Chapter 11: Meet the Rebel

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC.

Luckily for Eirian, the Galra escape pod came with autopilot. All she had to do was select the desired planet and a course would instantly be charted for her. Unfortunately, she had no idea which planet she should visit first. There were dozens of them, each one as unfamiliar and strange as the last. Given she hadn't even known this side of the universe existed until a month ago, Eirian had no idea which planets the Galra might keep their prisoners on, which were safe for people, or even if they had a breathable atmosphere. Her helmet had been destroyed in the crash, rendering her space suit useless, so it was imperative for her that whatever planet she selected would have breathable air and an atmosphere. If it didn't, her search would be cut short as she suffocated or blew up.

Shaking her head, Eirian wills her thoughts to drift elsewhere. Thinking about how easy it would be to die out here would not help her find Shiro. After clicking through the planet database, she finally selects one. Known as Olkarion, all she knew was that it was conquered by the Galra so hopefully Shiro would be there or at the very least, she might find a lead as to his whereabouts.

Selecting that as her desired course, she leans back in the chair and waits for her arrival, mentally preparing herself for her arrival. She knew it would be highly unlikely that her arrival at Olkarion would be the same as it had been for her on Gaia. Given the planet was taken over by a group of war-thirsty aliens she knew she couldn't just land anywhere. She would have to be smart and would need to hide. The planet had a vast mountain range that she could potentially seek refuge in, but navigating those without her sight would be dangerous.

"Pull it together. It doesn't matter what happens here. You're going to find Shiro or someone who knows him, and get out." Eirian instructs herself. It was the most comforting thought she could give herself at the moment.

After a few hours, the escape pod fell into a dive, effectively waking Eirian from the nap she hadn't meant to take. Spluttering, she checked the autopilot and was pleased with what she saw. She had finally arrived at Olkarion and would be landing in a matter of minutes.

Touching down on the ground, the ship finally lands on the Olkarion mountain range. Eirian's finger nervously hovers over the button that would open the hatch. She still wasn't sure what would happen when she opened the door. "Get it together. You have to go," she tells herself through gritted teeth.

Determined that it was now or never, she slams her palm onto the button. The escape pod lets out a hiss before opening up. Shakily, she pulls herself out. Without being able to see, she wasn't sure where to start. Deciding any direction would be as good as the next, Eirian just starts walking.

Several hours later, having managed to fall only eight times, Eirian had yet to run into any Galra soldiers or centurions. While that was a positive thing, she also hadn't run into any Olkarions. Hoping they weren't all dead, she continues her trek through the wilderness.

As the trees grew further and further apart until the woods faded into suburbs before they, in turn, gave rise to a massive city, Eirian finally had to pause. She had been walking for so long without anything to eat or drink and it was starting to take its toll. Deciding that her search for Shiro would have to wait, Eirian ducks into the nearest building in search of food.

Hugging the wall to avoid being spotted, Eirian moves in a consistent crouch. Not having her sight, she had to rely on her sense of smell. Unfortunately, she was unable to find anything to eat. Deciding this building was a bust, she decides to leave and check out another one.

Ducking back out of the building, Eirian turns down a back alley to see if she could find some discarded supplies. As she turns the corner, however, she hears shouting and the sounds of a scuffle. Crouching down behind a crate, she hopes whoever it is will quickly pass by. However, they stop just outside of her crate. Of course they do, Eirian thinks to herself as she tries to make herself even smaller. Her hands subconsciously tighten their grip along the hilt of her sword as the aliens mere inches before her continue to talk.

"You thought you could get away from us, rebel scum?" The voice clearly belonged to a Galra soldier.

"Scum? That seems kind of harsh, doesn't it?" This voice was clearly not Galra. It sounded pleasant enough and Eirian wasn't sure if it was Olkarion or otherwise. The only thing she was certain about was that it clearly wasn't Shiro.

"Not as harsh as what we're going to do to you," another Galra troop hisses threateningly.

"Really original. You guys should do stand-up with comebacks like that," the rebel quips sarcastically.

Frowning, the first Galra soldier says in a dangerous tone, "We were going to just put you in a cell but for that comment, well, I don't think Emperor Zarkon will mind if we make one more rebel disappear."

With that, a fight broke out. Eirian could feel the two Galra lunge for the boy. She was sure he was a goner the second they made a move but the rebel was surprisingly quick. Pulling out a staff, he knocks one Galra in the head while moving out of the way of the other.

The soldier who wasn't knocked to the ground got his bearings and pulled out his blaster. Leveling it with the rebel's head he smirks before saying, "Looks like your luck just ran out."

"Looks like it just ran back," Eirian retorts, popping out of her hiding spot before kicking the blaster out of his hands.

"What?" he splutters before Eirian sweeps his legs out from under him and knocks him out with the butt of the blaster.

Dusting her hands off, Eirian turns in the general direction of the rebel before asking, "Are you alright?"

Lowering his weapon, he stutters, "I- I'm fine. Thanks for the save. Who are you?"

Deciding he could be trusted, she informs him, "I'm Eirian. I'm looking for my brother, Shiro, and his teammates Matt and Samuel Holt. They were abducted by the Galra nearly a month ago. I've been looking for them ever since. Who are you?"

Blinking, the rebel tells her, "I'm Matt Holt."