Author Comment: I want to thank my Beta-Reader of everything he did for this chapter to come out. He helped a lot in proof-reading this story and helps me improve myself.
The father of the boy smiled as he hugged him, "Glad you are safe and sound my boy."
The teenager nodded, "Yeah. It was a close one back there," he nervously chuckled.
He was a Caucasian man with short black hair and pale green eyes, wearing a military uniform with a weapon and other equipment on his back, "We were there just in time. You better thank everyone else."
"I will."
"First, you all need to get checked. After you've been through, we need to be certain everything has been fine," a woman told them.
"I'm sure the creatures can be exempted from this," Tom's father suggested.
"No problem with that."
"We are used to war," Gathup told them.
"And you are fighting this… undress?" One of the soldiers asked.
"Better be quick than taking a hit," Intress replied.
"Yeah… okay," the soldier didn't know how to reply.
"Soldier!" Tom's father warned.
"Sorry sir! Pardon my comment," he turned around and walked away.
The man sighed, "Next time. He might face discipline," he gazed at the creatures, "Thank you for protecting my family, you and the other creatures. I am George Majors. As you know, I'm Tom's father."
"You are fitter than most humans we encounter in Perim," Arias commented.
The creatures were much more muscular, but none of them commented on this.
After this, everyone gave their introductions and split up.
"I'll be back after I finish my report. Hope everything will be fine," George said to his family.
His wife kissed him before she joined the others.
Chapter 99: Military Safety
The creatures accompanied the humans as they went to talk with a specialist to help them. They didn't understand anything they were saying to Tom. The black-haired boy was their priority for a few reasons.
"After everything…" Sarah sighed. She didn't really notice how it might be affecting Tom. She crossed her fingers together, "Hope he'll get better quickly."
"He will. After everything he's been through in Perim, I'm sure this won't be the worst," Intress replied with a hopeful tone. She clearly wasn't certain about it.
"We're with our bro. Together, we will overcome this problem," Peyton smiled.
His father chuckled as he put his hand on Peyton's shoulder, "While we wait. You can tell us all about your adventures on Perim."
Kaz sighed. It was better to do that than just watching a psychologist speak with Tom.
They began to tell them everything they had done in Perim, with Cassandra only interjecting when she joined the journey.
"So, you have a friend who traveled to Perim, in the past? H-how?" Pamela asked in disbelief.
The other parents also wondered about it.
"I missed a lot," Alexander grumbled, standing next to Odu-Bathax.
The Danian in question found the boy to be a little too close and took a step to the side, "Us too it seems."
"And my best friend came along after I called him. I… I guess I accelerated everything when I convinced Alexandre to come back to Perim," Cassandra replied.
"His name is Alexandre too. Hope we won't get confused when we are all together," Sarah's brother chuckled.
The creatures sighed. They didn't expect to know two humans with the same name.
"Is it a normal occurrence?" Ario asked.
"Yeah dude. We got two Claudes in my class. Thankfully, they don't have the same family name because then that would be really confusing when put on paper," Peyton commented.
Annie sighed at the sight of her son. She could see he wasn't taking everything in the best way possible. Still, when his friends showed up, he brightened up a lot. He was a brave boy. She just wished she knew about Perim beforehand, "I wouldn't have believed you," she whispered sadly.
The conversation went on and the humans continued on to talk about more casual stuff.
Eventually, the creatures left the place to explore the military base, leaving the humans talking together. Anything they talked about didn't really mean anything.
Intress went where she saw the soldiers bring the prisoners. She had many questions for the M'arrillian and hoped he was up.
Agitos tailed her, "Looks like we have the same idea."
"Yes. I need to know what they are planning, because I won't let them."
"Agreed. We cannot let them tarnish the Cothica," the blue Underworlder replied as he cracked his knuckles.
They ignored the many soldiers marching around them. Their numbers were overwhelming. The side of the camp also. Nothing was fancy about it. Everything was just what they needed. Practicality was the main focus of the military base. With the many battlegears around, it was obvious they needed more manpower than in Perim.
"I feel a little small when I see all of those battlegear around. Bigger and feeling like it can destroy a city," Agitos commented.
"They aren't physically strong. I guess they are just focused more on battlegear than us," Intress agreed.
They soon reached the large structure with cell bars. They knew it was the right place. There were guards outside of the prison.
"I hope he doesn't control their minds and bide his time," the underworlder commented as he adjusted his protective battlegear.
"They knew what he could do and won't make that mistake," she replied hopefully.
The soldiers stopped them at the entrance, "Do you have authorization to come in here?"
"No. But we need to speak with the prisoner and find out what he is hiding," Agitos replied. He raised his chest and waited for the answer.
"You need the authorization of a superior first and-"
"You can let them come inside," George Majors told the soldiers, "I think the creatures might be better at getting answers from him anyway. Aval'par is up and not cooperative. I think his ego is deeply hurt from his predicament," he let out a small smile.
The two creatures could tell that being captured by weak humans would be a huge blow to a creature's ego. At the same time, the M'arrillian probably thought they would end up victorious. That illusion would shatter the moment he woke up.
"Thanks," Intress told him.
The two went inside and found him in his jail. It was specially made to contain a M'arrillian. There was no way he could get out of this glass-like structure in front of the entrance or the window at the back of his jail.
The purple M'arrillian sat on the ground, his back turned towards the human who was trying to talk with the creature.
"He is playing all tough right now," Agitos commented loudly enough for the creature to hear him on purpose.
The human gazed at them.
"We will ask the prisoner a few questions," Intress told the human.
The soldier nodded and left them. He told them, "This isn't the interrogation room, but it is too risky to let that blob outside."
"This is enough for us," she replied.
The human left and only the creatures remained.
"Not so tough now Aval'par," he smirked at the M'arrillian.
Aval'par head turned towards them, "Enough of your mockery! I have nothing to tell you!"
Intress put her hand on the transparent wall, "Aval'par. You are a prisoner now. You and your tribe are trying to taint and steal the Cothica for yourself. You think you are worthy of anything?"
"Humans are just living in the Cothica. The source of power will be ours! Then Perim will fall under our power! We are the M'arrillians. We are here to rule above your tribes! You are inferior tribes!"
"Yes, you are the one who is in jail. You attacked and outnumbered us, yet you failed. Completely," Agitos insisted, wanting to twist the knife in.
Aval'par stood up and punched the wall, "Shut up! You were just lucky! It was only a victory that will announce your defeat!"
They couldn't take his words seriously. They gazed at each other, uncertain if they should call him out on this stupid statement or not.
Agitos smirked, "That is announcing our victory Aval'par and the upcoming end of the M'arrillians."
The purple creature didn't reply. He turned his back on them quietly.
"We will make you spit up what the plan is," the blue Underworlder warned him.
"Even if I spill everything out, you won't obtain anything. Milla'iin won't share anything with me. He knows I'm your prisoner," he gazed at them, "Whether I die or not, I don't care. The M'arrillians will be victorious in the end. We will avenge Aa'une," he growled at them.
"You won't succeed in this. The others will come soon to stop you," Intress told him.
"We destroyed the teleporter. They have no chance of reaching the Cothica," the M'arrillian replied.
None of the two explained that they had every intention of fixing it and that it wouldn't take that long. It was best not to say too much. He could warn his tribe and they would become more aggressive in their invasions.
The overworlder sighed, "Let's go. We won't get anything out of him today."
"Do not worry, we have our ways to make him talk. Some that it would be best Kaz never see," Agitos commented. He looked right in the eye of the M'arrillian, "I have tasted the worst from our previous ruler. Thankfully, just the entrée. You wouldn't want to see the worst we Underworlders can show you," he left.
Intress followed him. She knew it was all about the reputation of Chaor's father. One she didn't wish to ever return upon Perim or the Cothica.
Tom sighed as he walked out of the room.
"How's it going Tom?" Kaz asked his friend.
"He said that I was fine. I'll visit him everyday for an hour and see if I am really that fine," he sighed a little in annoyance.
Kaz left and went for his turn.
His mother hugged him, "We are with you Tom."
"I know mom."
"We are all back together!" Peyton slapped the back of his friend when his mother stopped hugging him.
Sarah nodded, "Yeah. Our families came with us," she wanted to say more, but too many witnesses were around.
"And we won't let you on your own," her father commented.
Alexandre chuckled as he crossed his arms, "Too bad sis."
The teenage girl sighed. She hated when her brother acted like he could read her mind. Still, he didn't protest or anything, "I also spoke about seeing you get coded Kaz," Tom remembered that part. It still shook him whenever he thought about it.
"Yes. Never got my code, so I have no idea what happened," Kaz replied.
"Coded? Like dying?" Amelie asked.
"Yes," Cassandra said. It really shocked her to her core when it happened, "I really freaked out."
The parents sure agreed with that thought. They would feel the same way.
"I got coded too," Sarah sighed.
"Yeah," Tom remembered how it hurt him. He sighed. He wondered what would happen with the prisoner. He knew that they would interrogate him. He just hoped nothing would go wrong.
"Tom?" His mother asked.
"Sorry. I was wondering about Aval'par. And hoping everything would be fine," he sighed.
"Everything is fine," Intress said as she returned to them with Agitos, "He isn't saying anything except that they will control the Cothica and avenge Aa'une."
"The classic bad guy stuff," Peyton sighed. M'arrillians were such a cliché for him, "Oh yeah! I brought my-" he stopped when he realized, they left everything behind, "Had brought my guitar. It's at the farm."
"We all left everything behind," Tom replied.
"But we are all together. That's the most important part!" Peyton told them.
Kaz came out and sighed, "Wasn't that bad for me."
"My turn bro!" Peyton left and went into the room.
"He is so going to be fine. Unless they see his positivity as a problem," Sarah sighed.
The group waited. Everyone had to be checked to see if they were fine after their experience. They didn't know what would come after.
AC: This is the end of this chapter.
Next: The Free Mind Of Summer Vale.
Bahrakatan was still uncertain about his decision when he met a human who escaped the M'arrillian's control.
