede that it could come in handy once in a while. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Feels like a battle."� Whelk opened his eyes, which were set even harder than usual.� "Let's go.� Unless you think you'd have fun someplace else." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Limpet just rolled his eyes.� "I truly do wish that you would stop insinuating that I'm a lazy do-nothing.� I� . . ." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He would have continued his retort, but Whelk was already gone, flying over to where they had detected the disturbance.� The guy couldn't have just waited an extra second or two to hear his reply.� It wasn't as if it would make all of the difference in the world. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| But, that was Whelk.� Limpet had learned to deal with him a long time ago.� He was used to this sort of thing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| And without further bother on any matter, he followed his partner toward the disturbance. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * * * | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Smoke rose from his arms, wafting into the sky in thin black trails.� His skin was seared, but only slightly, thanks to the aid of his ki in blocking.� Slowly, he lowered his arms, and subtly cast his gaze around for his attacker.� Surely, he would follow this attack up, unless he thought that this was enough to fell him.� And it almost had been. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chiton glared up through the last vestiges of smoke to see if his attacker was still in his firing position, and found almost to his surprise that he was.� How foolish.� Any fighter worth his salt had to know not to stop until he had seen the enemy taken down with his own eyes -- not merely enveloped in the smoke or dust left behind after a ki blast, or after the body had sunk into the water, or other such nonsense as that.� Things were never assured until they were confirmed by the eyes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He did not wait for the remainder of the smoke to clear before attacking; he rushed forward, with an elbow extended toward the alien's face.� And it connected, the alien not having recovered from the shock of seeing him come out of the blast uninjured. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chiton's elbow smashed into his face, sending him reeling backward across the sky.� He followed this with a kick to the gut, which also landed.� Finally, he fired a small ki blast to finish the job and knock his opponent to the ground -- he did not want to kill him; he might have valuable information about the children -- but the alien had recovered and knocked the ki ball aside with a little effort. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The alien snarled, wiping a way a trickle of blood that had spurted forth from his lips at some point, probably after Chiton's elbow.� "You just don't quit, do you, slug?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A strange thing to say, considering your situation, I would think," Chiton replied with a smirk.� Once more, the taunting began.� His preferred method of combat.� "After all, you do see to be in worse shape than I am at the moment." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well, that won't last for much longer." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chiton looked up.� "I'm afraid that I would have to disagree with you on that one, my friend." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At this, the alien's eyepiece beeped, and foreign symbols once again scrolled across it.� The alien turned and caught sight, surely, of what Chiton had seen a few seconds before.� Two figures in the air, approaching fast. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chiton heard the alien mutter something under his breath, probably some sort of curse in another language, and turn back to face him angrily.� Before he even had time to react, the alien charged at him full out, fist cocked.� Chiton braced himself to block the blow . . . | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Save that a blow never came.� The alien phased out in front of him, a haze of violet.� Chiton turned to his back, and found the alien shooting off into the distance, leaving a ki contrail behind.� Chiton would have fired a ki blast after him, but he was already out of range; it would be a waste of energy. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| And so he patiently waited a moment more for the two figures to arrive.� Not that he wanted to talk to them, mind anyone, but he figured that it would be prudent to get the questioning over with.� It would save him a lot of aggravation in the end. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The two came to a stop in front of him, and he recognized them instantly by sight, though he had not been able to do so by their ki.� These two were Whelk and Limpet, two of the rather more boring of his fellow villagers to watch.� Whelk would have been more interesting had he a sparring partner more often; Chiton very much liked to observe various techniques, and though he could have offered himself as a partner, such was not his inclination.� He, unlike most others, learned better by watching than by doing.� As for Limpet . . .� Well, Chiton had never been interested enough in that silly golf game to actually want to observe anyone playing it.� He would rather not fall into a coma. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unsurprisingly, Whelk spoke first, his voice the very sound of high bearing and authority; just the kind that he always found the most irritating.� "Oh, it's you.� I suppose I should have known." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chiton did not reply to this, for he sensed that this was exactly what the other Namek wanted.� He would not waste his sarcastic talents on someone who so obviously wanted to get a rise out of him, and he settled for merely staring hard at him in the eyes.� Most backed down quickly from this stare, but Whelk was not one of them.� Chiton had some measure of respect for that, though he took pleasure in knowing that the looked bothered the usually stoic warrior.� He always stiffened ever so slightly, and his jaw clenched in an almost imperceptible manner. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next to speak, of course, was Limpet.� "I must say, it certainly looks like you had a bit of fun over here."� He eyed the scorch marks on Chiton's arms.� "Care to tell us what happened?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Only if you insist."� A curt reply, as was Chiton's fashion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We insist," Whelk stated simply, crossing his arms over his chest.� To most, this posture was intimidating, but Chiton waved it off nonchalantly.� Rousing him to emotion was not an easy task, and Whelk was no better equipped to accomplish such a thing than anyone else. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Very well."� Chiton lifted his chin in a gesture of pride that he knew would annoy the other Namek.� He looked him level in the eyes once more.� "I happen to have gotten into a battle with a foreign creature." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A foreign creature?" Limpet laughed.� "You always did have too stuffy a vocabulary.� At least on those rare occasions that you deign to speak with anyone.� I suppose we should be honoured that we got anything besides air to come out of your mouth." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chiton merely fixed a brief glare upon him.� It didn't have any more effect than Whelk's crossed arms had had upon him.� Limpet was sort of unflappable that way.� Not that it really mattered, to tell the truth.� He was a minor annoyance much of the time, and minor annoyances were easy to ignore. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Whelk, who characteristically found none of this amusing to the slightest degree, spoke up once more.� "What do you mean a foreign creature?� An alien?� Here?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The term would fit." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A low growl escaped Whelk's throat.� "Would you stop being so cryptic about your responses and answer something straight out?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unimpressed, Chiton frowned.� "I've not been cryptic, Whelk.� I merely have given you the information that you have requested and nothing more.� If you want more information, you have simply to ask me and I shall respond." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This statement prompted a reaction.� Whelk growled again, clenching his fists in impotent rage, and if Chiton didn't know better, he would have thought that a vein in his forehead was about to pop.� A most amusing sight this was, though Chiton made it a point not to show this.� Whelk always seemed to be more offended when he showed no emotion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Take it easy, Whelk.� Just take it easy.� I'll talk to him," Limpet cut in.� He placed a hand on Whelk's shoulder in an effort to calm him down, before turning back to Chiton.� "So what did this alien look like?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It was impossible not to note the curiosity in Limpet's tone.� For a change, Chiton could not begrudge him something, for he'd had that same impulse himself.� Still, he shrugged to maintain the image of nonchalance that he had been projecting.� "Nothing impressive.� Mottled purple skin, flat black eyes.� Wore some interesting garments that remind me a little of the last days of the old planet." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As he would have anticipated, this garnered a reaction, this time from both of his interrogators.� Limpet blinked in surprise, while Whelk narrowed his eyes even further.� So far in fact, that it was difficult to see the whites and made him look like he had only eye ridges with nothing underneath them.� He'd never seen anything quite like it. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You mean it's happened again?"� Whelk finally managed.� "The underlings of that beast come to terrorize us once more?� I take it that you didn't destroy the thing." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Once more, Chiton did not speak.� He merely turned away, though not out of shame, for he had nothing to be ashamed of.� Perhaps allowing the alien to escape would have qualified, but that did not bother him in any particular way.� And he'd never intended to kill it in the first place, as Whelk's first reaction might have been.� Well, after a few harsh demands concerning the whereabouts of the children, anyway. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finally, he let a few words escape his lips.� "Why would I do something like that?� Besides, he just slipped away before I could manage to do anything.� If you wish to follow him, he went that way."� He lifted a slim finger and pointed in the direction in which the alien had flown off.� "Good luck finding him, if you so choose.� And tell him I said hello while you're at it." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Are you trying to tell me . . .:� Whelk started, and then ceased in frustration.� He put a hand on Chiton's shoulder and forced him to turn around.� "Would you look at me when I'm talking to you, you insolent little whelp!" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chiton glared down at the offending hand on his shoulder.� He barely tolerated being spoken to most of the time, and touching was outright out of the question.� Meeting Whelk's eyes unflinchingly, he reached up and pried the bigger Namek's hand off his shoulder.� Coldly, he shoved the hand away after it was no longer touching him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I beg to differ on which one of us is acting the more childish at the moment." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Limpet pulled on Whelk's arm, dragging him back a few feet.� "Why don't you just relax?� Throttling him would probably make anyone feel better, but otherwise won't accomplish much right now.� Just lay off a little." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Several forced breaths with no speech.� Very visibly, Whelk was trying to rein in his temper.� And he had a surprising amount of success at this, for his next words were spoken in a voice that was relatively even.� "Are you saying that you're having no more part of this?� That creature probably knows what happened to the children and you're just throwing it aside?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Call it what you like." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| With these words, Chiton gave his interrogators a curt nod, and angled his flight back to the village.� He was well away by the time that he heard Whelk's voice again, risen to the volume of fury. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fine!� Do what you like, you unfeeling coward!" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The words did not phase him, despite their untruth.� While there may have been some veracity to the first half of the insult, the latter implication had nothing to do with his choice to return to the village.� No, it had nothing to do with it at all. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| There was something more at stake here than the children.� While Chiton in his own way wanted them returned safely just the same as everyone else, he was not short sighted enough to think that this was the only problem.� Aliens didn't typically come to a planet just to kidnap a couple of children -- not to his knowledge, anyway.� And if the last time they were invaded, very likely by the same people, was any indication . . . . | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If it was any indication, then returning to the village was a most prudent decision indeed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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