Taggert was slowly tracking a deer through the forest of Eureka. He was in cammo gear and had his favorite gun with him as well as a painted face and an army helmet. He was just about to fire his gun when suddenly a large boom filled the air that scared the deer away and threw Taggert out of the tree he had been sitting in. Taggert was slowly getting to his feet when another noise sent him running through the bush at top speed. It was the sound of someone screaming for help.
"Please, someone, anyone, help me." screamed the voice as Taggert got closer and closer
When Taggert emerged from the thick of it and into a clearing he stopped in his tracks. Before him were creatures he had never seen before. Standing over a hard to see form that was quivering at the base of a tree were four large humanoid lizard men of some kind. They wore strange armor and held things Taggert knew had to be weapons.
The four creatures ranged in size and shape but the biggest and strongest one who was obviously their leader turned around and smiled a cold blooded smile, "Looks like we have us a hero boys. Lets show this gecko what we plan to do to him on this human. Spitz, Lugy, get the human."
Taggert just smiled back and shot his gun into a leg of each creature that charged at him. The creatures fell to the ground in pain and howled. The leader seemed taken aback by a weapon he wasn't familiar with and yelled, "Hoark, get Lugy, I'll get Spitz." and with that they were gone into the brush
Taggert prepared to follow but was distracted by a loud whimper from the forgotten mass under the tree. Whatever it was it was faced away from him and curled into a little ball. Taggert slowly approached the trembling mass and whispered, "It's alright, your safe now. Did they hurt you?"
The mass slowly turned and Taggert took a step back. The figure was humanoid but it was bright green, furry, and had yellow eyes. Taggert was about to shoot when he saw that the eyes were filled with fear and confusion. It was obvious this creature intended to do him no harm.
The creature took one look at Taggert, screamed, and fainted.
Taggert was shocked but took the chance to look at what it was wearing more closely. It appeared to be a jump suit of some sort with a symbol of a hawk sewn onto it. It hat three belts round the middle and was a maroon color. Taggert then noticed it's feet and hands. There were three fingers and toes. He also noticed with some confusion that the creatures pointy ears were pierced.
Taggert carried the creature to his truck and put it in the large enclosure that was attached to the back. On his way back to the drivers seat and saw himself in the mirror, "No wonder the blighter screamed, I look like a threat." Taggert then changed into a blue shirt and cargo shorts before driving towards town.
When he got to town he went into the Sheriffs office and went inside. Joe was alone in the room and he said, "Hey Joe, you seen the sheriff. I found this weird thing out in the woods I want him to look at."
"No, he's home sick today. Want me to take a look?" Joe asked as she got up from her desk
"Sure. But I warn you, its quit a sight." Taggert said as he led Joe to his truck
"I think I can handle it." Joe said
Taggert pushed a button on the side of the black wall that was one side of the enclosure and the whole back panel came down to show the creature behind bars. It was awake now and whimpering like a kicked dog. When it saw them it screamed and tried to get farther away from them.
"Whoa" exclaimed Joe as she raised her gun to fire to fast for Taggert to stop her.
What did stop her was a scared voice yelling, "Don't shoot."
Both Taggert and Joe stared with open mouths at the creature that had just plead for its life. It was on its knees now and scooting towards them, its hands clasped in a begging position as it said, "Look, I don't know what you want with me but please don't hurt me."
Taggert was the first to recover and pushed Joe behind him as he stepped forward slowly, "We didn't mean to scare you. My friend was just surprised. I don't intend to cause you harm. I just want to know where you came from and how you got out there in the bush."
The creature seemed to relax slightly and mumbled, "I was flying the ship and we landed on an uncharted Terra for the council in Atmosia when we were attacked by Raptors. They were after me mostly for a reason I'll explain later. They got into the ship so I ran outside to find the others and got lost. Then the Raptors fired an energy beam at a crystal pack I grabbed from the ship in case I got lost and there was a big flash of light and a boom. I tripped and fell into a tree and they surrounded me. They had just started to talk about ways to cook me when I started yelling for help. This thing chased them away and I turned around and this scary monster scared me so bad I fainted." The creature said the last part as a blush came to it's face
"That would have been me in full combat gear. I didn't mean to scare you." Taggert said
"Hey, can you let me out, I'm a bit claustrophobic?" The creature said as it started to shake
"I don't know mate, this could be a trick." Taggert said
"I'll do anything, just let me out." said the creature in a panicked voice as it grabbed the bars
"Fine, but only under one condition." Taggert said reaching into his back pocket
"Anything, just get me out." said the creature
The creature sat grumpily on the floor of the Sheriffs station with a collar around his neck with a leash that was tied to a support beam and his hands cuffed behind him. His shaggy black hair fell in his face as he shook his head, "This is humiliating."
At that moment Nathan Stark burst through the front doors of the office, turned the corner, saw the creature, and stopped dead in his tracks, "What the hell is that thing?"
The creature let out a frustrated sigh and said, "Thats it, would everyone please stop refureing to me like some sort of monster. I do have a name."
"Well thats a start, then you can tell us what you are, where you came from, how you got here, what this ship is I heard about, and what your intentions are." said Nathan as he stood over the creature that was now cowering at his feet
Taggert felt suddenly protective of the helpless creature and stepped forward, "Leave the poor fella alone Stark. It's already scared out of it's mind." Taggert leaned down and patted the things head
"Don't touch me. You could be carrying the Bog Breather Virus." The creature said as he scooted away from Taggert's hand
Taggert's face became one of hurt and upon seeing this the creature said, "It's nothing personal. I react the same no matter who touches me. You never know when and where you'll get something that could kill you."
Taggert's face soffened as he reached behind the creature and uncuffed him and leading him to his feet with the leash, "You alright with answering a few questions mate?"
The creature stood, stretched and sighed, "I guess so. So where are we going?"
Upon reaching Global the creature freaked out in the weirdest way possible. He started to mumble under his breath as he looked around with wide eyes. Whenever he got close enough to something he would touch it or stroke it, looking at it as if it was a piece of art, "This machinery, this metal, its so beautiful. So much function, so much form."
Stark slapped the creatures hand, "Stop touching everything."
Once they reached an interrogation room they sat the creature down in a chair and started the questioning.
"So, whats your name and what exactly are you?" asked Stark in a demanding voice that made the creature twinge
"My name is Stork and I'm a Merb. I was born on Terra Merbia. I fly a ship named the Condor and am the violet of a Sky Knight Squadron called the Storm Hawks. I don't know how I got here but I mean no harm at all. I just want to get back to my ship and get out of here." Said Stork quickly
"Stark." said Henry who had been called in to test Storks blood, "His blood contains particales similar to those of the artifact. It's probable he is from another dimension."
Suddenly Jack Carter burst into the room, "Guys, I need you all in the center of town. We have a hostage situation with these green...AHHHHH! Theres another one." said Jack pointing at Stork in horror
"He's harmless Sheriff." said Taggert before realizing what Carter had been saying, "These green creatures wouldn't happen to look like lizards would you?"
When Carter nodded Stork gasped, "Repton."
"They keep asking for a bird." said Carter
Stork gulped, "Which bird would that be?"
"They want a Stork."
Everyone but Carter looked at Stork and Stork gulped.
Stork clawed at the ground as Taggert dragged him from the truck and toward the Raptors, "Please, you don't know what they'll do to me. Repton told me all the things he's been dreaming of doing to make me suffer." Pleaded Stork
"Sorry mate, I really don't want to but I have no choice. Those Raptors are holding three children hostage." Taggert said sadly
Stork stopped struggling and got to his feet, "Three...children?"
"Yeah, a couple of Science Scouts." said Carter
Storks eyes got wide as he sighed, "Of course, Snipe must have told them."
"Told them what?" asked Nathan
"I'm a scout leader." said Stork as he ripped off the collar and headed towards the Raptors by himself. Once they saw him they froze and the leader, Repton, stepped forward holding a child up by it's neck, "Put the kid down Repton."
"First you come over here Storky. You escaped from my compound a few weeks ago before I could finish with you. Now I've got you between a rock in a hard place. So, you gonna be my pet again or do I have to take these children in exchange?"
"You wouldn't do that to children would you?" Stork said in a disgusted voice
Repton just grinned as he licked the side of the young boys neck, "Oh yes I would, and they taste so sweet to."
"Alright, just let them go once I'm halfway and I promise on my blood to go with you." said Stork
Without warning Repton dropped the child and before Stork could move he had him pulled close to his body. Repton bit deeply into Storks ear causing Stork to scream in pain, "Oh how I missed that scream. Let the kids go boys, we got our pet back." Repton then threw Stork over his shoulder and led the other three back out of town
Before they were out of sight Stork looked up at Taggert and Taggert's stomach clenched as he saw tears streaming down Storks face mixed with the blood from his ear wound.