Lombax of the Future written by Geia Akyama
Chapter one-Seer

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Footsteps echoed down a large vaulted hallway as a lone figure raced down it's vast metallic length with a wrapped bundle in her arms. Her loose white skirts swirled about her legs and the long tail slashed the air behind her as she tried to keep her balance and not lose any speed. The woman furtively looked over her shoulder and her orange stripped ears flick back at the sight of her pursuers.

Her once pristine white dress was torn and stained with sweat from her frenzied flight to this very place. The long sleeves and skirt were tattered shreds and the Imperial brand on her left forearm could easily be seen. The dark mark was a blemish of scared burnt flesh and scars darkened with black ink that marked her as a slave to the Zoni.

The cloth covered bundle in the fleeing woman's arms moved of its own accord and the hunter green blanket was shaken off to reveal a small Lombax child. In the little creatures' hands is a necklace made of a glowing white metal with a red triangular stone set in a Raritanium mount that had been carved into the shape of mythical beasts from a far off galaxy called Dolphins. The deceptively delicate chain was draped across the little girls trembling shoulders and a little hand clutched the treasure as though it were her very soul.

The heavily armored guards stomped after the fleeing Lombax slave woman as she makes her final dash for the portal where the doors to other dimensions awaits her. She had to get to that portal; she had to get her daughter to safety! The Zoni would never let a Seer live no matter how young the child was. Her dear baby- only recently a year old-had shown potential. But if the masters found out...

"Halt! Stay where you are, slave, and we promise a swift death!"

This palace slave had broken the taboo placed on her species and dared to come in contact with the ancient technology of her species. And the Dimensionator was the most forbidden thing they could violate with their presence. After coming to this dimension the Zoni had moved swiftly to make the great inverters into slaves with partial success.

The young child cried out in fear as the first blaster shot pierced the air a mere foot from the top of her head. Large blue eyes peered over her mothers shoulder as the shimmering archway portal leaped to life. The guards were so big and mean looking she was so scared. The child whimpered and buried her face in her mothers shoulder for comfort.

"Don't worry Ishara. We'll be safe soon enough!"

Blaster fire made the air sizzle as if it was alive and the pressure of the super heated molecules became nearly unbearable. The mother huddled around her child protectively and made her heavy legs obey her commands despite the painful stitch in her side. There was no way she' meekly let them kill her. Now when she held such a great treasure in her arms.

The shimmering archway was the only light source in the hallway and it wasn't until the full grown Lombax woman was practically inside the colossal room that she noticed the one person standing by the gateway. a small robot no bigger than her daughter turned to face the intruder with softly glowing green eyes and nearly expressionless face

the Mother cried out in anguish and stared in horror at the small robot as it turned slowly away from the portal to salvation. It was at that moment that the Lombax's luck ran out and a white hot blast from the Imperial guards hit her in the lower back just above the tail, cleanly severing her spine.

She crumpled to the floor like a wilted flower just before all feeling in her legs was lost. In a last act of defiance Helia flung her young daughter at the portal and lay bleeding on the ground. She hit the ground with a bone jarring thud and pain shot up her spine and exploded in her head with mind numbing after currents. So close, of only she could have taken those last steps.

The child cried sharply in fear and used her small tail as a rudder to land more or less on hands and knees facing her attackers with large scared eyes on her mother. She didn't' even notice Clank behind and to her right.

The small robot watched in horror as the Lombax was cut down and left to die. Ever since finding out what the Zoni truly were he'd resolved to return to Ratchet and somehow free all of the slaves in this alternate universe. However this dimensional portal would only admit one person at a time. It was either himself or this soon to be orphaned child and they both had equal need for the portal.

The guards stormed the room and quickly fanned out to make sure that there wasn't anyone else in the room. free Lombax's had been attacking the Zoni's stolen settlements and tensions in the palace where high after an almost successful attack on Clanks life in the past week

Clank squared his shoulders and turned to the poor girl. He'd seen her for the first time that morning and while he was unsure as to why her talent was a death sentence here. There was only one thing to be done; the girl had to be sent to a safe place.

The girls' clothes wee still in good condition. The standard white garments all slaves were requited to wear were whole and fit her small frame quite well. Only the necklace she wore was out of place. It was much too large for her, it was so bit she could almost wrap the chain around her waist twice and use it for a belt. Clank would have thought it belonged to the mother if he hadn't been told otherwise.

There was only one thing to do. Clank gestured to the terrified girl and gently took her by the hand, another death sentence to any slave. Another law he didn't understand. Another reason to send this child to a galaxy where she would stand a chance at a good life.

"Come here Ishara. You will be safe beyond this door. Do not be afraid, it can't be any worse than what you see here."

The poor girl only whimpered as she was lead to the portal and chewed on the fingers of her opposite hand. There were only a few moments before the guards turned their attention from the room to its occupants. So little time to get away.

"Dimensionator. Find home."

the portal swirled like a multicolored dream as worlds that were, could be, and that had been flashed by like smoke until at last a blue and green planet came into view and took up all available space. The oceans glittered in the planets bright sunlight and even from this space view great cities could be seen.

A wet cough drew Clank and Ishara's attention to the downed woman behind them and both turned to see the poor creature lifting her head with nearly black blood on her lips. A small pool of blood was gathering underneath the creatures' abdomen and her eyes blinked without seeing.

"Where...Ishara. Be safe... go... and live."

Laser fire terminated the sentence and the stench of burned flesh and fur filled the air along with the tangy smell of abject fear in perfect harmony to the doomed woman's last scream of pain echoed around the vault like room with a higher pitched wail from Ishara.

"The Imperial sire is here with a lone Lombax child! Terminate the slave immediately!"

Clank shoved the girl through the portal and watched with something close to sadness as the portal closed after her. If he closed his eyes he could still see the little one looking back at her mother with eyes full of tears. She was safe at least while he stayed behind as nothing more than a glorified captive of the Zoni.

"Ratchet, please come find me soon. This place needs our help."