"Officer Bolix!"
"What is it, Lieutenant Macarough?"
Bolix turned away from the current criminal being arrested and being towed away from behind him toward the space craft that was up ahead of them from the maze of towering rocks and boulders.
"I got word about the Bat's lost friend," Orion said.
"What is the word?" Bolix asked.
"He is near the Alderan triangle in the Valarian System," Orion reported. "The ship is down for supplies and a renovation for a couple of days."
"Bat will like this news," Bolix said.
"And his arch nemesis are all there," Orrin added.
"All seven of them?" Bolix asked with a tilt of his head and his hands on his hips.
"And their goons," Orion said.
"All seven of them in one place," Bolix walked away looking aside then shifted toward him with his hands behind his back. "Why?"
"No idea, sir," Orion said.
"This is trouble," Bolix said. "Nothing good will come of this!"
"Yes, sir. . ." Orion said. "What do we do about it?"
"The Bat is pretty exhausted so we should go in and do the arresting ourselves," Bolix said. "We can't rely on him all the time getting the criminals all tied up."
"But sir, uh, they haven't done any crimes," Orion pointed out. "That is illegal going after them."
"Yet," Bolix said. "But we will be there when they do it."
Orion nodded in acknowledgement and understanding of the comment.
"Captain, if we barge in without a warrant and probable cause the case will be thrown out and they will have justification to sue us for our mistake. We have paid enough as it is for the last one in which we had too much force and left a criminal on a medical bed on a breathing appendage until they could be moved to proper hospital."
"It is regrettable and we had to do that for a kidnapping. The bat isn't going to help us with this, Lieutenant. We have to face all those goons on our own," Bolix turned toward Orion. "I hate to ask but your ship is the only one in which it has several decks that is devoted to holding criminals."
"Yes, sir," Orion said. "I have the right coordinates here."
"And I like you to be there first," Bolix took the device from Orion's hand. "Tell the Bat that we don't need him if he comes. I don't have the time to place the call on the red communication service."
"Ha ha," Orion laughed with a nod and grinned. "Will do, sir."
Bolix walked past him as Orion bore a big grin watching him leave.
It was dark at a complex with several starships resting around the main hub of the complex that had a fenced in landing port. Flood lights highlighted portions of the wall from top to bottom rising up to ten feet tall with short stubby towers on each end. The main building at the center of the barrier was rounded with layered rounded saucer additions that had the windows outlined at the sides of each level exposed as it was a continuous band of glass contrasting against the format of metal with ridges and statues prodding out of the architecture. The starlight poured down upon the area revealing the scenery that was a desert. A tall machine with a unique creature hanging on to the back came to a halt on the side.
A figure came to the side of the wall then flung up a small item that hooked into the short blocks of the wall and proceeded to climb up after giving it a tug. The figure was dressed quite dark to fit in with the darkness and a pair of pointed bat like ears were on the sides of the head with silver glinting off them. The figure lacked a cloak at first glance but a yellow utility belt stood out faintly under the starlight. They hopped over the edge of the walkway then knelt down, crouching, out of the line of sight of the red lasers. The figure crawled forward on their stomach then made their way toward a pathway leading down the walk way toward a door. A tall guarded man stood still at the door with their hands in their hands and a thick mustache that stood out under the light above him. The figure came to the edge of the night visibly standing at least taller than the man.
"Hello," Bat said. "security officer."
"Hello," the officer tipped his hat down with a smile. "Bat."
"Would you kindly let me in?" Bat put his hands on his utility belt.
"Sorry, Bat," The officer apologized. "it is against the rules."
"But, you would if you could," Bat said.
"Erm. . ." The officer grimaced. "Yes."
Bat scanned the wall around them.
"There are no cameras right here,"
The officer's hands rolled into fists taking his back off against the wall.
"You are wrong!"
"I have checked all the types of cameras around the galaxy and I see none of those on the wall," Bat said. "Sir, I am here for a rescue mission."
"For whom?"
"Isaac Gampu," Bat said. "You may have heard of him."
The security officer's face visibly paled.
"Not here for justice . . ."
Bat nodded with a grin then the security officer collapsed to the corner then the door automatically slid open for him. Bat slid in the officer from the other side of the wall then proceeded to search through the line of starships. He hurried from one starship to another, only pausing between his tracks, in order to spot the registry number to each craft with a small gadget that he pressed against his eyes that had a glowing blue lens in the shape of a bat. He stopped in his tracks then put the gadget away. The light illuminating from the window of the starship illuminated the white facial mask that blocked a view of his lower face even a portion of his nose with two holes that seemed off.
Bat attached a gadget to the side of the ship then the doors opened one at a time. He walked in looking from side to side quite wary then traveled through the ship going through the multiple corridors until coming to a stop at the last door that had a set of sirens on each side and a card that was coated in a warning in comic sans format. Bat grinned then took out a diamond and waved it in front of the left side of the doorway.
The passageway slid open with a soft woosh. Then Bat stepped walked directly into the rounded chamber. Bat found Gampu pacing back and forth visibly worried in front of a small box with a transparent top that had a set of glowing bars within glowing over the content of it. Gampu turned in the direction of Bat with the worry turning to distress that turned into confusion.
"You must be the Bat," Gampu said.
"Yes, sir," Bat said.
"We are not committing a crime, Bat." Gampu assured.
"Your actions say otherwise about the issue you have gotten yourself into," Bat said. "What is the nature of this operation?"
Gampu walked away then went toward the box.
"My colleague wants to sell this child for a million jewels. This child carries a very great good. Bigger than you and me. Salvation for a entire species that starts after hell has ceased to operate," Gampu said. "It is a moment of grace, reflection, relief, and joy."
His aging fingers were placed on the window while looking down as he continued on softly so Bat joined his side.
"And if no one pays for the child then he is going to use them to replace a part of this ship that is very hard to come by." The older man finished.
"How premature were they born?" Bat asked.
"A week," Gampu said. "I protested against it. So early in the pregnancy but they wanted the child-I had no choice." he shook his reddened fists for emphasis. "They threatened the Robinsons lives." He shook his head turning away. "They may be on their way to Alpha Centauri by now!"
"I am sure that she would understand your situation," Bat said. "And forgives you for what you did," he put a hand on the older man's shoulder. "If she knew."
Gampu lowered his head.
"If she knew . . ." Gampu whispered softly for emphasis.
"How long ago did you remove the newborn?" Bat asked.
"Two months ago," Gampu replied.
"The child looks well," Bat said.
"I did the best I could with what I could sewing her uterus up then her stomach. Hard diligent work putting her back in one piece but I was rushed," Gampu replied, regrettably but softly. "I wasn't allowed to give a more thorough check for any small knicks that I missed during the rushed c-section. I removed the umbilical cord soon as I could and stored it for the woman's consumption under the ruse that it would save her life." He turned toward Bat. "Which it could if she never gets her child back. Could treat her postpartum depression."
"Gampu," Bat started after a scan of the child. "That is a Gorn."
"Yes," Gampu confirmed with a small nod. "They are a Gorn."
"I can help you out of this ship and the Gorn baby back to their parent," Bat said. "I like to help you get back to where you belong."
"Except you have to take the child first," Gampu finished for him.
"Yes," Bat said.
"I can take the brunt of the punishment for letting the child be taken," Gampu said. "Nothing more."
"You won't need to," Bat promised.
"How can you keep your promise when we shall be leaving this morning?" Gampu said, doubtfully.
"I am the Bat," Bat's hands grasped along the edges of Gampu's forearm. "I find a way. There is always a third option."
"If you leave with that child the ship will notice and my colleague's friends will come after you," Gampu said. "You must be fast."
"I don't refer to myself as the Bat because of the costume, Gampu." Bat reassured then slid the lid to the incubator open and picked the small bundle up.
"Be careful," Gampu warned.
"I will be back in one hour," Bat promised.
"Go," Gampu said. "Please."
Bat fled the chamber as Gampu watched him flee. A bittersweet smile appeared on the older man's face as his demeanor relaxed and relief brushed off all the concerning webs that clouded his mind. His shoulders loosened as a certain weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He sat down into the nearest chair feeling lethargy washing over him. A desperate need to sleep had walked back in once the need to stay awake had walked out of the room. As did the strange feeling that a pair of paranoid and judgemental eyes were prying on him since the ordeal had began. Gampu felled down into the loveseat and fell fast asleep.
Hacuff was on the neighboring planet that circled the very planet that Gampu and his employer were located. It also acted as a moon in a respect caught in the planet's orbit. He stared upon the craft that was just waiting to be launched off the moon and into the sky for the primary destination of no where in particular. A strange spacecraft caught his attention with a wide wing span that was curved and tall standing out against the thin frame of it bearing a striking resemblance to a small creature called the bat. A mock up of the actual batship?
He ran after the direction of the craft then came to a skidding halt at the top of a hill. The craft's unusual wings and its actuators stood out underneath the starlight that made it glint. What could have brought the legendary man through space to this planet? He came down the hill toward the direction of the starship only coming to a pause five feet away from the starship then watched as a lift came to the bottom of the craft. He was holding something in his arms, that was the first thing that stood out, as the figure beside him slid aside the barrier door allowing him out.
"Bat!" Haccuf approached the legend even further. "What brings you here?"
"I need you to transport this child to the proper authorities," Bat handed the child to Haccuf.
"But. . . but. . . but. . ." Haccuf started. "You can do that."
"I can't right now, fellow space citizen," Bat shook his head. "I am in the position to hand him off to someone more capable of helping them."
"What is the matter, Bat?" Haccuf asked, concerned.
"I am on a personal rescue mission," Bat said. "And this will be my last."
"Oh look, it's a baby Gorn," the civilian looked up abruptly from the bundle. "Abduction?"
"Taken out of the mother's own womb," Bat replied.
"That case!" Haccuf's eyes widened.
"Yes, sir," Bat nodded.
"I will do my part," Haccuf said. "And bring the child to Tauron HQ."
"Thank you," Bat said.
"With all things considered, Bat," Haccuf said. "I wish you good luck and god speed."
"And you, too, my friend." Bat saluted the civilian with a smile.
Haccuf ran away from the ship then turned around and watched as the legs disembarked the land then the sand flew away from the base as the craft rose up to the sky. A bright streak of energy erupted from the bottom of the craft standing out against the dark blue canvas with the brighter blue shades that turned to white that vanished before his eyes as it went further into the atmosphere headed in the direction of the planet that was being orbited and the wings folded back into the starship giving it the appearance of a complete Earthly rocket. Haccuf cradled the back of the Gorn's head then turned around and ran toward his craft.