Chapter 14

Will opened his eyes slowly and struggled to see through piercing darkness. Suddenly he heard a quiet groan.

"Aspen?" he whispered.

"Yes?" she answered weakly.

"Are you alright?"

"No. Are you?"

"Yes. Why did you say no?"

"My head hurts," she complained.

"Do you know where we are?"

"Ummmm… I think a high security prison on Heoiul. Am I blind?"

"No. Not unless I am too."

"Where are you?" Aspen cried.

"You're a Thesarea. What's your special power?" Will asked urgently.

"Shape shifting. Most Nebulans can only turn into one animal, with a lot of practice. But I can turn into any animal. At least…"

"Turn into something that can see in the dark."

"What?"

"Something that uses echolocation… A bat!"

"What's a bat?"

"It's an Earth animal, a flying mammal that uses sound waves to see."

"Does it look like a bird?"

"Does it matter?"

"Not really." There was a brief silence.

"Aspen?"

This is a strange animal echoed through his head.

"Come again?"

This is a strange creature but its way of seeing is… interesting.

"So you're a bat."

I think so. I see you!

"I don't see you," Will said, straining his eyes against darkness. Suddenly he felt wings beating against his head," Alright, alright I feel you. Nock it off!"

Sorry.

"It's O.K."

"Now what do we do?" Aspen asked as she turned back into herself.

"I don't have a plan yet."

"You're the adult."

"You're the world leader."

"I'm seven."

"Have you ever been in a holding cell like this?"

"Well yes. Once but Tony got me out that time so I have no ideas. I didn't get a government position for experience you know."

"How did he get you out?"

"Talk."

"Hello?" some one asked in the darkness," Misha?"

"We live!" some one else cheered," No help from you I might add."

"Very funny."

"Well do you have a plan?"

"Yep! We die while Commander Riker and Aspen are returned. Katya can take over my position and so on."

"Great plan… What's plan B?"

"There is no plan B."

"Well that's not good because we're still here," Will said.

"Not for very long though. Adios!" Tia said amusedly. And sure enough the room, for Commander Riker and Aspen, dissolved in a shower of sparks to be replaced by the bridge of the Nebulan Bridge. Will collapsed dizzily to the floor.

"You would think they'd realize that their transporters aren't meant for humans," he heard an irritable voice say as he lost consciousness.

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