~Chapte 4~

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Lucky growled and shoved her head into the pillow. She slammed her hand onto the couch-side alarm clock.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Lucky looked up. Avocato was still fast asleep and snoring on the bed. She sighed and rolled her magenta eyes, rolling o the couch.

With her blue cushion in hand, she strode over to the edge of the bed. She shut o the alarm.

"Avocato," she began, her English accent a little husky. She cleared her throat, "Pst! Get up!"

Nothing.

With another eye roll, she whacked him over the head with the cushion. Avocato groaned tiredly as he opened his pale yellow eyes.

"Rise 'n shine!"

"Surely there's a nicer way to wake someone up," Avocato mumbled as he sat up.

Lucky laughed, "There probably is. But I bet they're a lot less fun."

She hit him over the head again before walking towards the door. As she passed the grey couch, she threw her cushion on it.

"Meet ya at the cafeteria."

Lucky sighed. She put her head in her hand, leaning her elbow on the table. She tapped her foot impatiently. Her eyes stayed locked on the doors.

After what had seemed like forever, Avocato finally strode through the doors.

Lucky crossed her arms, giving him a long look of disapproval as he sat across from her.

"About time! I coulda had, like, two breakfasts by now," she complained, "What in the heck were you doing? Dragging yourself out of a black hole?"

"Sorry, kid," he said, leaning over the table to rough-up her aqua hair.

The two fell silent as they began eating their breakfast.

"Did you know that you've been a Bounty Hunter for two years, now," Avocato asked.

Lucky choked as her eyes widened.

"Seriously," she coughed.

Avocato nodded, trying not to laugh. He grabbed a small black box from his pocket. He placed it on the table, then slid it to her.

Lucky glanced between him and the box, an eyebrow raised.

"Go on. Open it," he said.

Lucky picked up the box. It fit perfectly in the palm of her hand. Curiosity of what was inside urged her to open it.

Two thick earrings - one gold, the other silver - sat inside.

A bright smile formed on her face. She looked up to see a smile as bright as hers on Avocato's face.

"They're lovely! Thank you," she exclaimed.

Avocato chuckled as Lucky gently but hastily put the box on the table. She took out her old silver studs that she had had for as long as she could remember; she replaced them with the new ones. Silver went above the gold.

"Well! If it isn't my favorite father-daughter team," a male's voice with a thick Russian accent remarked.

Lucky looked over as a deep red and brown Ventrexian plonked himself beside her. He was around Avocato's age and was almost like a brother to him.

"Logan, we're the only father-daughter team," Lucky shot back playfully.

Logan ru ed her hair, causing her to giggle.

"You know she's been here for two years now," Avocato asked.

Logan's lime-green eyes widened, "No I did not. Feels like you've been here forever."

Lucky was about to say something when an alarm rang out. The three of them almost jumped from their seats.

"All Bounty Hunters report to Lord Commander"

Avocato felt a sudden rush of fiery fear flooding Lucky. He looked over to see her staring at the ceiling speaker. Her deep-rose-tipped ears drooped. Her body slightly shook.

He got up and walked over to her. He grabbed her hand and gently pulled her up. Lucky immediately wrapped her arms around him.

"I don't wanna go back there," she cried, "Please don't make me go back!"

Avocato was surprised - this was the first time she had even looked like hugging anyone! - but tightly returned the embrace.

"Do you remember when I promised that I would never let anything else bad happen to you?"

Lucky squeezed her eyes shut against tears as she nodded.

"Well, I mean to keep that promise," he said, "Just like you never break yours."

Avocato and Logan exchanged looks of concern. Lucky broke the hug and looked up at him.

Avocato gently wiped the tears from her flu y white cheeks, "Come on. The sooner we get there, the sooner we get back."

"Okay," Lucky whispered, turning her eyes to the doors of the cafeteria.

Lucky, Avocato, Logan and the other Bounty Hunters flooded into the Lord Commander's throne room. The closer they got, the taller the towering doors became.

Lucky's magenta eyes slowly widened. Her heart thundered in her drooped ears like she had been running for miles. She could feel herself starting to panic. A knot of fear tied in her throat. She tried to swallow it, but that only seemed to enlarge it. Lucky tucked her bushy tail between her legs as she shakily grabbed Avocato's hand.

He and Logan exchanged uncertain glances as they continued deeper into the Lord Commander's laire.

"Are we in trouble, Avocato," Lucky asked telepathically, "Is he… will he…"

"We'll be fine. Don't worry," he replied, squeezing her hand comfortingly.

"Are you sure?"

Avocato wasn't sure what to say about that. He didn't know what they were all being called here for. Was Lucky right? Had they done something wrong? Was the Lord Commander going to use them as an example to the others?

"I'm not breaking my promise. You'll be alright, kid."

Lucky gave a small, barely noticeable nod, "Okay."

Lucky's anxiety seemed to wash away once they entered. The place was just as she remembered. Tall stone walls that would have easily been 20x Avocato's height; Lucky was a mm (millimetre) over half his height. The throne sat in the middle of the huge room.

Her magenta eyes scanned the horrifically familiar place. They widened, a little fear creeping back in. The vertical table was still sitting there. Lucky's eyes darted away as flashes of that painful memory hit her head.

When they all came to a stop, Lucky became stuck to Avocato's side like the strongest super glue in the universe. She took a deep breath, looking up to the stage the throne was seated on.

Even though they were dark, the Lord Commander's eyes glowed through the blackness that shrouded him.

"I have a mission for you all," Lord Commander began, his raspy voice bouncing o the high walls.

A giant blue holographic image fizzled to life above them. The being was like a sphere with legs or arms with a pair of antennae and big round eyes.

Lucky snapped her head to the floor as Lord Commander came to the edge of the stage. Her ears dipped in a fearful submission.

Avocato looked down at her, then back to the Lord Commander. He growled inwardly, not wanting to do it aloud. He hated what the Lord Commander had done to the little alien-girl clinging to his arm like a lifeline.

"This is E351. He is a planet killer, and I need him back," Lord Commander continued, "The first to find him will become my 2nd in command and have any wish granted to them."

The crowd cheered, making Lucky flinch. Avocato didn't think her grip could tighten anymore… but he was proven wrong.

"Silence!"

Lucky whimpered silently, squeezing her eyes shut and hiding her head behind Avocato's arm.

The crowd shut up instantly.

The yellow glow of Lord Commander's eyes dimmed, "Break up into your normal groups and bring him back. If any of you try to double-cross me, I'll kill you in the worst way possible."

"Yes, Lord Commander," the crowd replied.

Avocato glared at the Lord Commander, feeling the hair along his spine raise as they all began moving out of the room.

"Avocato," Lord Commander called, "A word."

Lucky looked up at him. Avocato sighed, pulling a forced smile. He ru ed her hair, prying his arm gently from her iron grip.

"Go with Logan. I'll be back."

Lucky's heart dropped to the floor. If it was glass, you could hear it break from anywhere in space.

Logan gently grabbed her arm, "Come on, kid." He looked up at his friend, "We'll meet you outside."

Lucky hesitantly followed. She looked back to see Avocato wink at her over his shoulder.

Avocato approached the base of the stage. He pushed his sarcastic tone to the side and looked up.

"Yes, Lord Commander?"

Said midget gave that irritating smirk. He glanced at Lucky just as her and Logan disappeared.

"Do you know what she is, Avocato," he asked, turning his attention back to him.

Avocato shook his head, "I'm not sure what you mean."

"Do you know what she is?"

Avocato thought on this for a few seconds, "A Bounty Hunter? A young girl? A test subject?"

"All of the above, yes. But, do you remember when I sent you to bring me slaves from Apex Superior?"

"Of course," he replied, confused on what this had to do with the matter.

"She's that Apexian cub that was given to you by her dying mother," Lord Commander said slyly, Avocato's eyes widening, " Zeniya."

Just then, it all came flooding back to him. Reality, remembrance and the past shoved Avocato into a black hole of guilt and sadness.

Lord Commander chuckled, "Ah, yes. You do remember."

The screams of women, crying of children, yelling of men and firing of guns rang through his head. Tears formed in his pale yellow eyes, squeezing them shut in an attempt to rid of the horrid memories.

"You may leave."

Avocato didn't even acknowledge Lord Commander spoke. He just stormed o . He slowed his pace and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand as he got closer to the door.

Lucky saw him out of the corner of her eye. She turned away from Logan. She wrapped her arms tightly around Avocato, causing him to jump.

"I'm so glad he didn't kill you," she said, wagging her tail.

Logan looked at him in concern. "Are you alright, my friend?"

"Yeah," Avocato nodded.

Logan nodded, getting the idea that something obviously wasn't right.

"Come on… Lucky," Avocato said, trying to swallow the knot in his throat, "We should get going."

"Ok," she yipped cheerily.

Lucky skipped o ahead of them as they went to their ships.

"So, what is the problem," Logan asked so only Avocato could hear.

He sighed heavily, "Lucky is… I… I was there…"

"What are you talking about?"

"Lucky is an Apexian," he whispered loudly.

Logan glanced between the young girl and his friend.

Lucky looked back at them as she stopped at the ship. She cocked her head, trying to figure out what they were saying. She didn't like reading other's minds. Only if absolutely necessary, she would, but this wasn't a life or death situation.

"Come on, guys," she called, shrugging it o , "Let's go!"

Logan gave Avocato a look of sympathy, "You need to tell her."

"I know," Avocato sighed.

"Good luck, my friend." Logan's lime-green eyes turned to Lucky, "Do Svidaniya, kiddo!"

"Bye, Logan," Lucky waved, smiling brightly.

Avocato watched her for a few moments. He saw the scar down her face; he knew she had others. All this was because of him. The reason she was here, why she had been taken to that lab… it was all his fault.

"Come on, Avocato! We don't want to keep Lord Commander waiting!"

"Oh! Uh… coming," he called.