A/N: My poor Pemalites. This chapter is a bit longer than the others. It takes a lot to escape evil Howlers. Enjoy.

-T.


Chapter Seven

Escape

For a few terrifying moments the world was nothing but blinding light. My programming told me that one of the alien ships had fired nearby, but beyond that I couldn't get any readings. The force of the blast threw me backwards, and I hit Layek's computer console hard. There was a long silence as the light dimmed and my sensors recalibrated themselves. When everything was operational again I took in a scene of devastation.

Layek's laboratory was in shambles. The computer console I had hit was crumpled, and the Chee docks were charred ruins. At first I couldn't recognize any signs of life and another wisp of fear grabbed me, but then I noticed a heat signature coming from the rubble of Layek's lab. Quickly I rushed over and began to dig through the debris.

"Who's down there, are you alright?" I called to the widening hole of twisted metal. A muffled yelp came from the darkness. I reached into the hole and felt something soft and warm. Wrapping my arms around the body I pulled. Slowly, laboriously, Layek appeared from beneath the rubble. He was scratched and bleeding, but otherwise seemed alright. The very debris that had covered him had saved him from further damage.

"E'rok." Layek breathed in relief. His pale eyes were wide now that he was out on the open, "Where is Siran? Tirah?"

"I don't…." I began, but I didn't finish the statement. Instead I stood and began to scan the area for more life signs. The smoke was disruptive, but a faint glimmer of heat seemed to be flickering in and out of my range.

"At the bottom of the ridge…" I said, moving forward. The "ridge" was now a deep gash cut into the ground from the alien's weapon. As I inched forward I could hear scuffling from within. Looking down I saw Siran, leaning over Tirah. Tirah appeared to be unconscious. Neither Pemalite looked very good. Burns covered their bodies. Siran's cheerful eyes were somber as they looked up at us.

"Siran, is Tirah…" Layek called down.

"She's hurt." He responded, looking down at her, "She needs medical attention."

"Climb up. We can go to my ship." Layek said, "I have medical supplies there."

"How will we get her up?" Siran asked, looking concerned.

"He has a good point." I muttered to Layek, "He isn't strong enough to climb up and carry her."

"No, he isn't." Layek agreed, his eyes watching me cautiously. I suddenly realized that, while I wasn't any stronger than Siran, my systems could compensate my balance with the extra weight. Without a word I jumped over the edge of the gash, landing neatly beside Siran.

"Go." I ordered my friend. "I'll take care of her."

"Alright…be careful, E'rok." Siran shot one more look of longing at Tirah before he began to climb. Hmm..I mused as I tested Tirah's weight in my arms. Perhaps Siran is capable of seeing past play after all.

It took a long while to get out of the crevasse. Tirah wasn't particularly heavy, but she was dead weight which was extremely awkward. Several times I slid back down to the bottom and had to start over. All the while I watched Tirah anxiously. Her burns were severe and her breathing was shallow. I worried that she may stop at any moment.

Finally, after my fifth attempt, I managed to push Tirah over the lip of the gash, following hastily. I quickly glanced upward to make sure that the alien vessels were still hovering ominously before turning to Layek.

"She's bad." I said, picking Tirah back up. "Where is your ship?"

"The docking station." Layek responded, looking anxious. Siran's spirits seemed to have been raised as soon as we reappeared on level ground. He dropped onto all fours, testing out his burnt legs before bounding forward.

"Hurry!" He called back at us, laughter in his voice. I sighed in exasperation and shifted Tirah in my arms.

"How can he still think this is a big game?" I asked. Layek looked at me with sad eyes.

"It is who we are." He said simply, "In this case, however, our young friend is right. It would be wise to make haste."

Layek also dropped to all fours and sped up, following Siran with more speed than a Pemalite of his age ought to have. I quickened my gait as well, but soon fell behind. With Tirah in my arms I didn't have the advantage of using four legs to run. I was fast on two – but not as fast as them.

As Layek and Siran disappeared from view I found myself looking down at Tirah as I walked. Unconscious as she was she looked so small and helpless. I realized just how weak my biological masters were – how easy it would be to destroy them. Another nervous glance upward confirmed that the alien ships were still there. What had Layek called them? Howlers?

What could they want? If we could make contact with them maybe we could make a deal…get them to leave before they destroyed everything. For some reason my programming kept returning to the final view of Layek's computer screen before the blast. The Howlers were taking the air and putting something in it. I was positive of that. What it could be, I didn't know.

"Hurry up, E'rok!" Layek's sharp voice broke through my thoughts. I realized that I had caught up to Layek and Siran. They were waiting at the entrance to one of the docking stations. I had only been here once before, and its sheer size still astounded me. It took a moment for my program to adjust to its schematics. Dozens of large ships, made to emulate the Pemalites themselves, were sitting complacently, just waiting to be taken to the skies. Here on the planet they seemed larger than life – not meant for solid ground. Even though I had never been to space, I knew that these ships would be much more at home there.

Layek was leading us to one ship in particular. As far as I was concerned, it was identical to the others at the dock. My programming did not include spaceship schematics. Layek seemed to be able to tell the difference, though, and he smiled familiarly as he approached the outside hatch. There was an access panel next to the hatch, which Layek pressed. He then entered the single digit password which opened the door. Quickly we were ushered inside.

The inside of the ship was an amazing slice of the Pemalite world. Swaths of colored grass and bright plants filled a wide room. There were dozens of small computerized games, some I knew and some I had never experienced before. Layek went straight to a giant tree in the center of the ship. There were controls on it, and his paws worked quickly. A moment later I heard a sliding noise. At the rear of the room a door had opened.

"In there, hurry." Layek said. Still carrying Tirah, I went through the door. This room was more sterile, clearly a medical center. There were resting stations set up with soft liranth grass. I set Tirah in one of these and Layek went to work immediately while Siran watched.

"E'rok, listen to me. This is important." Layek said as he worked. "You need to go to the controls and tell the ship to go to the dance party. We need to get as many Pemalites on board as possible.

"I don't know how –"

"I know you don't have the programming." Layek interrupted sharply, "But you do have the ability to learn, and I suggest you do so. Quickly. Our lives depend on it."

I didn't protest again. Quickly I turned and ran back to the controls. They were completely foreign to me. Tentatively, I reached out a hand and pressed one of the buttons. A hum filled the ship and suddenly a wide window appeared in front of me. I could see out into the docking bay. Once again I was reminded of the urgency of the situation as I saw the hundreds of Howler ships. Had they grown more abundant since we entered the ship?

It took me another five minutes to get the ship off the ground. Once I did so, it got easier. My programming was set to adapt to new situations, and it was quickly providing me with the information I needed to maneuver the ship. I steered her slowly, not wanting to make a mistake.

It took about fifteen minutes for me to find the location of the dance party. Everything looked different from overhead. The party had not dispersed, although there was no more dancing. Instead, it looked as if the Pemalites had begun to break off into smaller groups, each playing their own game. Occasionally they would look up at the sky curiously. The Howler ships were no longer firing at all. I felt a strange sense of unease, as if we had entered a pristine calm before the storm.

"I can't believe they're just playing." I sighed, directing the ship downward.

"Layek!" I called, "I'm over the party!"

"Good." His voice carried from the medical center, "Computer, activate audio output. Magnify fifteen times." The next moment Layek spoke his voice was being projected from the ship to the Pemalites below. Their games ceased as they recognized the voice of their most respected scientist.

"My brothers and sisters! It is time to play a new game! A game that requires a taste for adventure! I promise you that this will be the most exciting game that you have ever played, my dear friends! Board my ship, and if you have your own take as many brother Pemalites to yours. We shall meet in orbit!"

He cut the transmission. The next thing I heard was Siran's eager voice, "We're playing a new game!? What fun! Will Tirah be well enough to play?"

I ignored the sounds coming from the medical center and concentrated on landing. The Pemalites backed away to allow room for the ship as we touched down. I opened the hatch, glancing out the view screen warily. Why weren't the Howler's shooting?

"Hurry up!" I called, as a few Pemalites tentatively entered the ship. Their attention was immediately caught by the games kept in the open room. They eagerly went over to inspect them. Within moments the ship was full.

"Good work." Layek said. He had come up behind me without my noticing. "Tirah will be fine. She's resting. Let's go."

I surrendered the controls to Layek. I was beginning to feel better. This was going to work out. All we had to do was get safely into orbit and then we could negotiate with these Howlers.

We had just lifted off for the second time, and I decided to go check on Tirah. I was just about to turn to leave, when something caught my eye. The Howler ships seemed to be converging into a pattern.

"Layek…?" I asked questioningly. He didn't look at me, but I could sense the fear coming from him. Our ship was picking up speed, but it was still far too close. Close enough that I could still make out the trees. I could see the buildings that were various ship docks. I could see the fields that Siran and I had run through, playing game after endless game. I could see…

Then the Howlers loosed fire and I saw nothing but red below me.