Chapter ten: Enter Jarglon
{Captain's log Supplemental: After winding up on the planet surface and after a while of exploration of the depths of this strange and mysterious water world we found ourselves being chased by a transparent shark like creature the Altorians called the Quazilite. It is a huge creature a few times bigger than that largest prehistoric shark the Megalodon. We escaped the creature only to wind in a cave for several hours. We are still without contact with our crew on the Legacy and not to mention the shuttle pod commanded by lieutenant Leghorn. We have now been taken as hostages by a Zarkronian Retrieval ship or pod more than less and we find ourselves unable to escape. We have no way of using our phasers because the Zarkronian technology has the power to absorb regular phaser power. Only the Turbo phaser function and the built in ion cannon that is our particle dish. However that is on the Legacy so the Nautilus is useless and we find ourselves drifting to some underwater base that is being used by the new adversaries. I can only hope we can discuss peaceful terms and make this just be a harmless miss understanding and we could be on our way. I have my doubts that will be the case unfortunately.}
"Pika pi!" Pikachu exclaimed. He means something along the lines of (Holy cow look at that dish that must be where they are taking us)
"What is it Pikachu?" Misty asked.
"He is pointing out that window." Ash said.
"I think we found the source of our mysterious disruption." Tarzan said as he looked out the window.
"I wonder what kind of things they have in there." Milo said with a look of interest on his face as he lifted up his glasses.
"Zarkronians are a highly advanced and war like race," Crystal said in a serious tone. "
They hate my people with every fiber of existence. It was my father's intention to seek you out since your race had become so technologically advanced that we sought you out to hope you would help try to bring them to peace."
"It seems that we may be way in over our heads but Crystal did fill me in at one of the briefings that we had the possibility of trying to assist a peace settlement." Artemis said. "I don't want to say it but we could be seeing a war breakout."
"We have about fifteen allied factions and species but seeming that Starfleet had a good record of helping species I thought that you might help out in our causes." Crystal said.
"The president saw your reasoning most logical and you presented a good case there was not any disagreeing with your reasoning." Artemis said.
Artemis remembered the first day he was told about this he didn't like the idea of fighting in a war but then he remembered the United Federation of Planets anthem words.
Among the stars we all join hands,
Brothers in harmony we take a stand.
Different worlds, diverse tongues, we join in one's song.
Peace bolstered by unity, we shall be strong.
As Space-faring Sentients, we lend aid.
To all who yearn for peace, where'er they may,
Diplomacy is our creed. Our course is set.
United Federation of Planets.
Artemis was one of patriotism and he knew that if those words didn't mean helping out ones in need than he wasn't holding true to what the foundation of how Starfleet was founded. For a time he did question if he was fit to wear that uniform. After hearing her case and was finally selected to take on the new assignment as the Legacy's captain he had to help out. Of course they would have time to explore. Of course it was going to take a while to get to Altoria Prime. They still could explore but they also had to go and fight a war as well. Artemis didn't like it but they had to help their brothers of the Andromeda galaxy. In the universe it didn't matter the race, color, or creed everyone was connected in some way or somehow. Artemis for one did believe that everyone was connected by the universe in some way or another.
The sub and the retrieval ship made it to the underwater station. It was not that big but Crystal knew that this was going to end up badly for her. She just wished that she was in the arms of her Shaggy right now but she knew that there was a chance she might not make it back alive. She decided to stay in her human form to try and trick the Zarkronians as long as she could or as long as they were trapped by her old foes. Artemis always had his Klingon knife that his father gave him when he was thirteen. He always had it in a sheath in his boot. He wore his pants legs out hide it. It would often go unnoticed. If his phaser was to be taken he could still try and put up some resistance if he had to put up a fight. As the two ships enter the water filled room the doors closed behind them and then the water drained somehow and the place dried out and was spotless. They were surrounded by Zarkronians with Zarkronian lasers. Artemis knew that this was not going to be pretty. He was also taken away by their outward appearance. When he was but a child he loved dinosaurs and he often went to museums and stuff and the way they looked reminded him of his favorites. He pieced together for a moment that they looked like raptors but they had a Dilophasaurus type crest and a little bit of a tyrannosaurus rex thing going for them.
The hatch soon opened and the Zarkronians took their weapons away and then checked them for anything else. Fortunate for Artemis they didn't find his warrior knife. Lola didn't like the one that took her phaser because he got a little handy when he was searching for other weapons. She gave him a dirty look but soon stopped because it could only mean more trouble for the crew.
"You're not what we expected," The Zarkronian said. "State your species and designation one with slight pointy ears!" He said referring to Artemis.
"I am Captain Artemis Dimitri of the USS Legacy a Klingon, Vulcan, Human hybrid from the planet Earth in the Milky Way Galaxy representing the United Federation of Planets!" Artemis stated without intimidation.
"You don't look like the others who with your outward appearances!" The Zarkronian hissed. "Who are they and what are their designations."
"This gray Toon Rabbit is my primary ship commander his name or designation is Bugs Bunny, The Tan Toon Rabbit here is my Tactical Officer Lt. Lola Bunny, The Toon black and white cat is my helmsman his name is Sylvester, This nerdy fellow is one of my science officers named Milo James Thatch he is a Lt. in rank, this is Lt. Jane Porter, Lt. Archimedes Q Porter her father, and this strapping young looking fellow is Jane's husband he is ensign Tarzan, and this is Misty Ketchum one of my security officers, and next to her is Ash Ketchum her husband, and the little yellow fellow is his pet electric mouse Pikachu, then we have Prince Eric there he is one our ships ambassadors, and next to him is his wife Princess Arial. Crystal who is a human."
"Incorrect!" The Zarkronian yelled. "You lie she is no human I smell an Altorian in her human appearance! Do you think me a fool or are you just trying to protect a low life who knows good and well her people will not survive one more century with us around!"
"We are not here to jump down each other's throats my scaly friend; we are here on diplomatic mission of peaceful intentions," Artemis began still not cracking after being yelled at. "Our nature is a peaceful one but we can become quite scrappy if you push us."
"We have taken away your weapons you will not be a bother to us." The Zarkronian said.
"Jarglon is waiting for you in his headquarters he wishes to speak with the leader of the ship the rest of you will be taken as prisoners!" The Zarkronian said.
"Oh Bugs." Lola said burying her head into Bugs' shoulder.
Bugs patted Lola on the shoulder trying to reassure her that everything was going to be okay.
They Toons and Crystal were taken to a single secured cell and Artemis was taken to Head Quarters to meet his future arch nemesis. Artemis knew that they were going to have to find some way to get out of the place but they didn't know how. When the rest of the team was locked up they didn't see anyone in the room at first but then found a different looking Zarkronian who was chained up. He was much different than the ones that captured them. He was kind and gentle. He didn't want to try to hurt the others. He was weak and on the verge of death. He was scared and badly beaten but he was very calm and not scared of death.
"So Jarglon got you too?" The none cybernetic Zarkronian said.
"Wait your one of the other faction!" Crystal exclaimed.
"Yes I am, Jarglon has tortured me and the rest of my crew," The Zarkronian said. "I am Probax Griff I was the old leader of this establishment before the wretched gangster attacked. It was an outpost to keep the Star Empire away but they wound up finding us and then Jarglon took over. He is one of the most ruthless of the Zarkronians who are not in the peace fight he is the one who has control of our planet. He murders and kills anyone who he thinks is lying to him."
"You look like you have been in a scrap." Lola said running a gloved hand over his wounds.
"The soft gentle touch of a creature who knows no hate feels good to me," Probax began. "It shows you have a caring heart which is something Jarglon would never understand. You are clearly not from around here your appearance is not like ours or anyone in this Galaxy."
"We are from trillions of light years from home!" Milo said.
"Ah the famous Terran Galaxy." Probax said. "Earth has been spoken of by the species that have visited your world before but have never made a documented first contact. They have only been studying genetics and they have been making visits quite infrequently in the last few centuries."
"Do you know what Jarglon is up to?" Bugs asked putting a hand on his wife's shoulder.
"Yes he is trying to make a relay to take over this sector of the galaxy, "Probax said calmly. "He is trying to take out a resistance faction of our people that is coming at any moment. He thinks that he can make the dish that is installed here a super weapon to take out our battleships. I am thinking that they might have thought you were one of our cruisers before you came up to the planet."
"I sure hope our Captain isn't going to get killed!" Misty said closing her eyes and putting a hand up to her mouth.
"Artemis may wind up being tortured before the fleet gets here but maybe your ship that has been talked about can make contact with our ships and explain their situation in order for a rescue attempt. Jarglon will kill anyone that he thinks is lying." Probax said weakly trying to move.
"That is just it," Alchemies said sitting down with Probax. "Jarglon is jamming all transmissions and has kept us from getting in contact with our own retrieval shuttle and our mother ship."
"What were you doing here in the first place?" Probax said concerned for their wellbeing.
"We were on a wildlife survey and exploratory mission." Princess Ariel said holding tight to her husband.
"It was just a harmless mission; nothing was going wrong till we found that shark like thing." Eric said.
"Ah the Quazilite," Probax began taking a breath. "That creature is Jarglon's trained puppet to trap people in that cave who come to explore this planet. Being unknowing of his tricks he trains animals for his own dirty deeds to try and keep people running or his creatures wind up inevitably wind up killing their targets. You were one of the only groups that lasted this long."
Everyone knew that this was a dire situation. They were in more a fix learning more and more about the vile Jarglon. Probax made it clear that the only way to stop Jarglon's plans was to hold out as long as they could until help came. He told them that the Zarkronians who were on route knew were they bunker was. Probax was on his last leg and he was actually dying from his wounds. Lola knew that this poor man didn't need to suffer anymore. He was being so kind to tell them this information with every last breath he took. He finally shut his eyes and dies from being mortally wounded.
Lola began to tear up and she started to cry thinking that they were going to be next and that Artemis was going to get killed for lying to their captor. Somehow all the Zarkronians were connected to a lie detector based on their own beliefs. If they found one person to be a liar that punishment was torture and eventually death from severe injury. Bugs did everything to comfort his wife. Everyone else was worried about the captain too.
"Poor fellow he gave us so much information but yet he succumbed to death." Archie said with a sad look on his face.
"It seems that Artemis may be in more danger than we thought." Jane said as Tarzan held her close.
There was no way to escape. The room was large but yet there was no way to get out. The walls were smooth and thick. The door was jammed shut so no one could get out. The place was a kill zone and Artemis was about to get a pounding if his crew had ever seen one. They wished in their heart that he was just as indestructible as a Toon. Sure Toons did have their weakness like to the old Dip acid but there were many advantages to being Toon. You stayed in the state you were animated in not aging but of course you did have a birthday and stuff. Toons were ageless though if they were young and beautiful they stayed just that; young and beautiful. They didn't age or wear out but they did have their weaknesses. Ariel and Eric held each other unknowing of what was to come of them. Knowing that Crystal was an enemy of the Zarkronians was she too to be killed. No one knew how bad this was going to end up. For the Captain he was being taken to Jarglon himself and it was not going to be pretty once he was through with Artemis. Jarglon was a lot of things; brutal, nasty, a gangster, a slave driver, a monster, a curd, you name it. He was not a nice guy he was pure evil and anyone who went against what they believed then they would be killed. Ash and Misty then realized they had Pikachu with them.
"Pikachu run to the door!" Ash commanded.
"Pika pi!" Pikachu said as he nodded; this meant something along the lines of (Its go time!)
Misty and everyone watched as put his Pokémon trainer skills to work Ash waited till the right moment. Ash knew how to time an attack but this was far from a famed Pokémon battle. Ash was looking for a weak point in the wall. Pikachu's powers did actually work. It was weird but they were able to work on humanoid. Ash remembered the first time they met that Artemis got zapped pretty good by Pikachu when they first met. It was a complete accident but Artemis said to use the Pokémon from time to time to get out of messes. There were many on the ship some worked in hydroponics, others worked in sickbay, and others did other jobs too. It was not all that weird to that particular ship. It was normal to have Toons of all shapes and sizes doing Toony things on the ship. Plenty of Anime characters were also on the ship and Ash and Misty were two of them. Ash didn't wear a baseball cap but he was wearing a Starfleet sanctioned hat that matched his uniform. He turned it backwards and gave his little electric mouse buddy a command.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" Ash ordered.
Pikachu lit the place up carefully controlling the current not to hurt any of the crewmembers. Nothing happened and Pikachu gave up when it didn't work. He looked rather worried he knew that the Captain was his friend and he felt the same way like the others he couldn't let his friend be killed or worse. Pikachu then on his own tried Iron Tail. His tail hardened and then he jumped and spun but it only made a slight scratch and dent in the thick door. The metal was surprisingly strong and it knocked poor Pikachu for a loop. Pikachu tried again but to no avail.
"Pikachu I don't think it is going to work!" Misty started to cry.
"You did your best my little yellow friend." Tarzan said.
"Pika pi!" Pikachu said with a sad look on his face.
Everyone felt like they were doomed they couldn't possibly escape; there was no way to communicate with the ship. A fleet of ships could mistake the Legacy for an enemy vessel and there was no way to warn them. There was a lot of gross stuff happening and they knew that Artemis was just doing his duty to Starfleet and it wasn't his fault they wound up getting captured. Artemis began to feel bad though. He led them here and he was the one who got them trapped in that cave and now they were in this death trap. Whoever this Jarglon was had a trap already set for any ship and Artemis was not able to see it. It wasn't entirely his fault but he felt that as his duty as captain he was responsible for the fate of his crew.
Artemis was led down a long dark corridor. The whole place was a dark gray. The place had nothing to liven it up it was just a generic squared off building with a huge disruptor dish and it had a few screens and computers but it was pretty empty except for the bunch of Zarkronian troops that had been in the place. Artemis was let to a door way and when they hit the sensors the door slid open with steam and a whooshing sound. Artemis couldn't see the other side the steam was so thick but it soon cleared and he was led into the room where there were several computers and a major main screen that had a view of his ship. Artemis knew that his ship was being watched this whole time. He knew that the Zarkronians knew he was a possible new threat; a new enemy on the playing field to be dealt with and eradicated. Jarglon stood up from his chair that had no backing as Artemis was brought before him. Again Artemis was not putting up any struggle he was facing this awfully well and knew that he had to settle this one way or another. Little did Artemis realize that for his lying he would undergo some pretty painful amounts of torture. Artemis was not expecting it though but the bludgeoning was about to begin.
The doors shut behind Artemis and for a moment he looked back and then turned back to Jarglon who he was now standing right in front of. Jarglon was still by his station and he looked at Artemis with a curious glare and a toothy grin.
"You are not like anyone I have encountered here in our sector or quadrant." Jarglon said calmly but with his very deep cyberized tone. "Who are you and what are you doing out here this far from the Terran Galaxy."
"I am Artemis Dimitri of the USS Legacy on a peace and survey mission from the Planet Earth of Sector 001. Our primary goal is to catalog planets and document different species. "
"Incorrect!" Jarglon yelled. "That may be true to some extent but we all know why you are really here!"
"This is all true our mission I assure you is one of peace!" Artemis defended keeping a cool head but raising his voice a little bit.
"Judging by your ships technology you are in league with the Altorians you have their technology and they are they are one of the few allied species that has risen against our Star Empire! They sought you out to fight us! We can read your thoughts and for the lying you have done the punishment is slow painful torture.
"Now see here I do not lie!" Artemis snapped. "We only wish to bridge the gap between your people and the Altorians. We wish a peaceful resolve and nothing more. We are not wanting kill you or any of your race."
"Incorrect!" Jarglon said. "Guards take him to the chamber!"
"Yes all superior one!" The two guards said taking giving the cross spikes solute.
They retracted their arm spikes and grabbed Artemis by the arms and took him away. They took him down a long corridor to their torture chamber. The doors slid open and there was a green light seeping through the fog of the doors. Inside the chamber was a chair that had some kind of mind probe and a few other things that were used for slow torture. There was an electro shackle system and a few other horrible looking things that were not looking very settling to Artemis. He was brought to the chair and strapped down and a bolt of fear went straight though him. He had not really known fear until now. He was starting to have a lot of things run through his mind. He thought what if he did die how would Valera take the news or be able to look at his cold lifeless body. Artemis then thought of Jessica and Roger how would they feel about his death would they take it just as hard. They already lost several of their friends that were human. He felt that he was in for a lot of pain and suffering. Artemis didn't want anything bad to happen to him or his crew but that was hardly the case. His only hope now was the Zarkronian Resistance force.
A few minutes later Jargon came in and began to talk to Artemis about his past. Jarglon told him that when he was but a youngster he was one nestling out of three. Jarglon had a brother named Draglar that was now the leader of the Zarkronian Peace Fleet that had allied with the Altorians. He also had a sister that was also with the peace core. He said this while beating Arty causing him to bleed and yell. Jarglon went on about how the cards were always stacked against him. He made it sound like he was disliked by his family because a few of his ideals he said were peaceful but were not peaceful. He also said how the Altorians were once peacefully joined in brotherhood but through time slowly broke apart after a space pirate conflict. Jarglon had fallen with the Space Pirate group and that is how he became part cyborg. Jarglon continued to hurt Artemis by the mind probe that made a high pitch shrill in his ears that caused him to pass out. Then Jarglon removed him from the chair and then put him in the electro shackles.
Artemis was becoming weak after being punched in the stomach and other places, being scratched, and hurt. He felt like crud and lets be totally honest he looked horrible. He wounds were minor though from their outward appearance but it was not over yet. Artemis felt he was hanging in a frame that had electrical currents on his arms and legs holding him up. Artemis looked up and tried to get lose but every time he would even try to move a pulse of blue energy shocked him. He wasn't doing it to himself he was being made too.
"How does it feel to have the Cards stacked against you Artemis does it feel good?" Jarglon said calmly.
"If you are trying to kill me then do it already enough beating around the bush!" Artemis growled.
Artemis leg moved and then more electricity coursed through his body making him yell in pain. The electricity was not giving him any additional injuries it was a low dosage but it did hurt a lot. He was not getting burned or anything he was just having a shooting pain surge through his body. He was like a puppet that was being control to do damage to itself.
"I think he has had enough send him back and bring me the Altorian I want to see if she will lie to me." Jarglon said as he unshackled Artemis and threw him on the floor.
Artemis was weak and what was worse was that his combadge was destroyed during the shock event. Artemis was taken by two guards and was drug back to the holding sell. Pikachu heard movement and when they brought back Artemis Pikachu used its thunderbolt and killed the two guards by shorting out their systems. No one else heard them and they took their weapons and then shut the door.
"Oh no; Artemis!" Lola called rushing over to his side.
"Oh no!" Misty gasped.
"Is he dead?" Ariel asked.
"No but very close to it." Bugs said.
"Thisth is not good at all!" Sylvester said dramatically.
"We have their guns and a knife," Crystal said she looked at a couple of the weapons trying to formulate a plan in her mind. "I know the door is not guarded and it is open. I think we would have a chance to survive if we have Pikachu along with us. He have four guns and a knife to defend ourselves but how are we going to do this."