Space Panda

Reaching the Stars

Chapter XX: Debt

Few days earlier…

I wake up.

"Uhh….what…."

A crocodile is coming to me.

"Don't move so strong. Your wounds are still healing."

I look up at him….A crocodile as a doctor? The world is crazy.

I look to a bed beside me. Po is still lying there unconscious.

"How is he?"

The Crocodile doctor looks to him.

"He is not in danger. I put him into an artificial coma. His wounds were heavier and I think he breathed in something of the toxic atmosphere. But he will be healthy again. At least in the way he looks like."

"Yes…he will be…."

I hear door opening noise behind me and turn around. A beautiful Tigress in red Star Fleet uniform enters the Sickbay. Of course I recognize Captain Tigress. So I am on the Furious.

"It seems that you have woken up.", she says to me. I nod only.

"Scales is he able to answer some questions?"

"Ma'am, I…", "I am ready." I intervene.

She nods at me and signals this Croc to leave us alone.

After he left, she begins: "So, you are Cien? The thief of the Jade Orb?"

She is good informed.

"Yes I am."

"Why have you done this?"

I chuckle.

"It was a job."

"And my brother paid you?"

"He wanted to. But my price was too high for him."

"I see…" she looks at the panda, "I know him. He was at the Auction, while we attacked it. Is he your friend?"

I chuckle again. What irony…

"If you had asked me before this whole matter, I would have answered no. I would have even called you crazy, because you had such an idea. But now…it changed. He saved my ass down on the planet."

"Tell me what happened."

"We were there to find out more about his…family, only to learn that they are not there. Then we were attacked by Shen and his men. Your brother was there as well, although without his men. They had us trapped and we couldn't escape. It was only a matter of time, till they hit us. Thanks to our suits, we survived the first shots. Then Shen himself fired and it should have hit me, but Po threw himself in the way and protected me with his green aura."

"Green aura?"

"Long story. To shorten it: Its protection ended, when a level 10 Blaster shot hit him. He fainted immediately. And I was shot down by Tai Lung."

"His Stunning Blaster. It hurts, but doesn't kill. At least not for real."

"That I found out as well, after I woke up after a while. I realized that Po's suit got damaged by the attack and so I had to fix it first. And then I realized that our air to breathe was going to the end. So I tried to contact my ship…"

"Aijna."

"Oh you know her?"

"She is very talkative. I have never seen such a high developed Computer."

"Because this is only one of her functions. She is an AI…"

"I guessed that…" she looks fascinated.

"Anyway: I contacted her. It lasted till I lost hope, but thankfully Shen's men had not destroyed her while taking the Orb. And she was repaired enough to fly to us. But I lost consciousness before I could take Po and me to her."

"I see…she had no possibility to help you outside of herself and with still damaged systems, but was able to activate a signal. In this way we could find her fast and take you with us."

I chuckle.

"Good girl."

I think these words were not to her liking.

"We are on the way to Jade Station. Shen is on the way there as well. It would be helpful, if you would help us. Aijna has some nice systems and she doesn't want to help us without you. In this way you would be able to delete the records of your crimes…"

"I do it."

She seems surprised.

"That went fast."

I grin.

"Jade Station is the only home he has left still. And I am indebted to him." I say, while pointing at Po.

She looks there and then nods. She smiles even.

"I see…"

Present Day…

"We are reaching Jade Station.", Lieutenant Monkey reports.

I and Po are standing not far away from the Captain's seat.

Since Po had woken up, had seen his idol Captain Tigress and had learned that he could help her, his thoughts were only circling around this topic.

"Boy, o boy, I still can't believe by which side we are."

"Yeah…" I bet I can't believe it more than he. Working with the authorities is normally not my style.

I sigh.

We come out of the Overdrive. And see horror.

In front of us are found destroyed or damaged ships of the Star Fleet. And there are many of them.

"The First…", "…and second Fleet…My God.", Lieutenant Monkey and Ensign Mantis said in unison.

I have to subscribe to this.

The Furious is flying through the ships trying not to touch any. The remains of them are moving through the empty space without a proper navigation. It looks like garbage in space.

Then we see a known ship.

"Captain, the Roaring Dragon!" Commander Crane sees it as the first.

The Roaring Dragon looked much better once. The tail of it is completely destroyed and even some parts of the front are drifting apart from the remaining ship. The remaining ship looks like a trashed potato.

"Survivors?" Captain Tigress asks unsure.

It last a while till…"Yes. Many of them even. Despite the outlook the Ship was not destroyed completely. Only to the level that it is useless. Most of the other ships have ended up so as well." Crane replies.

"Can we contact it?"

Again a while…"Yes, but only Audio." Lieutenant Viper replies.

Captain Tigress nods so Viper should build up the connection.

The Screen doesn't change, but a familiar voice appears.

"Hello? Who is out there?" Tai Lung asks.

"Tai, it's us." Tigress replies.

"Lil Sis? It is nice to hear your voice."

"Have you injured ones? We send Medics."

"Negative. You need to destroy Shen's Weapon first. It took course to Jade Station."

The Screen changes slowly, while we pass the destroyed ships.

In front of us is Jade Station. And we see many fire lightened areas as well like holes there.

"Oh, no…We are too late." Tigress mutters.

"Maybe, I don't see. I know that dad was in the Yinyu fighting against the Weapon. The Yinyu was still intact, when we lost our sensors."

I think Captain Tigress decides something now.

"Prepare the Weapons. We need destroy this Weapon at all costs."

"Weapons will not be working. At least, when you have not implanted several mines at the surface of the shell like I had. The shields are too strong and the shell as well. But the explosion of the Mines had at least ripped open a spot in their shields. But with its weapon power, it is hard to fight. Hope you find a way.", and with this he leaves us

Everyone gets silent again. The Captain thinks.

"Prepare…everything for a ramming maneuver."

"What?!" everyone says surprised.

"You heard him. Normal shots are useless. We need a projectile, which is big enough. The Furious is the only one big enough."

I see her logic and she is right. When looking at the destroyed ships one knows, that it is the only possible way.

"But Captain…" Viper tries to argue.

"The decision was made. Prepare everything for an evacuation. I will lead the ship to its target myself."

Suicide Mission. Everyone knows this.

"Wait…" Po tries to argue, "I have another plan."

That surprises me.

Everyone looks at him.

"Spit it out." Captain Tigress orders.

"Eh…you see….I am able to overload the Jade Orb. The Explosion will be able to destroy the whole ship."

"How?" Lieutenant Viper asks.

"By touching it and….it is complicated, but possible." Po replies.

"But you can't reach the interior of the ship." Crane objects.

"He can.", I intervene, "With my teleporting Device. There is a hole in their shields, isn't it? I can use this."

Everyone looks at us now.

"Are you sure? You know how this can end?" Captain Tigress asks with a serious voice.

We nod both and Po gulps.

Then Captain Tigress nods.

"Okay. You have one try."

We nod both and leave the Bridge.

While we enter Aijna, Po wants to talk again, but I interrupt him.

"Are the Invisibility Systems online again?" I ask Aijna.

Aijna appears from nothing.

"No…I have thought we go into a battle? Shields and Weapons are back online, but not these Systems."

Damn!

"We need to do it without them. I see it as practice for my skills as a pilot."

Po sits down beside me and Aijna doesn't protest.

He breathes in and out loud.

"Are you ready to be a hero? I somehow not." I say to him.

He smiles at me. "Also. I have not thought that I would do this once. And then for her.", he replies.

I stay quiet, while the Hangar doors open.

On the Screen the Captain appears.

"You have only one try, don't forget it. We will try to distract them with the help of our Fighters. But the original plan is still in effect. When you fail, we will try it. We count on you that we don't need to use it."

Then she disappears. Po looks somehow disappointed, while I fly out of the Hangar.

In front of us is the attacked Jade Station. The Weapon is still attacked by further ships of the Star Fleet. Hope that they are enough as a distraction.

"So, since when?" I ask suddenly.

"What?"

"Since when do you love her?" I point out. He seems to be embarrassed and forgets completely where we are.

"Since….always. I think. Since I saw her the first time."

"I see…you wanted to see her smile?"

"…Yes…"

"Maybe you will."

"What do you mean?"

"You need only to survive. Don't forget that you are belonging to a kind, which is near extinction."

He lowers his head.

"I know…what I am going to do now, is against their wishes."

"I don't think so. Didn't your mum said, that you should become a good Man? A good Panda? What do you think, she would think about this, when you would not even try to do this?"

He smiles again.

"Yes, you are right. And thanks that you are helping me."

"Only paying a debt. But don't try to make such a thing again, okay? My life is precious for me."

"Okay.", he says laughing.

The sensors register the first enemy fire.

I move my hands and Aijna can dodge it.

"The party starts! Aijna I hope you will not leave me now as well like last time?"

"In your dreams. Without me you are already toast, don't forget this."

I grin.

…I realize something. No matter how the outcome will be, this journey will end here.

Number 20. The Final Showdown comes closer..

Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Kung Fu Panda and its Characters belong to DreamWorks.

This World and Idea is mine.