Prologue

I woke with a start. A high pitched wail was coming from somewhere above me. Pulsing red light accompanied the noise. The combination was making my head throb painfully in time with the light. Confusion muddled my thoughts.

What... what's going on? Where...?

I had a vague recollection of a crash... then fire... then... pain? The next thing I remembered was being dragged away by strange, pale -skinned people. Did they bring me here? Where am I anyway?

I tried to sit up to get a better look at my surroundings, but I couldn't. I tried again. Nothing. Panick filled me, an emotion I was not used to feeling. Something was holding me down, preventing me from moving. That wasn't good.

I struggled hard hard against my bonds . Summoning all my strength, I finally managed to rip an arm free. Electricity cackled and sparks flew, bouncing harmlessly off the armored black chitin of my hide.

With one arm free, I proceeded to tear the rest of the restraints off my other arm, head, legs, and tail. Sparks showered down on me like hot, electrified rain, but I took no notice of it. Sitting up, I finally was able to get a good look at the immediate area. I was fully awake and alert, the pain in my head all but forgotten.

I was in a rectangular room, sitting on a rectangular platform that seemed to be raised above the ground. The air was cold, but the temperature wasn't what bothered me. What bothered me was how unnaturally flat and featureless the walls were. Even the floor and ceiling had no texture. Were it not for the flashing light (which by now was beginning to get on my nerves, and the same for the wailing alarm that went with it) all the walls, the floor, and the ceiling would've been bright, steril white. From what I could see that also meant there was no exit. Only a small, rectangular indent in the far right wall even resembled a door.

It was obvious what this place was meant for. It was designed to contain it's occupant, me, in one small area where I could do whoever was keeping me here no damage. It was a prison.

I hissed, expanding my view of the prison. Immediately I was hit with a new, mental image in my mind. The cell (for that's what it was) I was in was but one of many identical cells. They were all around, all placed so that they were each perfectly aligned with the others, all surrounding one long room that was connected to each via several hallways, or tunnels. All were exactly the same as mine, except mine was the only one that was occupied.

Suddenly, I felt a presence. More than one actually. They felt... unsettled. I hissed again, a little louder this time. In my mind, an image formed. In it were the same pale creatures that I remembered dragging me away from... What was it? A crash site? Ugh, why cant I remember? Nevermind. I'll figure that out later, I thought. The creatures were running around, shouting at one another. I realized they must've been alerted by the wailing niose and the lights. It was an alarm! But what had triggered it? Were they being attacked? I would soon find out.

The indent in the far right wall suddenly hissed. Startled, I faced it, hissing myself, but this time out of instinct. The pale creatures were just on the other side of the wall. My heart was pounding, but not out of fear or nervousness. I was excited. Soon these creatures would get what they deserved for imprisoning me this way. I crouched, ready. The rectangle began to slide sideways, disappearing into the wall next to it. I heard voices as a figure entered the room.

I sprung.