Hello there. ^^

First of all: I'm no native English speaker, so there might be some mistakes, since I translated everything by myself. The German original text was also written by me and can be found on here, too.

Other than that - have fun while reading. Always glad to offer something entertaining. :)

The constant humming of generators and quiet beeping noises produced by the reliably working centrifuge blended smoothly into the usual ambient sounds. Together with those few lonely voices which could be heard from adjoining rooms and halls every now and then. Currently I was the only person working at Lab 5, but I desired nothing else. Assistants I found to be a nerve wrecking nuisance and on top of that I made the fastest progress when left alone. Solely security personnel on their daily routine check-up or research director Dr. Clown I managed to tolerate intruding my realm of most sensitive tools and DNA probes. After six years of employment with Smile Corporation however I thought to deserve the luxury of solitude ever so quite a bit. Fully aware I was at the same time of all my hard work being a benefit exclusively to arms production, but I could not care less. That was because my job not only threw off a good amount of money and provided free board and lodging, but also gave me the opportunity to do research on extraterrestrial creatures. None of my acquaintances had ever understood my willingness to sacrifice the safe home back on Earth for a life on a barren planet full of dangers and hard work, which was simply part of the job. Not that it really mattered to me. It even put a smile as cold as ice on my face when I recalled the memory of Shachi whining, that I simply could not leave Pen and him alone at university just for hunting down aliens. Priceless their faces after seeing that I could do so very well. I had never been noteworthily sociable or even compassionate. Knowledge was what I lived for. As long as I had informations and facts to write down, to catalog and to analyze, a life did not mean much to me. I was an asshole and I knew it, just shrugging it off. Everyone had their own problems to tend to after all.

My own being at the very moment all those strange reactions I could observe when mixing Gauoron blood with Ilexx venom. The Gauoron were by far the hugest alien species on Punk Hazard, exclusively feeding on a special sort of plant which could be found mimicking snow covered rocks on the dark, icy side of the planet. Gifted with strong regenerative powers the gentle giants had no other natural enemies than the Ilexx, since their venom was the only thing that was able to take down a Gauoron in a mere few minutes. It caused temporary paralysis as well as the destruction of clotting factors when injected into blood vessels, as I knew first-hand. I had already treated numerous Ilexx bites and even sustained one of them myself. So to speak I was completely aware of the substance's dangers, but why it took an even more aggressive effect on Gauoron blood cells, ripping them apart, I could not thoroughly explain yet.

Maybe it's just a single one of its components causing these reactions. Although on the other hand it also might be the exact mixture.

With a small sigh I discontinued watching the blood cells being transformed into a squishy mess. I was still unable to proof it, but I believed the answer to the problem was to be found within the blue-greenish color of the Gauorons' blood.

A quick look at the clock was enough to tell me that it currently was half past ten in the morning – at least according to earth time reckoning. Here on Punk Hazard times of the day were nonexistent. One side of the planet was covered in an endless, frozen night, the other one's volcanic activities were lit by a permanently burning sun. Smile Corporation's research facility had been built on the narrow twilight zone between those two areas and in order to tell my brain that it was indeed a morning suited for productivity I needed to haul the big guns out.

»NutritionX7.0, activate«, the sound of my voice was answered with an attentive chirp by the huge, angular machine in the back corner of the laboratory, »Run program C.O.F.E.«

A short moment passed, during which I scribbled a last note down onto my holoboard, then an artificial female voice accompanied by the busy flashing of LED lights said: »Program C.O.F.E. in progress.«

»Well, at least that«, I mumbled while taking off the surgical mask and ignored the inevitably following bubble noises which the machine was producing. My sober gaze wandered away from the plasma microscope over to neatly corked test tubes, object slides in consecutively numbered boxes, several pipettes and scalpels, the carefully dissected body of a snow skipper and finally settled on the day planner screen. Automatically I stretched out my hand and let one gloved finger trace down the next item on today's to-do list.

11:00 - »Big Red« - Euthanasia

With a slight shake of my head the hand sank down again and I averted my eyes. Every research object above a certain level of intelligence had to be eliminated for safety purposes after two months of confinement. Of course I was aware of that rule. Just as well as I knew that neither Dr. Clown nor Commander Vergo, head of the security staff, would grant a second prolongation regarding the case of Big Red. Imprisoning a fully grown Ilexx warrior for four months was an action of sheer madness, or so I had been told. Useless even every attempt to convince my superiors, that Big Red was not just an Ilexx like any other but something special which I needed to study even further. The thought of losing him today made me feel like a child whose favorite toy had been taken away because he grew too old for it. But I could not change the local laws. At least Big Red's dead body would be left for me to do researches on in the cryogenics lab.

Following my routine I turned the day planner off, then I went over to NutritionX7.0 which was still making busy noises. Through the bluely tinted pane I could watch selected ingredients being turned into a dark, fuming mixture. Which then was poured into the metal cup placed underneath the nozzle. Finally the artificial female voice announced: »Program C.O.F.E. successfully completed. Please retrieve your product.«

The pane slid down and I took the cup out of the machine. It felt nicely against my hands – neither too hot nor too cold – and emitted the scent of freshly brewed coffee. Sadly one single sip was enough to tell that the liquid could be called 'coffee' only on a pure chemical level. It was simply missing that certain something and it tasted of food preparator. But you got used to it quite quickly. After all most of the facility's food was made that way.

With the intention to take a short break I approached the lab window and started to gaze into the twilight. Bitter coffee melted on my tongue while outside small, red lights were dancing across the desolate plains. They were a still unexplained phenomenon occurring primarily during the Gauorons' long migration walks into their rutting territories. A wide spread assumption here at the facility was that the life on Punk Hazard revolved around the emergence and vanishing of these lights. If this was true or not easily could be left undecided, because there was one thing I knew for sure: The last time I had observed these lights had been four months ago. On that day. Just like right at the moment I had been standing here next to the window, drinking coffee and getting lost in my thoughts...

…

..

.

Leisurely I emptied my cup. Today there was not much to do and the centrifuge, which I had turned on a few moments ago, would take its time with the first run. This in mind I was not exactly in a hurry to get back to work. I preferred looking out of the window for a while longer, staring at gray clouds of ash which gathered at the burning horizon west from here. I almost was in the mood for a second cup of coffee.

Not for very long though.

I started with fright at the shrill sound of the alarm siren followed by a distorted and militarily strict voice coming from the speaker at the wall.

»Attention, please! To all units! Gate B has been destroyed! Hostile Ilexx have entered the building! We need direct support at the hangar! I repeat! Gate B has been destroyed! Research personnel is advised to get into safety immediately! Stay calm and await further instructions! Over!«

A final crackle. Then silence.

With a sigh I relaxed again. Ilexx assaults were nothing special and even though the military treated them with high seriousness I usually did not care to worry about them. Of course I knew that right at this moment as I placed my cup back into the food preparator someone else was putting their neck on the line for me, but it was their own fault. The fault of each and every one of them – dreaming of a glorious career as soldier. Definitely no reason for me to feel guilty about us researchers being the main factor why Vergo's recruits were risking their lives on Punk Hazard day after day. If not this planet then it might as well would have been another. Death was lurking everywhere. Some of us would meet him sooner, others would meet him later.

Nowhere near to deeply concerned I approached the centrifuge. If the sounds of fighting were not even loud enough to be heard from here, it was safe to continue with my work. During my time at the facility there had been way worse situations and nothing as bad as the explosion in the neighboring block two years ago, which had ended the lives of many.

There were twenty minutes remaining until I could withdraw the roughly fragmented probes of Ilexx venom. Unfortunately it were the last ones out of my personal supply and the process of freezing had partly destroyed their molecules. As a doctor of course it was important knowledge to me that extreme cold was able to weaken the venom, but for my researches I would rather have used fresh probes. Sadly it had been half of a year ago when I lastly have had an Ilexx under my supervision and all my colleagues were just as possessive as me when it came to their research objects. Asking for a test tube full of Ilexx venom would be an overly ludicrous act. Similar to the question if anyone had a spare gold ingot to give away.

So I had to work with what was there. Maybe the formula for a highly effective blood thinner was to be found within the remaining components of the venom. Although I should better not forget my actual task: Developing an antidote which could be injected as prophylaxis right before entering the volcanic territory of the Ilexx. Up until now I had failed miserably two times in a row and nearly killed one of my human guinea pigs. Abandoning the project had never been an option, though. We all lived by the rule that failure was just another form of success and most of us would stop at nothing for science. With Dr. Clown himself leading the way.

Speaking of the devil...

I recognized those hurried steps even before the door was pushed wide open without knocking. Nevertheless I winced at the piercing voice of our research director.

»Law! Busy as always, I see!«

I frowned. Because of unknown reasons I disliked it greatly when Dr. Clown was calling me by my forename. Making him aware of this would be pointless though. Instead I returned the favor.

»You're not here to tell me the obvious, are you?«, I said with an icy tone and continued taking notes on my holoboard, »So what do you want, Caesar?«

»Shurororo!«, I could hear Dr. Clown's stupid laugh close behind me, »Too blunt! But what else was I expecting from you?«

My mouth a thin line I finally turned around. There was a big, maniac grin awaiting me and the sight of shaggy hair, horn implants and pale skin did not evoke the feeling within me for the first time that Dr. Clown looked like recently escaped from a sanatorium.

»I don't have time for your superfluous prattle«, I clarified, »Besides... right at the moment the Ilexx are attacking our facility. I don't think...«

»Shurororororo! But that's exactly what this is all about! Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it you who requested ownership over the next captured Ilexx?«

His grin widened even more and I became silent. He could not possibly mean what I thought that he meant, could he?

»What would you say then if I told you that back down in the hangar the military has taken captive an Ilexx?«

»They did?«

For a short moment surprise was written all over my face. Usually the soldiers were unable to take prisoners during an assault.

»A really huge one, too! Shurorororo!«, Dr. Clown snickered.

That was enough to make me forget about my work and cross the laboratory with only a few steps. There had not been an all-clear signal yet, but I did not care. I needed to see my new Ilexx.

»Shurororororo! That's the Dr. Law Trafalgar I know!«

Uncontrollably cackling Caesar followed me as I lead the way through cold, gray corridors. What exactly was more of a driving force to me – ambition or curiosity – I was not even able to tell. And others surely were not able to tell either. A stubborn mask of stone was everything displayed on my face.

The closer we got to the hangar where ground vehicles were stationed, the more distinct became the slowly dying away sounds of combat. Most of the Ilexx were dead or had fled by now for certain. Why they even dared to attack us with their hunting parties of only a few men was just another one of the many mysteries of Punk Hazard which needed to be solved.

»Stop! Dr. Trafalgar! You can't pass through here!«

»Don't tell me what I can and what I cannot.«

Completely unimpressed I squeezed by those uniformed figures who desperately tried to block my way leading to the gallery of steel which surrounded the hangar.

»But there is still fighting taking place!«

»I'm with Dr. Clown. That's alright.«

As if to confirm this, I grabbed Caesar by his wrist and dragged him along with me. It were cases like this one which demanded opportunistic actions and let me make use of the next best entrance ticket I could find. But it was not that easy to throw off the two soldiers.

»Until the all-clear signal research personnel has no authority to enter the hangar!«

This was the first one appearing next to me while I was determinedly continuing my way.

»It's too dangerous!«

That was the other one.

»I don't care«, I objected with a calm voice. I knew what I was getting involved with. If those two were unable to understand that death could lie in ambush behind every corner at every time and not only awaited us during an alien assault, then it was them being reckless and not me. They were not overly stupid however, as they quickly realized that trying to stop me was pointless. Instead they settled for escorting Dr. Clown and me out onto the gallery. As soon as we arrived there I let go of Caesar's wrist and rushed forward to the parapet.

The spectacle I could observe taking place down there between terrain-speeders and transport machines was not even half as bad as the two soldiers had tried to make us believe. Gate B looked heavily shredded indeed but this already turned out to be the worst damage dealt. A few injured soldiers were being dragged off of the blood-splattered battleground; here and there I could spot dead Ilexx which soon would become material of our researches once they were frozen solid in the cryogenics lab. All that was left to be called an actual battle was an Ilexx partly entangled in a plasma-net who – despite his predicament – fought back aggressively. It seemed that he desperately tried to reach the staircase leading up to the gallery, but was kept in check by a total of eight soldiers. Which was all too necessary, because this Ilexx was huge! He overtowered his fallen comrades by nearly two estimated heads and still was able to crack his long, heavy tail like a whip at his opponents. With broken legs one of the soldiers went down and I sharply drew breath. I have had seen more than one Ilexx fighting before, but not with this kind of determination.

»I haven't promised too much, Law, shurororororo~ have I?«

Widely smirking Caesar leaned next to me at the parapet and watched what was happening as if it was a thrilling movie.

»No. You lied«, I casually crossed my arms and tried not to look too impressed, »He isn't even tranquilized yet. They will have to shoot him if we wait any longer.«

With his next blow the Ilexx crushed the protecting headgear of another unit, who then stumbled away and fell on his knees while holding his head with both hands. Lucky him that it still was at its place.

»Shurororo~ and that's where you're mistaken, Law«, Dr. Clown snickered, »That Ilexx down there has already been shot by a tranquilizer gun. It's just that the dose wasn't sufficient.«

Taking note of this information I slightly raised an eyebrow. It was getting clearer and clearer what kind of beast this Ilexx was. All the more important that I got him alive.

»Then let's try one more dose«, I decided. Caesar responded with another creepy laugh, then he simply gave a hand signal to the special unit who was positioned at the opposing railing and armed with sedative munition.

Hearing the faint hiss of a dart just seconds later and the following angry roar of the Ilexx filled me with the pleasant feeling of excitement. Still he was struggling against the anesthesia and knocked out just one more soldier while at it. Finally though his movements became slower until he slumped down and remained lying on the ground motionlessly.

As if someone had fired the starting pistol I swept down the stairs. Somewhere above me the all-clear signal rang out through the whole hangar, but I already did not take notice of my surroundings anymore. I had only eyes for the Ilexx.

»Cut that thing off of him!«, I shouted at the soldiers surrounding me. Actually I was not in the position to order them around, but something about my determined gaze seemed to be authoritative enough to make them act without any contradiction. With specially forged knives they struck at the plasma threads of the net until they could be removed from the wiry body.

What appeared underneath was a tall, hunt-experienced humanoid of radiant red. Brick-red the skin which was partly covered in shielding scales and partly sensitively thin. Blood-red the wildly protruding feathers on his head as a substitute for hair. Wine-red even more feathers covering his shoulders, the whole back and the ridge on his tail. I had never seen an Ilexx of this color scheme before. Usually they came in more diverse combinations. Together with the estimated length of three meters it made him unique. He was a red giant. Big Red.

»I need a hover-stretcher class E or higher if we have one. It's safe to assume that he weighs 160 kilos at least.«

I kneeled down in order to feel the pulse of the Ilexx. Who exactly complied with my request in the meantime I did not care about. After all the main point was, that it was done, and oddly enough there were always some assistance researchers around for taking care of it.

»Pulse and breathing regular«, I mumbled, then I moved my hand close to the forehead where the Ilexx wore a pair of hunting goggles as they were common amongst his race. They were made from a blue, crystalline kind of glass which not only resisted great changes of temperature easily but also was nearly indestructible by impact. How the Ilexx were producing the foreign material as well as the light metal of which their weapons were forged, was also an interesting topic but sadly out of the scope of my researches. It was the department focusing on alien culture which would take care of the goggles and the monstrous handblade strapped around the Ilexxes left arm, too.

Softly my bare fingertips touched the cold, scaly forehead, so I was able to check the body temperature. Before I had decided if it was too low or not however, the Ilexx startled me with a growling snort. As if something had stung me I withdrew my hand, then I stared mesmerized into those eyes. Orange-red eyes, piercing me with burning anger. If right now the Ilexx had not been immobilized, he would have torn me apart in no time – no doubt about that.

Our eye-contact only lasted a few seconds, then finally the warrior's lids sank down after all. Me on the contrary overcame a bad recognition, right as I got up again. I had looked into the deep, bloodthirsty abyss of his soul. I had seen just how much he hated us, especially hated me, and how eager he was to kill us all.

A cold smirk began to form on my lips as I watched the sleeping Ilexx being hefted onto the stretcher. For all I cared he could wish me dead as badly as he wanted. In chains and sedated he was no danger to me. The lonely cell awaiting him was where the only prevailing rules were my rules. From now on until his death and beyond he was mine. My research object. My Ilexx. Big Red.