Mail time!
To Mr.D 91: Once again, you'll find out.
To majinvegeta321: Thanks!
To pyrocajun2707: So you're finally back huh? Good to know. Anyway, thanks for the encouragement! And don't forget to update your fic, I've been waiting for weeks!
And now to the story.
Chapter 11
Nefarious and Lawrence stood in the cabin of an automatedshuttle, Lawrence humming a tune, and Nefarious tapping his foot impatiently.
"So, where are we headed again, sir?" asked Lawrence for thethird time (with the solepurpose of pestering the doctor).
"Ugh, for the last time Lawrence," replied Nefarious, sliding a hand down his face,"we're going to a space station I built a few years ago."
"What was it for?"
"Just another one of my plots for galactic domination," said Nefarious with a casual wave of the hand.
"So why did you never use it?"
"Well, it's... slightly embarassing actually... by the time the station was completed, I had discovered the secret to my bioblitorator, and sort of forgot about it."
"It wouldn't be the first time," said Lawrence, to quietly for Nefarious to hear.
"Well, regardless, it plays a key role in the task at hand. Once we arrive, order the cargo droids to unload the transmutation cores. I'lltake it from there."
"Very well, sir."
Thrity minutes later, the station came into view through the forward portals of the shuttle; it consisted of five large sperical chambers, each connected by tunnels lined with small windows. It would look like any standard space station if not for one thing; a large coil-like structure connected to the station's largest chamber. Small, dim lights lined the coil, giving it an eerie blue glow.
Th shuttle made its way to the docking ports of the station's cargo unloading room. The ship slowed to a near stop and came into contact with the docking port, creating a hissing sound as the pressure equalized.
Lawrence and Nefarious stepped out of the shuttle, the cargo bots following close behind.
"Lawrence! Turn off the auxiliary power and activate the main generator," ordered Nefarious, "I'll take these bots to where I need them."
"Very well, sir." Lawrence walked over to a nearby holoscreen, pushed a sequence of buttons, and the lights came on, flooding the station with a bright white glow.
Meanwhile, Nefarious was taking the cargo robots down one of the station's passageways. After a minute or two, they arrived at their destination; the station's largest room, and the one on which the coil was mounted on.
The doctor turned to face the cargo bots and pointed toward what looked like a long pipe. Knowing his intent, the robots obediantly walked over to the pipe and placed the transmutation cores inside, each sliding out of the way to make room for the next.
At this point, Lawrence entered the room, just as a large holoscreen activated in front of Nefarious, displaying the coil, whose lights had turned from blue to red.
Nefarious typed a little more on the holoscreen and the coil began to crackle with electricity.
"What exactly is that, sir? A hologram projector?" asked Lawrence.
"No, Lawrence." replied the doctor, "If you must know, it's a weapon; a Magnetic Accelerator Cannon to be exact, otherwise known as a rail gun. It uses immense electro-magnetic fields to propel objects at enourmous speed! It's beautiful to watch, really." he finshed, eyeing the holoscreen with admiration.
"So, what are you firing, and what is the target?"
"Just watch," replied Nefarious.
He typed more on the keyboard and a planet came into view of the holoscreen. A label with the word 'Kerwan' appeared next to the planet's image, and crosshairs targettedits center.
Nefarious opened a yellow-and-red striped case and pushed the button inside.
The holoscreen switched back to the coil, which was now glowing brightly, blue bolts of lightning arking across its length.
Then, with blinding speed, a grey mass flew from the confines of the coil, and was gone in the depths of space in an instant.
"Sir, was that one of the transmutation cores?" asked Lawrence.
"Indeed it was," replied Nefarious, rubbing his hands together out of satisfaction.
He proceeded to target and fire upon every planet in the system, with the exception of one, which he saved for last.
Finally, he came to the final target; Marcadia, home of the galaxy's government. Once again, the crosshairs appeared, but the doctor had decided to be a little more specific. The view zoomed in, and a large, ornate structure came into view. More specifically, the Galactic Presidential Palace.
Ratchet and Sasha walked throught the corridors of the Palace to the conference room, dodging the odd group of reporters whenever they came across one. After several minutes, they came to the conferrence room door. They entered, seeing the President and his cabinet seated at a long table.
Upon seeing them, the president rose from his chair.
"Sasha! Good to see you again." he said, walking overwraping her in a tight hug.
"Dad! Not now!" she protested, squirming a little.
Sorry," he said, releasing her, "It's just that I havn't seen you for quite a while. Anyway, go ahead and sit at the table. The meeting is about to start."
"Ahem," someone said.
The president turned.
Ratchet stood there, arms crossed.
"Oh. Hello Seargent Ratchet." he said flatly. Being a somewhat protective father, he didn't like Ratchet all to much. But he was a brave and respected soldier, so he tolerated him.
They entered the conferrence room. The president resumed his seat at the head of the table, and Ratchet and Sasha sat next to each other about halfway down its length.
Soon after, the president began a long, political speech that Ratchet didn't really care to understand. He placed his chin in his hand and paid little attention, the president's voice turning into a constant drone.
As the president was about to begin a section on planet-to-planet relations, a secratary quietly entered the room, went over to the president, and whispered something in his ear.
"What? Oh my... alright, thanks," the president told the secratary, who promptly left the room.
The president stood, "It seems we have a situation on planet Kerwan," he said.
Ratchet lifted his head, interested now.
"There's been a meteor impact in Metropolis. Appearantly, it was not detected by their radar, so they hadn't known about it until it came into visual range."
A bolt of pain shot through Ratchet's skull, and he placed his forehead in hisright hand, grimacing. Images flashed in his mind; a fireball, the Palace, scorched earth, and rubble.
"Ratchet! What's wrong? Are you alright?" asked Sasha quietly, her voice worried.
The images ceased, and Ratchet lifted his head. "We have to get out of here," he stated.
"Leave? Why?" Sasha asked, confused now.
And that's when the alarms went off.
There ya go, Ch. 11. I updated a bit faster this time. A jolt of inspiration I guess. Anyway, I hope you like it.
By the way, I was wondering if anyone would like to make a drawing or art based on my story. I already tried, and, believe me, it sucked horribly (I can't draw. Don't ask me to post it, because I won't). If anyone would like to, I'd appreciate it if someone would make a drawing and send it to my e-mail address. If anyone sends any, I'll incude it at the end of the next chapter.
And as always, review pleeze!