Chapter 4: Invasion

It was all too real. Vin was eating an Apex with such thirst, it looked like she hadn't eaten for days. All the while, it looked like she was smiling. Flaur punched the shackled Apex with his fist and she went flying. Vaine went to go hold him down, but it wasn't enough. All I could do is stand their petrified as I stared at my best friend devour another humanoid like being. And then I came back to reality.

"STOOOOOOOOOPPP!"

They all look towards me. Vin with blood dripping from her lips, the Apex on the floor holding both her hands to her face in a pathetic way to protect herself, Vaine with both her hands pulling back Flaur, and Flaur with those eyes. Those eyes sent a shock down my spine, for they had so much hate and sorrow.

"Vin stop eating that! It's a horrific sight. Flaur calm down and what went wrong?" Can someone please explain to me before I go mad?! Are we not a team?!"

That seemed to make the discoloring in Flaur's eyes disappear and calm him down. However Vin was still eating. I march towards her, try to look for my childhood friend somewhere in her face, and then slap the piece of meat so hard from her hands that it splatter on the floor.

"Why did you do that Rose? Can't you see I was engraving my first kill like Elder Sed told us to? Oh I forgot, you can't stomach blood. Even though you're a Floran…"

"Enough! Now is not the time to fight. Let's question this Ape and bring her back to the Great Tree. The elders will decide what to do with her."

"Vaine's right. You. What is your name?"

"I don't think she understands Flaur. Hey wait, she is pointing to a metal square with a button? I think she wants one of us to press it."

"Here let me."

I go towards the female Apex with her snow white hair stained with bits of blood. I approach her half since I can't stand being in the vicinity of Vin, and half because I feel pity for her. I press the switch like looking piece of metal, and then a voice starts to speak.

"Voice recognition activated. Analyzing spoken language from surrounding creatures. Information received. Transmitting language to Iggy."

"Thanks Digit."

"Wow she can talk now!? Are all Apes as smart as you?"

"Its Apex first of all, and the name is Iggy."

"Like you're in a position to give commands. You're lucky these three are preventing me from skinning you alive to prove that I killed something. I was too fascinated with your friend here and forgot."

She points to the spattered piece of meat. I retch what we had for supper.

"Ok I don't know who you are, or what's your deal, but can you stop that please? We're in the middle of interrogating someone and it doesn't help when you act all savagy like that."

"Umm such words do not exist. "Savagy". Maybe there are new terms in different languages, Digit note it down.

"Ape woman. Why are you here? How did you get caught?"

"This planet is far off from the main star system that encompasses Starbound. So we came as a group of explores to identify this area and report back to headquarters. However multiple groups of your savage kind kept on ambushing us. For some reason our technology has interference in these lands and causes malfunctions to occur."

The whole time she kept talking, that piece of metal kept on blinking red. Could it be possible it is more than a language converter? As I was lost in thought, the interrogation went on between Iggy and Vaine and Flaur. Before I knew it, Vin was missing.

"Damn. Guys she is gone."

"It's fine. There is nothing we can do about ti now. It's too dark to look, and clearly she can fend for herself. Don't fret Rose."

And then it happened, not so far off there were these blue lasers that were approaching our camp.

"Oh no, there are more of them! We have to run now."

"Hahaha it's too late. This thing is a multi-programed AI that does many things. The whole time I was talking with you, I was transmitting my location to my friends. It's only a matter of time bef—"

Flaur punched her in the gut to keep her quiet and I knew I had to run for my life. We all turned around and sprinted southward, jumping and ducking underneath branches and vines. Why does the forest seem so different at night then at morning? Vin why did you turn out that way. I hope you're safe.

"Owww, oops guys I tripped"

"Vaine hurry get up! Now is not the time to play jokes."

"Ya give me a sec….. I'm stuck. The vines are tangled around my foot, and I think I sprained it as well. Go without me, I'll stall them and catch up with you later. It might not look like it but I'm really sneaky."

Liar. She always puts on the happy face, regardless of the atmosphere. She says those words as her hands tremble to loosen the knot. I turn back to help her, but Flaur punches me too and I knock out unconscious. The next thing I know, Elder Leafale and my mom are next to me.