Previously on Warriors of Destiny: The Warriors and company arrived at the Ettik, having been teleported there by Finn, and were introduced to Ettik�s offspring and its pilot Sikozu. Getting reacquainted with the living ship, the group set off to find Stryder and Kyra.
Meanwhile: Stryder, Kyra and Velyn continue to be imprisoned on the Bane ship, now heading for the prison planet Acheron, and unknown fate awaiting them. The Ettik�s hyperspace journey to the last known location of Stryder and Kyra will take a day or two, leaving the group time to prepare before the inevitable confrontation with the Bane.
*Time passed: none*
Alexei and Sikozu exchange glances, then dismiss each other with a simple nod. Sikozu leaves the bridge, glancing over her shoulder at the Russian pilot. Alexei sighs and continues pouring over the holographic huds in front of him.
The background thrum of Ettik�s hyperspace drive is a low sound, having blended into the rest of the ship�s noises. Ettik�s crab bots continue minor repairs and maintenance in the many corridors, rooms and service hatches of the ship.
Elsewhere: A pair of heavy booted feet approach Stryder and Kyra�s cell. Their owner a particularly ugly Bane, though most were ugly, with a fanged grin on his face as he studies the three prisoners behind the orange force field. He turns to his associate, a smaller, but equally distasteful Bane, and spits out some commentary in some unintelligible language.
Shadow�s gentle snoring can be heard outside his room.
Katie finishes her light meal, and sips a cup of coffee, watching out the enormous windows with a faraway expression.
Tzaphiel gives Drac a slight smile, then looks across the table at Syne.
Claron turns away from the viewport and busies herself by putting away their belongings.
The ugly Bane motions somewhere out of view and a pair of guards flank him, large assault rifles aimed directly at the three prisoners. The force field is lowered and the two Bane approach, guards moving to keep the entire cell in their lines of fire. The ugly one examines Stryder, Kyra and Velyn again.
Valrash sits down and prays to his mother. �I have fought a war with allies and we won. But now, I wonder when you will communicate to me, if ever again. I miss the sound of you and wish to one day come home.�
Kyra trembles and looks over at Stryder, panic etched deeply in her eyes. ~I�m scared.~
Syne lifts a brow at Tzaphiel, then turns to glance at Katie. Pacing close to her table, he looks out the window, �It�s a nice view...�
DracBlue smiles at Tza as he bites down again on the metal bar and whispers to Tza, �You know each other already, don�t you?�
Katie nods absently. �Yeah. I�ve missed it.�
A soft whisper carries in Valrash�s head, ~When the time is right, you shall return home, my son.~
Tzaphiel watches Syne move over to the beauty across the room, then looks back to Drac, giving an almost imperceptible nod.
Valrash gives a soft smile to no one in particular and gets up and sits on his bed
Cara slips quietly away from Kabal and enters her own room. Laying Elexorian on the bed, she sits down next the sword and thinks about Clarice and her Va.
DracBlue looks over at Tza, and then Syne, whispers to himself, �Well they are both shapeshifters, it shouldn�t be a surprise to me.�
The lead Bane, apparently a higher rank than the others, nods again and says something again in the unknown language. The guards move forward and motion at Velyn and Kyra, �You two. The other human stays.�
Syne crosses his arms, his gaze drifting away from the window and down to Katie. �Kat, you doing okay?�
DracBlue looks back over to Tza, �So did you find your room alright?�
Stryder snarls, �Like hell...where do you think you�re taking them! I�ll...� A stun bolt from one of the guard�s guns hits Stryder in the chest, causing him to convulse and drop to the floor unconscious.
Luna sighs and crawls off the bed. Moving softly across the room to the altar, she picks up the rose. �I meant this,� as she sniffs the still fragrant bloom.
�That?� Eclipse looks at the rose, then nods in remembrance, �What about it?�
Tabris stretches out in front of the window, watching Claron unpacking.
Tzaphiel sighs and tries to smile, �Yes, it�s very nice. Thank you for taking care of me.�
Kyra screams and runs to Stryder.
DracBlue pulls out a statue of a prairie landscape with the moon right above it and hands it to Tza. �I think this one fits you more than it does me. Welcome to our second home away from home.�
Luna puts the rose back gently, �I said it was still here.� Moving over to kneel in front of Eclipse, she looks up at him, �Are you alright?�
Katie looks away from the window, and her emerald gaze meets Syne�s. �Yeah. I�ll be just fine.� Her mouth tightens, and she sighs, draining her cup.
One of the guards moves over to Kyra and points his gun at her, �Move!� He motions out of the cell, giving it emphasis with a slobbery snarl. Velyn watches Kyra and Stryder with a soft sigh, then moves as the other guard motions at him.
�Wish I could believe you on that,� Syne joins Katie in her sigh.
Tzaphiel takes the carving and turns it around slowly, �It�s lovely.�
Clarice throws the pillow she is cradling across the room. �You have been such a fool...Obviously, if Stryder really did want Cara dead...it�s logical that Tewyn wouldn�t have wanted to risk bumping into Claron and Tabris at the dance. You know he would have laid into them. And it stands to reason, that he wouldn�t want to find Stryder...for fear of what he would do to him.�
Tears streaming, Kyra leans over to feather a kiss over Stryder�s temple. �I can�t protect you if I�m dead. I�ll come back for you, I swear it, baby,� she whispers into his hair, then reluctantly rises and follows Velyn, glancing back at Stryder�s still form.
�I believe so,� Eclipse gives a nod to Luna. �Still getting used to this mortal thing.�
Velyn glances around as the guards lead the two down the hallway, the commanding Bane and his associate leading the group. The hallway has several prison cells, mostly empty but a few with occupants in varying states of consciousness.
Luna wraps her arms around his waist and buries her head against his chest with a sigh, �I�m sorry.�
�Don�t be sorry, its happened and we can�t change it,� Eclipse pets the back of Luna�s head gently.
Kabal stands glancing out his window, yellow glow of hyperspace casting an eerie light off his light brown skin. �What are you up to Cara...� He says softly to the air, carefully shielding his thoughts about it.
Katie looks down at her hands, her jaw tight, her expression one of sorrow. �Dinnae fret yerself, Rogue. I�ll be jus� fine,� she whispers.
DracBlue smiles at Tza, then gets up for a drink and another bar of iron. He sits back down with her, �Well, Luna did say you were an angel of the moon. And since you can�t be around a moon...I figured, you could at least have a moon to look to.�
Luna hugs him tightly, then sits back on her heels. �Do you want to go get something to eat? Or just stay here?�
�You sure?� Syne sits on the floor next to her chair, his gaze studying Katie�s expression.
Shaking her head, Clarice continues to think out loud, �But still he could have told you that, yet he did not. Instead of running after you, or even trying to explain, he just shut you out...and you allowed it.�
�Not sure...I suppose I should eat,� Eclipse smirks for a second, �I think I can feel my insides growling at me.�
Tzaphiel looks up from the statue and smiles at Drac. �Just because she said that was what my name meant, doesn�t mean I am one.�
Looking up from her hands, Katie gives him what she hopes is a reassuring smile. �Absolutely. Once we�ve got the bairns safe and sound with us, I�ll be good as new.�
DracBlue smiles at her. �Well, you look like an angel to me.�
While Kyra and Velyn are taken to an airlock, or at least it looked like an airlock, another set of guards drag Stryder from the cell. �Did they say where they wanted this one?� the first guard asks the other. �No, just take him to processing with the rest. Let them deal with him.�
Luna�s ear twitches and she giggles, �Yeah, that�s what I hear. Let�s go see who�s around.� Standing up, she picks up Luciendar and leans it in the corner near the altar.
�Good to hear,� Syne nods to her, returning her smile with one of his own. He then sighs, �I haven�t noticed Tewyn or Shinta onboard...did they stay behind?�
�I think that�s about everything we brought, babe,� Tabris comments to Claron, noticing her now rearranging the stuff she just unpacked.
Frowning, Katie gets up and leans against the table. �I believe they did.� Her gaze grows more troubled. �I�m worried about him.�
Arwyn stops pacing in front of her bed. Leaning over, she places both hands on it and pushes down on it several times. �Why this will never do...it�s hard as a rock.�
�Yeah...didn�t exactly have the best encounter with him before we left.� Syne shakes his head, �And at this rate, I doubt we�ll get things squared away anytime soon.�
Claron continues rearranging, �It�s not right...it just isn�t right...� she mutters.
�I know.� Katie worries her bottom lip between her teeth. �Things are always left hanging....�
As if on cue to Arwyn�s complaint, the bed sinks into the floor for a second up to the top sheets. After a few more seconds, it glides back up, settling into its original position with a soft click.
Tzaphiel glances over at Syne sitting at the girls feet for a moment then turns away. �Your very sweet,� she tells Drac as she sets the landscape carefully on the table.
DracBlue smiles as he says, �Well, thanks.� He looks over at Syne as she does, �Something bothering you about him?�
�Claron, we�ll find them, you just need to calm down,� Tabris moves over to her and takes her hand, interrupting her rearranging of his shirts.
Katie eyes Tza, �I think your friend over there is nervous. She keeps looking at you like you�re going to eat her.� A ghost of a smile hovers around her lips.
Arwyn backs away from the bed as it sinks into the floor with a puzzled look, �What trickery is this?�
Luna steps back to the bed and grabs Eclipse�s hand, tugging him to his feet. �Well, come on, there�s not room service on this ship.�
Tzaphiel shrugs at Drac but doesn�t answer him.
Eclipse chuckles, �I know, but it�s an idea.�
Luna laughs and pulls him toward the door. �Sometimes room service isn�t a good thing.�
Claron stops and turns to look at Tabris as he takes her hand. �I just need...� buries her face against his chest, �our son back...�
�I know. If it�s what I think, the past is going for an encore,� Syne looks at Katie then over his shoulder at Tza. �Besides, I�d never eat a storm-clan shifter, not without a good deal of spices.�
DracBlue just nods eating his bar of metal, �I wonder if the ship can make copper or tin?�
Katie rolls her eyes and smirks. �Smartass.�
Eclipse watches the door disappear into the wall, then returns his look at Luna. �Now that I�m part of the culinary world, there�s plenty of food to try.�
Tzaphiel raises a brow, �Well copper would be softer, quieter.�
�Always,� Syne mutters to himself as he stands up.
Luna grins, �You have no idea, and some of it is not that great.�
Velyn and Kyra, under escort, are led into a large enclosed glass-catwalk, connecting the ship to a massive rust-red structure. An expansive wasteland looking similar to the surface of Mars, consumes the views to either side, with a red giant taking up a good portion of sky.
�Suppose I should get it over with if she�s going to be around awhile,� Syne gives a look to Katie, then back to Tzaphiel.
�Still noisy and less nutritious. Well, I better get going. I still have to finish decorating my room. Come and visit if you like.� DracBlue gets up and bows to Tza.
DracBlue walks out of the galley and heads to his room.
Katie nods. �Best go to it,� she murmurs.
Stryder blinks groggily, a rust-red ceiling meeting his bleary gaze. A gun conceals his view, with a loud voice barking at him to �wake up�, followed by a firm grip pulling him to his feet. Stryder glances around the room, noticing it looks like a medical bay, but with a floor splattered with various colors of blood.
Tzaphiel watches Drac walk out of the galley, then looks down at the gift again.
DracBlue enters his room and looks at his current decorations, �What else does this need? Something, but what is it?�
The Bane soldiers and their commander lead Kyra and Velyn into a cargo elevator. As it descends for what seems like an eternity, it stops, a dim-lit walkway stretching before them. At the far end, a mixture of yells and cries can be heard from beyond a large grated door.
Syne walks over to Tza, eyes looking at Drac�s gift to her. �Tza, it�s been awhile.�
Valrash gets up from his bed and walks down to the galley.
�And we�ll get him back, but for now we�ve got to stay strong,� Tabris touches her cheek.
Tzaphiel looks up and nods, �Yes, it has.�
The guard knocks Stryder forward with the butt of his rifle, towards a smaller Bane in white armor. The Bane in white looks Stryder over and points to a stand-up scanner, �In.�
Katie slips from the galley, wandering back to her room, just now noticing the number 118 on it, and the beautiful scroll worked �Katerina� on the door. �Aww, Ettik...� her eyes well up. �That�s jus� beautiful. Thank ye.� She touches them reverently, then goes in and sprawls across the bed on her stomach with a sigh.
Deciding to take the initiative, Syne furrows his brow, �So, here for money or is there some other reason you�ve shown up?�
Tzaphiel raises a brow, �There�s more to life than money.�
Eclipse leads Luna down the hallway, remembering to turn to get to the galley. �Well, good thing I have a food critic with me.�
Luna giggles, �Me? A critic?�
Valrash enters the galley and gets a well done steak. Sits down, cutting and eating it slowly, noting the people in the galley.
Claron lifts her head up to gaze into Tabris� eyes. �Strong? I don�t want to be strong. Where has it gotten me? It didn�t save our children. Fuck strong!�
Kyra thinks of Cara, not for the first time, and wonders if she�s alright, or if she did indeed perish at Stryder�s hands. �She�s got to be okay. She�s just got to,� she whispers.
The grated door opens, a metal ramp leading down to an expansive subterranean cavern. At the end of the ramp is a large two story fence, with guard towers to either side of it�s main gate. Inside the fence is a filthy make-shift camp, buildings made of rusted metal and various other refuse are dotted around the cavern. The prisoners in the camp are equally filthy and appear to range from teens to elderly.
Luna pauses as they enter the galley seeing Valrash, then Syne with Tzaphiel. She whispurrs to Eclipse, �Wow, I don�t think food is the only thing I could cut with a knife around here.�
The commander motions to a handful of guards who secure the gate as it opens, one guard taking joy in killing a few prisoners who are to close. Kyra and Velyn are led inside then left, the guard returning to outside the gate as it closes.
Kyra shudders and looks around.
�Good to hear.� Syne crosses his arms, �So, what did you do with the money after you left me to be captured by those bounty hunters?�
Velyn wraps a protective arm around Kyra as he glances around at the prisoners, �Stay close, child.�
Kyra struggles not to show her fear. �This place is awful, Velyn.�
Valrash waves over to Luna and Eclipse, waving for them to join him.
Forced into the scanner, Stryder spits on the guard as the Bane rips his clothes off. The dull glow of the scanners drifts lazily across him twice, then beeps a readout to the Bane doctor at his console. �Para-normal human, eh? Unfortunate. Prep him for the suppressor implant.�
�It is...� Velyn nods and watches carefully as the other prisoners start studying their new arrivals.
Luna takes Eclipse�s arm and pulls him toward the replicator. �So what do you want to try first? Hmmmm, maybe some fruit?� She pushes a series of buttons and winks at him as the plate appears.
DracBlue thinks to himself for awhile and continues looking at his room.
Eclipse eyes the plate of fruit, then Luna, �So what kind of fruit do we have here?�
Tzaphiel sits back in her chair and crosses her arms. �I didn�t think they would catch you. I waited a week for you.�
Cara rubs her chin pensively as she realizes something. �Va claimed to love Mother, yet he killed her. Stryder told you he loved you right before he thrust his sword into your chest. So does that mean one must kill those they love?� She shakes her head, �Or is this something only those that have known evil do?�
Katie rolls onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. �Stubborn assed shaman,� she growls.
�Well they did, they were equipped to capture a shifter,� Syne sits on the table, his gaze noticing Eclipse and Luna, then drifting back to Tza. �Luckily the slaver they pawned me off to wasn�t equipped to handle me.�
Luna takes the tray and leads him over to the table where Valrash is sitting. �All my favorites, of course.� She dips a strawberry in a bowl of cream then offers it to him.
Valrash nods to Luna and Eclipse, �Good afternoon. And how are we this fine day?�
Tabris shakes his head, �Then be what you want, I just don�t want to see you lose hope.�
Eclipse eats the strawberry with a moment�s pause to enjoy the flavor, �Tastes better than it did before.�
�Good,� Eclipse returns Valrash�s nod and speaks with a mouthful of strawberry. �You?�
Valrash nods as he takes a bite of steak. �It goes better than normal.�
A few gruff looking men draw makeshift shivs and begin to circle Velyn and Kyra, �She�s a prit� lil� thing, boys. Hav� ta� kill the mutt tho.�
Kyra has a sudden flashback of the day Kyndra died and her icy blue eyes begin to glitter dangerously.
Claron turns away from Tabris and moves to stare out of the viewport. �You don�t want me to lose hope....Is this what my life has become...to always hope for the best?�
Luna releases a breath she didn�t realize she was holding and takes another strawberry for herself.
Several more men join the group around Velyn and Kyra. The one who spoke gives a nod and the entire group moves in to attack.
Kyra�s irises all but disappear, so pale does the icy hue become. She lashes out with her foot, connecting with the kneecap of the man nearest her. �A girl prefers to be asked to dally,� she growls menacingly.
Tzaphiel glances over at the other table and shakes her head. �How did you end up in this group?� she asks softly as her gaze slides back to Syne.
Tabris slumps down on the bed, �I don�t know what to tell you. Hope for whatever you want, Claron, because anything I say to make it better doesn�t work. Stryder�s out there and we�ll find him.�
Syne smirks, �Well, believe it not, I was adopted after my previous ride ran a-foul of a crazy computer.�
Tzaphiel tilts her head, �Adopted? What does that mean?� She starts laughing. �Oh no, don�t tell me. You turned on the puppy dog eyes, didn�t you?�
Velyn catches a man in the chest with his foot and manages to narrowly avoid being skewered by another man�s sharpened piece of metal. In the back of the crowd, someone in a green bio-suit joins the fray, attacking Kyra and Velyn�s attackers.
Claron whirls around. �Yes, we will find him, and then he will be ripped away from us again....And THEN, one of these times we will be too late and he will be dead...just like Clarissa and the one we never got to know!�
Luna peels an orange and pulls the wedges apart. Smiling as she dips one in some warm chocolate. �This is almost my favorite.�
Valrash looks at Luna a little weird. �Chocolate on oranges?�
Luna grins at Valrash, �Oh, you just don�t know what you�re missing.� She pushes the tray of sweets to the center of the table so he can try some, too.
The bio-suited figure knocks out several of the men, killing one with a redirected shiv thrust. The red visored helmet glances towards Kyra and Velyn, �This way, you two.�
Kyra does a roundhouse kick on another advancing man, then nods and scampers toward their rescuer.
Syne chuckles, �More along the lines of the entire puppy dog.�
�Never thought of eating chocolate with fruit, but then again, I rarely ate before,� Eclipse takes some orange dipped in chocolate and eats it.
Tzaphiel sobers, �That has turned out to be pretty handy many times.�
Valrash dips a piece of orange in the chocolate and tries it. As soon as it hits his tongue, he lets a small smile cross his face, �Mmmmmm...�
Luna licks some chocolate off her fingers. �Mmmmm, I think chocolate tastes good on pretty much anything.�
With a heavy green glove, the figure knocks another man out, then leads Kyra and Velyn through the gathered crowd of prisoners. The figure heads for a rusted cargo container with holes cut out for ventilation, a dirty blanket acting as a door is pushed aside by the figure as it enters.
�So, what brings a storm-clan shifter to our ranks? And how did you get to Aventine?� Syne gives Tza a inquisitive glance.
�There�s some things it wouldn�t go good with,� Eclipse eyes the plate of fruit again.
Valrash rolls his eyes, �It would go horrible with cheesy bread.�
Stryder growls as the Bane doctor readies a large machine and the guard straps him to the table in front of it. �I�ll kill you without my powers, you ugly bastards...where�d you take Kyra! Where is she!�
Kyra steps into the �fort�.
Tabris looks at Claron, �I�m sorry that we lost them...if I could have changed things, could have saved them, I would have.�
The green bio-suited figure navigates the mess of boxes to get to a few metal containers surrounding a fire-barrel. Several containers covered in cloth are lined along the wall beyond, numerous parts and makeshift gadgets strewn about. �Sit down if you like,� the voice is soft, but difficult to judge gender from the tone.
Tzaphiel shrugs, �I was run off Epselon 5 and slipped onto a cargo ship that was just leaving the hub. I blended in so well they never knew I was there. I got off the ship at the last stop and it seemed like a nice enough place.� She pauses for second, looking down at the figure on the table. �There was a party and everyone looked so pretty, so I snuck in and met that really sweet boy. And here I am.�
Kyra slumps tiredly onto a seat. �Thank you,� she says warily.
�Interesting,� Syne says as he thinks about the validity of her words, he shrugs and looks at her again. �And now you�re here.�
Claron sinks deeper into the despair that seems to be overwhelming and clouding her ability to be reasonable. �That�s just it...you couldn�t...I most certainly wasn�t able to. I let the twins be taken right out of my arms. I did nothing, but scream. Don�t you see? We will NEVER be able to stop it!�
Katie closes her eyes, wishing for some music to chase away the silence.
Velyn sits atop one of the containers as well, looking around, �We thank you for the assistance stranger.�
Luna peels a banana and dips half the length into the chocolate. Holding it over the bowl while it hardens, she glances at Eclipse and smiles. �You never know.�
Valrash smiles as he dips a piece of steak into the chocolate and tries it. His face wrinkles as it hits his tongue. �I don�t think steak works too well with it either.�
�We can stop it if we try.� Tabris sighs, �I want our son back as much as you do, and I�m willing to do whatever�s necessary to make sure we don�t lose him again.�
Eclipse cringes at Valrash, �Apparently not...�
Luna chuckles. �Maybe dark chocolate would be better with steak?�
Valrash laughs as he says, �I don�t think steak can use chocolate at all, it would taste horrid regardless.�
�What�s the matter, Katerina? Things not going the way you�d hoped?� the dreaded voice hisses across Katie�s mind and she squeezes her eyes shut tighter. �Your shaman has abandoned you. You are alone again. You�re always alone, Katerina. When will you see the truth?�
Stryder growls again, but loses himself to unconsciousness again after the doctor injects him with a needle. The Bane doctor turns on the machine and looks down at Stryder to begin the implant procedure.
Tzaphiel looks around, �Where ever here is.�
Claron shakes her head, �Being willing, and actually doing are not the same thing. Can�t you see that?�
�So, you�re human,� the green suited figure sits across from Kyra, fiddling with one of the makeshift gadgets while speaking. �Name�s Skorn, I�m a Zalarian. How�d you two end up in this frakking place?�
DracBlue finally decides he needs a picture on the wall. He starts carving an interlocking picture of Aventine, then when it is finished, he hangs it up on the wall.
�I know...but what do you want me to do, Claron?� Tabris leans up and looks over at her, his anger more at the situation then anything else.
�Ship called the Ettik; as far as where, hyperspace at the moment,� Syne shrugs glancing out the window.
Luna stares at Eclipse as she licks the chocolate covered banana.
Eclipse shakes his head, �Enjoying the fruit, Luna?�
�Reaaaaaaaaaally long story,� Kyra mutters.
Luna laughs, then gently nibbles the end. �Uh huh,� as she winks at him.
Valrash smiles and says, �I think she�s having more fun than us, Eclipse.�
Cara hears a soft yawn next to her, ~Mmm...you�re noisy when you think too much. Where have I been taken now?~ Elexorian�s innocent voice questions, sounding drowsy as if just awoken.
�Seems that way, must be a reaction to the fruit,� Eclipse takes a bite of a banana, then looks at it studiously.
Valrash looks at the fruit, too. A little curious how ordinary fruit could be so fun.
Luna watches Eclipse eat the banana and gives up on teasing him. �Never mind.�
�Well, if you haven�t noticed, we�ve got the time,� Skorn says sarcastically to Kyra. The device in his grasp sputters fruitlessly, through his helmet�s vocal processor his frown can be heard.
Eclipse smirks and puts the banana down, �Not bad as far as fruit goes.�
�Can you turn back the hands of time? Make it so none of the bad ever happened? You can�t!� Claron snarls. �Oh, just leave me alone...with my thoughts....You think you could do that?� Her gaze shifts from Tabris to the door then back to him.
�If that�s what it takes, then sure,� Tabris stands and moves to the door. Glancing over his shoulder, he looks at Claron, then moves out into the hallway with the door closing behind. With a heavy sigh, he frowns and looks down at the floor, �Going downhill fast...�
Cara glances down at Elexorian, �Hmmm, so you can hear my thoughts even when I am not touching you? Why this is our new home.�
Tzaphiel pushes away from the table. Standing up as her hair changes to a deep purple color. �As for the money, well, let�s just say I gave it to someone who needed it more than we did. Excuse me.� She turns and walks out of the galley retracing her steps the way she came.
Velyn looks at Skorn and his device, �The girl and another like her were on my planet when those beasts attacked. They captured us and brought us here.�
DracBlue finishes carving the 3-D looking picture of Aventine, and then nods, satisfied. �My room is finished. Now I have to show it to someone.�
Tzaphiel stops once she�s out of sight of the galley and leans heavily against the wall. She runs her hands over her face as she takes a deep breath. �Ok, you wonderful ship, can you show me where Drac�s room is?�
The doctor seals up the incision on Stryder�s underarm, then injects him with another needle. He motions to the guard and the guard unstraps Stryder as he begins to wake up. The guard pushes Stryder towards a table with dirty and spotted clothing on it, clearly belonging to one of the contributors to the floor�s blood splatters.
DracBlue sits on his bed looking at the finished carving hanging across the room. He lets himself lie down as he thinks to himself, wondering if his parents ever had his problems.
Claron races towards the door as soon as it slides shut and locks it. Then leans with her back against the door and lets the tears she held back win.
~When you�re thinking as loud as you were, I could hear you half a planet away,~ Elexorian says in a complaining tone. ~New home? What was wrong with the other one?~
Tabris strolls down the hall, kicking his feet with a sigh, �I hope it doesn�t last...I hate seeing her like that.�
Valrash finishes his steak, then puts his plate where it should be and walks back to the table. �So do you two have any clue what we�re going against to rescue the two missing members of our group?�
Tzaphiel studies the map that appears on the wall across from her and sees that Drac�s room is not that far away. She moves down the hall and pauses in front of a door with his name on it. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves again, she raises her hand and knocks lightly.
�Well then...guess I�ll get some exercise,� Syne shifts into dog form and pads his way out of the galley, navigating the halls to get to one of the cargo bays.
Eclipse shrugs, �I can�t say for sure. Alexei said the Bane, but I�ve not heard of them.�
Luna shrugs, �I have no clue. But I�m sure it�s going to be ugly.�
DracBlue sits up and rising walks to the door. He opens it with a curious expression. �Yes?�
Tabris scans the doors as he walks past them, pausing when he notices Katie�s quarters. �Why not ask a woman about woman troubles?�
Valrash looks thoughtful. �Hmmmm, not too much info for a rescue. Maybe someone should see if anyone knows the Bane.�
Cara shrugs her shoulders, ~Nothing, I suppose. Just it�s not home to most. And besides, we had word of Stryder and Kyra. In order to find them, returning back to our ship, Ettik, was necessary.~
�You okay, human?� Skorn takes his glance away from his gadget to look at Kyra, �Don�t have to worry about those guys again, they rarely bother me in here.�
~If you say so, ~ Elexorian says, then yawns again.
Tzaphiel smiles at Drac. �Hi, you said I should come see your room.�
Tabris knocks lightly on Katie�s door, wondering if she was in or not.
Kyra nods sullenly.
Katie doesn�t bother to get up. �It�s unlocked,� she calls out dully.
DracBlue smiles at Tza, then walks out of the way of the door and sits on his bed. �How do you like it?�
Tabris lets the door slide open, �Hey, Katie. I think you may need to talk to Claron, she�s upset and locked me out, and frankly I�m out of ideas. Thought you might be able to help.�
Katie scrambles to a sitting position at the sound of Tab�s voice. As she listens, her wide-eyed stare gets wider. �Oh,� she says.
Sighing, Tabris leans against the door frame, �First time I�ve been locked out, too...� He looks over at Katie, �Think you could check on her for me?�
Katie pats the bed next to her. �I don�t know how much good I would do. But you know I�d do anything for you.� She looks in his eyes. �Both of you,� she hastens to add.
Tzaphiel steps into the room and looks around with her mouth open.
�I�ll try to talk to her. Worst case scenario, you can always sleep in Shinta�s room till we get this straightened out.� Katie chews her lip.
Dressed in the ragged cloth, Stryder is led through several hallways. Reaching the end of a long one, the guard opens a door and shoves Stryder inside. �You�ll be in here until they send you down to the mines, scum.� The guard closes the heavy door and laughs as he heads back down the hall.
DracBlue looks at Tza�s open mouth. �I take it you like the room then?�
�I can always take one of the empty rooms, since there�s no couch for me to sleep on.� He manages a smirk, then nods to Katie, �Thanks, Katie, I owe you one.�
�You owe me several, but who�s keeping track?� she winks and can�t resist trying to tease him out of his worry, a bit. �We�ll just take it out in trade, sometime.� Then she smiles affectionately. �I�ll go see what I can do. Sit tight.�
Stryder glances around the small room, eyeing the grated hole in the floor and the pile of cloth in the corner that was supposed to be a bed, �Hrm...better than nothing.�
Eclipse nods to Valrash, �Good idea, I�m sure the ship�s computer would have information about them.�
Valrash nods to Eclipse �It would be a good idea to know if we have to face an army again.�
�I�ll be here,� Tabris nods to Katie, then glances around her quarters.
Luna watches Syne leave out the corner of her eye, and sighs as she looks back at Valrash and Eclipse. �Yes, it would, especially with us missing a pair of valuable fighters.�
Katie walks down the hall and knocks softly on the door. �Hey there, Nuffing-DuVallis. You�ve got some very worried loved-ones here. Can I come in? I�m alone.�
Rubbing his underarm, Stryder grumbles, �Cutting me up and sticking something in me...� Trying to teleport a few feet across his small cell, he growls when nothing happens. He tries again to no avail and pounds a fist against the wall, �Damn it!�
Tzaphiel closes her mouth as she turns around in a slow circle trying to take it all in. �Wow, Drac, you�re amazing.�
Claron slides down to floor in front of the door, sobbing. �Why be hopeful...it always seems to backfire....�
Valrash questions, �What ones? I mean, are you talking about the ones that are barely ever here? The ones that I have only seen fight twice in the time I�ve been here. It�s like they avoid the group on purpose.�
�Said there was another human with you?� Skorn looks at Velyn and Kyra, �Well, you should probably get some rest while I get you guys something to eat. I�ll ask around and see if I can learn anything.�
Luna growls, �I�m referring to Tewyn and Shinta.�
DracBlue beams, �Thank you, I think I like the room, too.�
Valrash smiles sweetly, �I am as well.�
�If we�re going to check the computer, we should probably ask Alexei,� Eclipse comments, trying to remember if he�d heard anything about the Bane.
Rubbing the back of her hand across her cheek, Claron hears the sound of Katie�s voice, "�Kat?� Stands up and unlocks the door.
�Hey, beautiful.� Katie walks in, wrapping her arms around Claron, and just holds her, not saying anything.
Luna sighs, remembering the recent and not too distant past. �I�ve fought with Tewyn many times.�
Valrash nods, �Weren�t those the two that got captured. I mean, I have seen them get captured half as many times as they have fought.�
Kyra nods, going to a corner and sitting, drawing her knees up and putting her head on them. She closes her eyes and shivers.
Claron weeps on Katie�s shoulder, �It never ends...I keep losing them.�
Skorn stands and rummages through his spare parts and gadgets, grabbing a few parts to trade for food. �Best to stay in here, being a new addition makes you a target.� He walks towards the end of the container, pushing the flap aside he looks back, �Oh, and welcome to Acheron, butt-crack of the universe.�
Katie rubs Claron�s back soothingly, nodding.
Luna glances over at Valrash, �I was captured a few times myself.� Stands up and takes the tray to the counter. �Let�s go to the bridge and get some answers.�
Valrash stands up and walks with Luna to the bridge.
�And just now...I was just awful to Tab...and all he was trying to do was comfort me.� Claron manages to get out between sobs.
Eclipse follows Luna and Valrash to the bridge.
DracBlue offers, �If you want, I can make a few things for your room... that�s if you want.�
�Shhh, honey. He understands. Listen to me, you stubborn fire-haired temptress: The love you and Tabris share is the stuff that every girl dreams of in her fairy-tale fantasies. He will not give up on you no matter what. He understood your need for some alone time, and sent the one person he knows you can both count on. Don�t fret yourself over it. This too, shall pass.�
Tzaphiel notices the chair at the desk, but sits on the bed next to Drac instead. �You would?�
DracBlue smiles, nodding, �Sure, I can carve practically anything I have seen before, if it hasn�t been too long from when I�ve seen it. I would love to carve something for you.�
Luna steps into the bridge and moves to her usual seat. �Alexei, what can you tell us about these Banes?�
Tabris tries not to browse Katie�s belongings lying around the room, so he looks out the window. Watching hyperspace streak by, he lets a lone sigh go, �They�re out there somewhere, but we�ll find �em. We always do.�
�Oh Kat, I just want it all to end....I am so tired....so very tired of losing the ones I love, of always fighting some battle. It all seems so very hopeless. And you know what frightens me even more...what Tewyn could do to my son.� Claron laments.
�The Bane?� Alexei looks up from the holographic control board hovering in front of him. Scanning the various huds, he brings up information on a large holographic screen hovering in the air. �That�s all the information we have. Race of slave traders and conquerors, an outer rim Empire that expands its territory by attacking outer rim planets, usually developing worlds. Military dictatorship...known figures, known population, history, etc.
Katie nods sympathetically. How well she knew the feeling of hopelessness where losing loved ones was concerned. �It�ll work out, honey. We will not stop until we have the bairns safe with us. And as for Froggy...well... hell, I dunno what to say about that. I�d half like to slit his throat half the time. Dunno why your sister puts up with him. He�s a right pain in the ass. Thank God you have such a wonderful husband who would kill for you.�
�What about their borders? You said we�re heading for the last known location of Stryder and Kyra, how far is it from the Bane�s territory?� Eclipse questions as he looks at the streaming information.
Alexei brings up a stellar map of the outer rim, a red area highlighting to show Bane territory and a blinking dot to show destination. �A few systems distance. Closest known Bane world is Acheron, records show it as a mining colony.�
Valrash nods, �If we don�t find them on that world, do you think they would be taken there?� He points to the closest Bane territory.
Luna looks at the screen. �How likely is it they are even still there? Judging by the map, they are a greedy race. They may already be gone.�
Claron lifts her head off Katie�s shoulder, �I don�t see how you can be so understanding sometimes. Especially knowing full well and first hand what the DuVallis men are capable of.�
�It�s possible, they�re slavers, so a mining colony would have lots of slaves.� Alexei enters several commands on the controls, �As soon as we exit hyperspace we�ll scan the planet, then set course to Bane territory.� Shaking his head, he looks at Luna, �Maybe, and the Bane don�t like intruders in their space...wherever we end up going, we�re gonna have a fight on our hands.�
Valrash nods, �Good thing we can scan, or we�d be on a wild goose chase.�
Tzaphiel smiles at Drac, �So...is there anything to do on this ship besides eat?�
DracBlue thinks for a moment, �There is a place with a bunch of plants. I think they call it a botany bay, other than that I�m not sure. I�ve only been on the ship two times myself. Mostly, I think the group entertains themselves talking and walking with each other.�
Claron pulls back from Katie slightly, �What are you...we...going to do if we are too late? And Stryder has...� unable to voice her biggest fear.
Tzaphiel shakes her head and fingers the blanket on Drac�s bed. �That doesn�t sound very exciting.�
DracBlue shrugs, �Mostly, they are stuck fighting a lot. So I think when they get on the ship, they�re just happy not to be fighting. So they relax. So far, I�ve learned that this place is rarely calm. We�re always on the move, fighting, rescuing and moving along.� He sighs.
Tzaphiel glances around the room again, �Well, I�ve spent extended periods of time in worse places than this.�
�If we do a long range scan, we can exit hyperspace further away from the planet,� Alexei studies the readouts in front of him. �With current flows, we�ll be in normal space soon.�
Katie gives Claron a gentle shake. �Don�t go there. You�re his mother. You�d know deep down if he were. We�ll find him, Claron.� She sighs. �And as to how I can be so understanding? It�s because I know how deeply love can run.� Katie�s face shows the years of anguish she�s endured. �As long as there�s hope...it has to be one�s focus,� she finishes quietly.
Luna looks at Alexei and nods, �That sounds like a good plan.�
DracBlue�s eyes perk up, but he doesn�t ask the question he�s thinking. Instead, he puts his hand on Tza�s, �Well, I hope you don�t ever have to stay in another bad place again.�
Valrash nods, agreeing with the plan that was laid out.
Kyra dreams of Kyndra, her limp body being abused by a laughing man atop her, pumping into her like she was nothing but a blow-up pleasure doll. She whimpers in her sleep, as the dream shifts to Stryder being held down and tortured. �Stryyyyderrrr,� she moans.
Tzaphiel blushes as she watches his hand cover hers. �Me too,� she whispers softly.
Velyn looks over at Kyra with a sad look, taking a relatively clean cloth from nearby, he carefully drapes it around her. He sighs, wishing he could do more for her.
Claron shakes her head, then lowers her gaze to floor. �That�s just it, Kat. I can�t seem to find the strength to hope. I am afraid to hope. Afraid that my hope will end up for naught once again.�
Katie nods. �So we�ll have to do the hoping for you until you�re strong again.�
DracBlue smiles at Tza and notices that she blushed. Thinking to himself, �She�s cute when she does that.�
Kyra�s dream shifts again. Now a laughing Cara and Stryder put their arms around each other. �Oh come on, kid. You didn�t really think I�d choose YOU? Oh...how sad. You did.� Stryder leers at her and leans over to kiss Cara. �You�re the only one for me. Now and forever.� As she watches their lips meet, the sleeping Kyra lets out a mournful cry.
�I don�t think I will ever be strong again. It�s like a part of me died when I lost the baby, and Stryder disappeared with Kyra.� Claron moves over towards the bed and crawls into it.
�Exiting hyperspace now,� Alexei announces on the ship com. The ship shudders for a second, then the rainbow array of colors marks the exit of hyperspace. Normal stars return and a distant sun shows up as a glowing orb on the viewscreen. �Initiating long range scan of the planet.�
Katie sits on the edge of the bed. �I know. Oh, how I know.� Her anguished expression surfaces again, before she tucks it away. �But you WILL be strong again, Claron. You are strong. You�re my hero, didn�t you know that? I�m so proud of everything you are. So in time, you will overcome this obstacle, too.�
Tzaphiel tilts her head sideways, �What?� she asks Drac softly.
Eclipse looks at the scanner readouts, �Life forms, but nothing human. Says here, it�s mostly wildlife.�
DracBlue looks away for a moment, then back. �Nothing, just looking. Is that a crime?�
Luna nods, �I was afraid of that. I think we should start our search with that mining planet.�
Tzaphiel�s hair even turns red slowly, �No, it�s not a crime.�
�Roger, setting new course for Acheron, Arcades system,� Alexei says as he inputs commands on the controls. Ettik turns and initiates another hyperspace jump, this time fast enough that the viewscreen transitions directly to the yellow glow of hyperspace.
DracBlue watches her hair turn red and says, �That is amazing. I wish I could do that.�
�No, Kat. I am not worthy of being anyone�s hero.� Claron yawns as she closes her eyes and drifts off into a restless sleep.
Tzaphiel shrugs, �I don�t even think about anymore, it just kind of happens,� as she reaches back and pulls the bottom of a strand of hair forward so she can look at it.
Katie pats the sleeping Claron�s leg. �Oh, yes you are.� She smiles, then leaves the room quietly, heading down the hall and stopping at a point where it widens out, and a huge window shows they�ve come out of hyperspace. She stares at the stars, and her mind wanders...
Clarice comes out of her room as Katie passes by. �Katie, would you mind some company?�
DracBlue looks into Tza�s eyes, �So it just happens that you make yourself more beautiful every moment?�
Arwyn�s door slides open as Clarice adds, �I don�t relish the idea of sleeping alone tonight.�
Katie turns and smiles. �Sure thing, Clarice.�
Skorn slips back into the cargo container, a wrapped bundle of food in his hand, �I traded for what I could, it�s not much, but it�s food. There�s word of a riot being planned for tomorrow...apparently the animals are getting tired of the zoo.�
Meanwhile, the Ettik and its offspring enter the outer fringes of the Acheron system. Long range scanner readouts show up on large holographic screen, the red sphere representing Acheron comes into view, surrounding by a dozen gray colored ship marks.
Alexei studies the readouts and nods, �This is going to be rough, he presses the com button down and the ship-wide comes to life. �Ok, folks, we�re going be heading into a firefight and it�s gonna be rough. I suggest you get to the inner parts of the ship for safety.�
A viewscreen pops up showing Sikozu in the bridge of Ettik�s offspring, �We�re ready over here. Combat systems are online and charged. Lead the way, Alexei, we�ll be right behind you.� The screen closes and a red light replaces the white light of the bridge as Alexei speaks, �Alright, guys, we�re going in...�