"That's...uh, that's not what it looked like earlier," said one of the officers beside Koz, gaping after the creature. The Shining General stopped in his tracks. A Comet. There was a Comet. Loose. On his ship. How. It could cause serious damage if it kept ramming into things like that. Koz stared at the icy walls, trying to drown out the sounds around him enough to think. He remembered the strange blue-eyed young man from the little planet. The one who had ice powers. Who had single-handedly frozen a crew of Dream Pirates, who the villagers said was a monster, and who insisted he belonged among the stars. Jack Frost. Koz slapped a hand to his forehead. It had to be, this was too much of a coincidence. Somehow the brat must have sneaked aboard the Alnilam that day, and been hiding in the cargo hold ever since. He must have been in human form when the crew found him, hence the officer's earlier comment. If Jack really didn't know what he was, if he thought that what the villagers said was true, that he was a monster...He must be absolutely terrified right now, especially with the lights and sirens. He'd probably never experienced anything like that in the forest. Koz shook himself. Terrified or not, they had to stop Jack before he destroyed something, hurt himself, or both. Heat. They needed heat. That should wear him out faster, and hopefully keep him from freezing anyone. Koz scowled. There was really only one place he could think of that might do the trick, but he really didn't like the idea of herding a crazed Comet into the heart of the Alnilam. The engine room was both hot and heavily fortified. Jack might still cause a great deal of damage, as frantic as he was, but with enough advance warning Engineering could probably figure out a way to minimize it. At the very least, it was the one place Jack would have a hard time destroying.
Koz sent a transmission to Engineering to let them know the plan as he raced down the corridor after the Comet. Now, it was a matter of forcing Jack to go where Koz needed him to. Since the noise and lights were undoubtedly frightening him, Koz ordered the alarms on the lower levels turned off. His hope was that Jack would head back toward the quieter areas, and they could close off each level as he went. Groups of officers raced by as the crew prepared for the rampaging Comet.
Koz made his way swiftly to the engine room, stationing guards along the passages of each level in order to spook the little Comet down the correct corridors. For once, things actually appeared to be going as Koz hoped. After trying to double back several times, and nearly freezing Falchion's tail, Jack burst into the engine room like a miniature blizzard. Well, the first half of the plan worked. Now Koz just had to hope that Jack would tire enough for them to subdue him. The Comet wasn't willing to comply just yet though, ricocheting off the walls and massive engine casings frantically, leaving little patches of swiftly melting ice. Koz tried calling to him, but to no avail. Jack was too terrified to listen. The General ducked as the glowing creature shot by his head. This was getting nowhere, and at this rate he might actually take out an engine. The heat was slowing him, but it was taking its sweet time to do so. Jack began to fly lower, his movements becoming less erratic, though he still bounced off the walls in an attempt to escape. Koz finally saw his chance and grabbed the Comet's long, glowing tail as he tried to zip by again. Jack gave a startled yowl, his forward motion becoming a rapid spin like a beetle on a string. He whirled, loosing a blast of ice at Koz that forced him to leap back and release his hold. Jack, however, misjudged his own speed and slammed into the wall as if launched from a slingshot. He crumpled to the ground in front of one of the heated engine casings, panting, his glow beginning to dim. As Koz approached cautiously, he sat up, shaking his head with a soft groan. The Comet's multicolor eyes widened when he saw Koz, and he tensed, trying to back up against the hot metal without actually touching it.
"Jack," Koz began, trying to keep his voice soft. The kid was shaking like a leaf, pointed ears and winglike fins drooping.
"I-I'm not a monster," Jack's eyes darted around the room and he licked his lips. "I just wanted to get off of that little rock...I didn't mean to...to freeze everything." He tried to make himself as small as possible. "I'm not a monster, I swear. I just can't change back, but I'm not-"
"No, you are not." Koz stared down at him. "You are however, a nuisance and a stowaway. And, you nearly broke my ship. I can't have you rocketing about like that." Jack stared up at him, seemingly confused by Koz's words. "You're...not afraid of me?"
"You look like you swallowed a pack of glowsticks. Hardly intimidating." Koz crossed his arms. "You're a Comet. I've never heard of one falling to earth like this before, but it appears you did. Your kind aren't common at all, so it's no wonder the people of that world didn't know what you were. I've been sailing the stars for centuries and even I've never actually met one."
He leaned forward, intending to help the frightened Comet up. That was a mistake. Koz hadn't realized that the officers behind him had their blasters out. Jack noticed the weapons immediately and coiled his body like a cat getting ready to pounce. Before Koz could even open his mouth, the boy attempted to launch himself toward the exit. The tall Celestial cursed under his breath and lunged, unhooking the cape from his shoulders as he did so. "Oh no, you don't. Not again."
He threw himself onto the smaller being before Jack could take to the air again. After several moments of frantic scuffling, loud protests, and frozen fingers, Koz succeeded in trapping the protesting stowaway in the crimson material. He wrapped it tightly around Jack's slim frame like a cocoon, with the Comet's spiky-haired head sticking out of one end, and several feet of tail trailing out the other. Gods, finally. Jack struggled, but he could do little more than roll feebly.
"Let me go! You can't put me in a cage! It's too hot here, I'm going to melt. Let me go!"
Koz lifted him easily, draping him over one shoulder. "As I was saying. I can't have you rocketing around freezing everything in sight." He strode toward the exit, giving the engineers a grateful and slightly apologetic nod. Jack was right about one thing, it was hot in here, and Koz didn't want to risk hurting him further.
"You-you can't just lock me up," the Comet continued protesting. "I caught those Pirates for you."
"You stowed away on my ship. I've every right to lock you up." Koz made sure that all of Jack's tail made it through the shield doors before they closed.
"I couldn't stay there. You saw what that world was like. And you just said yourself, I'm a Comet. That means I belong here."
"No, you belong among the stars, not on my ship."
"Same thing!"
Koz sighed. He really couldn't just lock Jack up, now that he knew the situation. True, the young man was a stowaway, but a Comet did belong in space. Celestial Bodies were rather outside the normal rules. Koz knew he couldn't just send Jack on his way, though. The kid didn't even know what he was until a few minutes ago. He'd be completely helpless. No, now that he was here Koz would have to bring him back to the Eternal City. There, maybe they had a chance of finding out something useful in the Archives.
The problem remained of just what to do with him in the meantime. Imprisoning Jack was out of the question, and he was too flighty to roam the crew living quarters. Stars forbid something spooked him again and sent him on another rampage. Koz could still feel him shaking, heart pounding in his thin chest. For now at least, he'd need someplace quiet where he could feel safe. With a groan, Koz had to acknowledge that his quarters would be the most secure, and least prison-like. They consisted of a small entryway that led into two large, private, airy rooms. He could set Jack up in one of them, at least until he was sure that the Comet could be moved into the main living quarters without causing too much trouble. He'd also be able to keep an eye on Jack personally. Even if he had to stay there the entire trip, they should be home in a week. Assuming nothing else went horribly wrong. Hopefully the Comet could keep calm that long.
Koz headed for the lift to his quarters, pausing only to pick up a restraint collar from the guards and request that some food be brought up. With the grumbling Comet still draped over his shoulder, he rode the lift the next stop and continued down the hallway, passing through the ornate wooden doors leading into the little entryway. There were certain perks to being the Shining General, and his lavish rooms on the Alnilam were one of them. The architects of the Golden Age didn't believe in doing anything halfway, even when it came to military ships. The space beyond the entry was his study/sitting room, but he passed through it to the bedroom, dumping the bundled Comet ungracefully onto the mattress of the huge bed.
"Whoa." Jack actually stopped wriggling, staring around in awe. Koz was about to untie him, but he noticed several angry-looking patches of red glowing along the Comet's shimmering tail. Jack hadn't escaped his rampage unscathed, and Koz wasn't sure just how resilient the kid was, especially knowing he'd been hiding out in the cargo hold for days. Maybe Koz could take him to Med Bay later, once he'd calmed down. For now though, he retrieved some ointment from a nearby cabinet and set about dabbing some on the glowing red patches, little bruises and tears in the thin membrane. Jack yowled and wriggled like an angry inchworm, and Koz was glad he'd left him bound.
"That hurts, damn it. Untie me!"
"Or what, you'll flop around more?" Koz glanced at him. "You're really not in a position to be making demands, you do realize?" He returned the ointment to the cabinet. "You're hurt, I'm just trying to help."
"You chased me into that boiling room and grabbed my tail, it's your fault." Jack glared.
"Perhaps if you hadn't tried to destroy my ship, I wouldn't have had to." Koz contemplated the pouting Comet for a moment, then picked up a sunstone from the collection of rocks and crystals next to the cabinet. The silver restraint collar that he'd obtained had special slots that different wards could be set into. Sunstones were useful for beings of cold or darkness. He fixed the stone in place, and held up the collar. "You don't seem to have very good control of your powers, from what I understand. You are not a prisoner, but I request that you wear this. It will aid in holding back your magic. It won't harm you, I promise."
Jack scowled at him and struggled against his bonds. When they gave no sign of loosening, he gave up and grumbled "Fine". Only once he had secured the collar did Koz begin untying the knotted cape. As soon as the material fell away Jack leapt off the bed, onto the cabinet, and then up to the bed's canopy. Even with the sunstone, he could still fly and use some of his magic, but his movements were noticeably slower, his glow dimmer. Jack curled his tail around himself so that it was safely out of reach and glared down at Koz. "Don't look at me like that. You're the one who decided to sneak aboard. I could still lock you up, you know. You really have caused me a great deal of trouble." Koz glanced at him calmly. Now that things had settled down, it was hard for him to be truly angry at Jack. He couldn't imagine what it must have been like to be a creature of the stars, earthbound for centuries, alone, not knowing anything about himself, suddenly finding himself in a place unlike anything he'd ever known. Of course, Jack had brought this last upon himself. He was certainly a determined little creature, and reminded Koz a great deal of Seraphina.
Jack's luminous ears perked up suddenly, and his gaze turned toward the other room. A moment later, there was a knock on the door. Koz rose, keeping an eye on the Comet as he headed to answer. The food he'd ordered had arrived, and he returned to the bedroom with a large tray full of various meats, fruit, and cheese. If he was going to be stuck with Jack for a week or more, then they may as well make peace with one another, and the way to most beings' hearts was through their stomachs. Koz wasn't even certain if Comets ate regular food, but a soft growling from above told him that this one was hungry.
Jack's impish face appeared over the edge of the canopy. After a moment of what appeared to be intense internal debate, he glided down to land lightly by Koz's side, glancing warily at him. When Koz offered no resistance, Jack grabbed a piece of meat, tearing at it hungrily while continuing to keep an eye on the Celestial. Manners apparently weren't his strong suit. Then again, he had been living alone in a forest for the past few centuries, Koz reminded himself. As Jack continued to chew and glare, the taller man held up his hands in placation. "It's alright. The food's not going anywhere, and there's more if you want it. Eat as much as you desire."
Jack took him up on the offer eagerly, earlier anger forgotten. After devouring a few more delicacies he began to relax a little, even edging closer to Koz. Now that he wasn't doing a pinball impression down the ship's corridors, the General was able to get a good look at his new guest. He'd never seen anything quite like the Comet in all his long centuries of space travel.
Jack had the same sunken eyes and angular chin as his human form, and the same slender frame, broad shoulders and slim hips. His pale purple-white hair was longer, though it still stood in fluffy spikes, and reflected the surrounding light in a myriad of colors. The skin on his stomach and limbs was a pale, cool tan. His back, shoulders, and hips were a translucent blue, and had a light covering of clear white scales that looked like shattered ice. A pair of wing-like fins, still slightly crumpled from being tied up, sprouted from the Comet's back, and his luminous tail was about half again as long as his body. Colors rippled through the thin membrane like an aurora, shimmering turquoise except for the fading red blotches. His hands and feet also glowed a faint turquoise, tipped with icy claws. They were blunt now, but Koz was sure they'd been sharp before, when he'd grabbed the meat. Maybe they were retractable? Koz found him fascinating, even if the idiot had nearly destroyed the Alnilam. If Jack noticed Koz staring, he gave no indication. He stretched and yawned, revealing a pair of icy fangs. He'd cleared the entire tray of food, and his slender stomach bulged slightly as he flopped back on the bed. "That was...amazing." He lay there for several moments, staring blankly up at the ceiling, before rolling over with visible effort and crawling back to the center of the bed, where he curled up on Koz's cape and promptly fell asleep.
Koz watched him for a time, but it looked like he was well and truly passed out. After all that the little Comet had been through, he'd hopefully remain in a stupor long enough for Koz to get everything on the ship straightened out. The stars outside his window had barely moved the entire time they'd been here, and that didn't bode well. With a final glance at the sleeping Comet, Koz heaved another sigh and headed for the door. It was the only way in or out of his quarters, and even if Jack did wake up he wouldn't make it past the two guards Koz made sure to post outside it. He resigned himself to receive whatever bad news Engineering undoubtedly had for him, and headed down the hallway.
Koz sent a transmission to Engineering to let them know the plan as he raced down the corridor after the Comet. Now, it was a matter of forcing Jack to go where Koz needed him to. Since the noise and lights were undoubtedly frightening him, Koz ordered the alarms on the lower levels turned off. His hope was that Jack would head back toward the quieter areas, and they could close off each level as he went. Groups of officers raced by as the crew prepared for the rampaging Comet.
Koz made his way swiftly to the engine room, stationing guards along the passages of each level in order to spook the little Comet down the correct corridors. For once, things actually appeared to be going as Koz hoped. After trying to double back several times, and nearly freezing Falchion's tail, Jack burst into the engine room like a miniature blizzard. Well, the first half of the plan worked. Now Koz just had to hope that Jack would tire enough for them to subdue him. The Comet wasn't willing to comply just yet though, ricocheting off the walls and massive engine casings frantically, leaving little patches of swiftly melting ice. Koz tried calling to him, but to no avail. Jack was too terrified to listen. The General ducked as the glowing creature shot by his head. This was getting nowhere, and at this rate he might actually take out an engine. The heat was slowing him, but it was taking its sweet time to do so. Jack began to fly lower, his movements becoming less erratic, though he still bounced off the walls in an attempt to escape. Koz finally saw his chance and grabbed the Comet's long, glowing tail as he tried to zip by again. Jack gave a startled yowl, his forward motion becoming a rapid spin like a beetle on a string. He whirled, loosing a blast of ice at Koz that forced him to leap back and release his hold. Jack, however, misjudged his own speed and slammed into the wall as if launched from a slingshot. He crumpled to the ground in front of one of the heated engine casings, panting, his glow beginning to dim. As Koz approached cautiously, he sat up, shaking his head with a soft groan. The Comet's multicolor eyes widened when he saw Koz, and he tensed, trying to back up against the hot metal without actually touching it.
"Jack," Koz began, trying to keep his voice soft. The kid was shaking like a leaf, pointed ears and winglike fins drooping.
"I-I'm not a monster," Jack's eyes darted around the room and he licked his lips. "I just wanted to get off of that little rock...I didn't mean to...to freeze everything." He tried to make himself as small as possible. "I'm not a monster, I swear. I just can't change back, but I'm not-"
"No, you are not." Koz stared down at him. "You are however, a nuisance and a stowaway. And, you nearly broke my ship. I can't have you rocketing about like that." Jack stared up at him, seemingly confused by Koz's words. "You're...not afraid of me?"
"You look like you swallowed a pack of glowsticks. Hardly intimidating." Koz crossed his arms. "You're a Comet. I've never heard of one falling to earth like this before, but it appears you did. Your kind aren't common at all, so it's no wonder the people of that world didn't know what you were. I've been sailing the stars for centuries and even I've never actually met one."
He leaned forward, intending to help the frightened Comet up. That was a mistake. Koz hadn't realized that the officers behind him had their blasters out. Jack noticed the weapons immediately and coiled his body like a cat getting ready to pounce. Before Koz could even open his mouth, the boy attempted to launch himself toward the exit. The tall Celestial cursed under his breath and lunged, unhooking the cape from his shoulders as he did so. "Oh no, you don't. Not again."
He threw himself onto the smaller being before Jack could take to the air again. After several moments of frantic scuffling, loud protests, and frozen fingers, Koz succeeded in trapping the protesting stowaway in the crimson material. He wrapped it tightly around Jack's slim frame like a cocoon, with the Comet's spiky-haired head sticking out of one end, and several feet of tail trailing out the other. Gods, finally. Jack struggled, but he could do little more than roll feebly.
"Let me go! You can't put me in a cage! It's too hot here, I'm going to melt. Let me go!"
Koz lifted him easily, draping him over one shoulder. "As I was saying. I can't have you rocketing around freezing everything in sight." He strode toward the exit, giving the engineers a grateful and slightly apologetic nod. Jack was right about one thing, it was hot in here, and Koz didn't want to risk hurting him further.
"You-you can't just lock me up," the Comet continued protesting. "I caught those Pirates for you."
"You stowed away on my ship. I've every right to lock you up." Koz made sure that all of Jack's tail made it through the shield doors before they closed.
"I couldn't stay there. You saw what that world was like. And you just said yourself, I'm a Comet. That means I belong here."
"No, you belong among the stars, not on my ship."
"Same thing!"
Koz sighed. He really couldn't just lock Jack up, now that he knew the situation. True, the young man was a stowaway, but a Comet did belong in space. Celestial Bodies were rather outside the normal rules. Koz knew he couldn't just send Jack on his way, though. The kid didn't even know what he was until a few minutes ago. He'd be completely helpless. No, now that he was here Koz would have to bring him back to the Eternal City. There, maybe they had a chance of finding out something useful in the Archives.
The problem remained of just what to do with him in the meantime. Imprisoning Jack was out of the question, and he was too flighty to roam the crew living quarters. Stars forbid something spooked him again and sent him on another rampage. Koz could still feel him shaking, heart pounding in his thin chest. For now at least, he'd need someplace quiet where he could feel safe. With a groan, Koz had to acknowledge that his quarters would be the most secure, and least prison-like. They consisted of a small entryway that led into two large, private, airy rooms. He could set Jack up in one of them, at least until he was sure that the Comet could be moved into the main living quarters without causing too much trouble. He'd also be able to keep an eye on Jack personally. Even if he had to stay there the entire trip, they should be home in a week. Assuming nothing else went horribly wrong. Hopefully the Comet could keep calm that long.
Koz headed for the lift to his quarters, pausing only to pick up a restraint collar from the guards and request that some food be brought up. With the grumbling Comet still draped over his shoulder, he rode the lift the next stop and continued down the hallway, passing through the ornate wooden doors leading into the little entryway. There were certain perks to being the Shining General, and his lavish rooms on the Alnilam were one of them. The architects of the Golden Age didn't believe in doing anything halfway, even when it came to military ships. The space beyond the entry was his study/sitting room, but he passed through it to the bedroom, dumping the bundled Comet ungracefully onto the mattress of the huge bed.
"Whoa." Jack actually stopped wriggling, staring around in awe. Koz was about to untie him, but he noticed several angry-looking patches of red glowing along the Comet's shimmering tail. Jack hadn't escaped his rampage unscathed, and Koz wasn't sure just how resilient the kid was, especially knowing he'd been hiding out in the cargo hold for days. Maybe Koz could take him to Med Bay later, once he'd calmed down. For now though, he retrieved some ointment from a nearby cabinet and set about dabbing some on the glowing red patches, little bruises and tears in the thin membrane. Jack yowled and wriggled like an angry inchworm, and Koz was glad he'd left him bound.
"That hurts, damn it. Untie me!"
"Or what, you'll flop around more?" Koz glanced at him. "You're really not in a position to be making demands, you do realize?" He returned the ointment to the cabinet. "You're hurt, I'm just trying to help."
"You chased me into that boiling room and grabbed my tail, it's your fault." Jack glared.
"Perhaps if you hadn't tried to destroy my ship, I wouldn't have had to." Koz contemplated the pouting Comet for a moment, then picked up a sunstone from the collection of rocks and crystals next to the cabinet. The silver restraint collar that he'd obtained had special slots that different wards could be set into. Sunstones were useful for beings of cold or darkness. He fixed the stone in place, and held up the collar. "You don't seem to have very good control of your powers, from what I understand. You are not a prisoner, but I request that you wear this. It will aid in holding back your magic. It won't harm you, I promise."
Jack scowled at him and struggled against his bonds. When they gave no sign of loosening, he gave up and grumbled "Fine". Only once he had secured the collar did Koz begin untying the knotted cape. As soon as the material fell away Jack leapt off the bed, onto the cabinet, and then up to the bed's canopy. Even with the sunstone, he could still fly and use some of his magic, but his movements were noticeably slower, his glow dimmer. Jack curled his tail around himself so that it was safely out of reach and glared down at Koz. "Don't look at me like that. You're the one who decided to sneak aboard. I could still lock you up, you know. You really have caused me a great deal of trouble." Koz glanced at him calmly. Now that things had settled down, it was hard for him to be truly angry at Jack. He couldn't imagine what it must have been like to be a creature of the stars, earthbound for centuries, alone, not knowing anything about himself, suddenly finding himself in a place unlike anything he'd ever known. Of course, Jack had brought this last upon himself. He was certainly a determined little creature, and reminded Koz a great deal of Seraphina.
Jack's luminous ears perked up suddenly, and his gaze turned toward the other room. A moment later, there was a knock on the door. Koz rose, keeping an eye on the Comet as he headed to answer. The food he'd ordered had arrived, and he returned to the bedroom with a large tray full of various meats, fruit, and cheese. If he was going to be stuck with Jack for a week or more, then they may as well make peace with one another, and the way to most beings' hearts was through their stomachs. Koz wasn't even certain if Comets ate regular food, but a soft growling from above told him that this one was hungry.
Jack's impish face appeared over the edge of the canopy. After a moment of what appeared to be intense internal debate, he glided down to land lightly by Koz's side, glancing warily at him. When Koz offered no resistance, Jack grabbed a piece of meat, tearing at it hungrily while continuing to keep an eye on the Celestial. Manners apparently weren't his strong suit. Then again, he had been living alone in a forest for the past few centuries, Koz reminded himself. As Jack continued to chew and glare, the taller man held up his hands in placation. "It's alright. The food's not going anywhere, and there's more if you want it. Eat as much as you desire."
Jack took him up on the offer eagerly, earlier anger forgotten. After devouring a few more delicacies he began to relax a little, even edging closer to Koz. Now that he wasn't doing a pinball impression down the ship's corridors, the General was able to get a good look at his new guest. He'd never seen anything quite like the Comet in all his long centuries of space travel.
Jack had the same sunken eyes and angular chin as his human form, and the same slender frame, broad shoulders and slim hips. His pale purple-white hair was longer, though it still stood in fluffy spikes, and reflected the surrounding light in a myriad of colors. The skin on his stomach and limbs was a pale, cool tan. His back, shoulders, and hips were a translucent blue, and had a light covering of clear white scales that looked like shattered ice. A pair of wing-like fins, still slightly crumpled from being tied up, sprouted from the Comet's back, and his luminous tail was about half again as long as his body. Colors rippled through the thin membrane like an aurora, shimmering turquoise except for the fading red blotches. His hands and feet also glowed a faint turquoise, tipped with icy claws. They were blunt now, but Koz was sure they'd been sharp before, when he'd grabbed the meat. Maybe they were retractable? Koz found him fascinating, even if the idiot had nearly destroyed the Alnilam. If Jack noticed Koz staring, he gave no indication. He stretched and yawned, revealing a pair of icy fangs. He'd cleared the entire tray of food, and his slender stomach bulged slightly as he flopped back on the bed. "That was...amazing." He lay there for several moments, staring blankly up at the ceiling, before rolling over with visible effort and crawling back to the center of the bed, where he curled up on Koz's cape and promptly fell asleep.
Koz watched him for a time, but it looked like he was well and truly passed out. After all that the little Comet had been through, he'd hopefully remain in a stupor long enough for Koz to get everything on the ship straightened out. The stars outside his window had barely moved the entire time they'd been here, and that didn't bode well. With a final glance at the sleeping Comet, Koz heaved another sigh and headed for the door. It was the only way in or out of his quarters, and even if Jack did wake up he wouldn't make it past the two guards Koz made sure to post outside it. He resigned himself to receive whatever bad news Engineering undoubtedly had for him, and headed down the hallway.