Birthright: Chapter 17
Chapter 17
"Anala!"
The two guards who had been watching those set of huge doors were then alerted to their presence.
Pidge watched as Anala suddenly appeared like an angel out of the sky as she sprouted wings and swoop down past where he and Hunk had been hiding, and punched one of the guards.
She quickly landed, seeing that she had only phased the guard, and reacted as he came back to defend himself. He swung at her, but she deftly avoided his punch as the second guard tried to attack her.
"Hunk!"
Hunk got his signal and soon came charging out from behind the large rock formation and grabbed hold of the first guard as he was about to take down Anala. She turned to him and smiled her thanks as she took out the second guard.
"They fight like girls," she said to him as she picked up her bag she dropped. "Shall we?"
"How...?"
She smiled as she stared up at the ledge she had been on and then at Pidge who still in their hiding place, staring at them.
"Family secret," she said. "Come on, we don't have much time."
"Pidge!"
Lance held his breath as he prepared to open the doors. He then looked to Lotor who was as well getting ready.
"On three," he instructed.
"Three."
The both of them pushed with all their might, and the doors to the throne room opened, and they both reacted, drawing their weapons as they entered the room.
Lance quickly scanned the room, wondering why it was empty.
"This is just too convenient," he stated. "I don't like it."
"Of course you don't."
Lance and Lotor quickly turned to face the door, as it slowly closed behind them.
"I thank you for making yourselves easy to catch," Kelar said as he walked toward them, flanked by 4 guards on each side. "2 down, 3 to go."
"Damnit," Lance swore under his breath.
"I don't permit swearing here, my friend," Kelar said as he walked past them. "Come, the princess is eagerly waiting for some company to join her."
The guards then came up to them and escorted the two of them into the heart of the throne room.
Alysson slowly stood from the chair she was sitting in as Lance and Lotor were brought over to her.
"I'm sorry," she said to them as they approached.
"Don't worry, ma'am," Lance stated to her. "We have friends."
"Hunk, over here!"
Hunk turned to Anala where she was trying to open a rather large door.
"Where does this lead to?"
"The control center," she said. "If we can override the locks on the storage containers, we can make the pumps work backward."
"Then let me at it."
Anala stepped aside as Hunk came over and looked the door over.
"How thick do you think it is?"
"At least 2 inches," she said. "Why?"
"I thought so."
Before she could say another word, he took three steps back and ran full force into the wooden door. The door gave way under the pressure, and broke at its hinges as it fell into the dark room on the other side.
Hunk smiled as he looked in. "After you, milady."
Anala shook her head as she stepped carefully over the fallen door, and quickly turned on the light. Against what would be the wall of the room was a series of panels with different blinking lights as well as two heavy set levers.
"Oh my,"
"What is it?"
"According to this, there are over 1000 such storage units all over this planet," she said as she walked over to the panels. "If we opened them all, we'll create this world's first flood."
"Sounds like the threat we had back on Earth about our polar ice caps melting," Hunk commented. "How much water do those things hold?"
"I have no idea," she said. "Enough to feed over a 4 million on this planet alone."
Hunk let out a whistle as he looked over the panel. "Hey, what's the signal your communicator runs on?"
"Why?"
"We need the mind of a genius to figure this one out."
"What?"
**You heard me, 1000 units.**
"1,000?" Pidge asked as he tinkered with the control panel before him. "Is there anyway to know which ones will release where on the planet?"
**From the looks of this panel...no.**
"Making it harder on me than it really is?" Pidge asked. "Well, we have to assume that Kelar will keep the most near this Castle."
**So what do you think we should do?** came Hunk's question.
**We surely cant open them all.**
"And we can't play guessing games on which ones to open."
**Pidge, are you in the control room there?** Anala asked.
"Yeah, just about to finish up this little code problem of ours."
**Once you finish that, do you think you can patch into the main computer in the castle from there?**
"Shouldn't be too hard," Pidge said as he looked around the small room. "There is something here that looks like a computer. It needs help though."
**Well try to work something out,** Anala said. **Everyone's lives depend on it.**
-This is it.-
Keith slowly nodded as he, Xue and Allura stood outside of the large doors that led to the main throne room.
"Do you think he knows that we are on our way?"
"It can only explain why this place has been left unguarded," Keith stated. "Well, I'm tired of playing this little game."
-You must be careful, sir,- Xue stated. -Kelar is a formidable opponent.-
"If it's a kingdom he wants, he's going to have to fight for it."
Xue nodded as he then turned to Allura. -You do not have to enter, if you do not wish to.-
"This is as much of fight for me as it is for Keith," she said. "We work together."
"Ready?"
Xue nodded, and with one push, the doors to the throne room swung open. The three slowly walked inside, as they focused their attention toward the center.
The doors behind them closed slowly, but this did not bother them as they made their way.
Alysson looked up as the three slowly came to the center of the throne room, her attention then drawing toward Kelar as he stood to greet them. She then turned to Lance and Lotor as they stood nearby, their wrists shackled as they too watched.
"Well done, princess," Kelar said as he came to stand before them. "I commend you for escaping that very long fall."
"No thanks to you," Allura stated. "You cheated, Kelar."
"Not as much as you have, my dear princess," he stated as he then turned his gaze onto Keith. "Come here, and dare to lie to me? Under a false pretense to share your secrets only to try and run me out of my kingdom?"
"Your kingdom?" Allura asked. "From the way I hear it, you stole this kingdom from the rightful heirs."
"Rightful heirs?" Kelar asked with a laugh. "You mean that feeble old King and his non-existent daughter? Why should she be allowed to rule a planet she had not lived on for most of her life? Why pass on the rule of a planet with so much potential to a weak- minded woman?"
"You'd be surprised at how strong we really are," Allura stated.
Kelar shook his head as he met Keith's gaze again. "So, young man, do you honestly believe that you can now claim what was yours?"
"And do you honestly think that this kingdom is yours to have?"
Kelar let out a laugh. "I deserve it well more than you do," he stated. He then spied the third companion. "Xue, you dare to go against me?"
-I dare to do anything I wish.- he stated. -You stole my life as you did everyone's lives on this planet.-
Alysson watched as they continued to speak with Kelar. She could not help but wonder what they were saying. Though, she found herself wondering who the man who was with her son was. She slowly made her way closer, hoping she could get a better look at him. As she neared, she suddenly felt a weight on her heart as tears started to well up in her eyes. She shook her head, trying to deny herself as the man came into her view.
"It can't be..." she had to say to herself. Though, as she drew nearer, she could not deny it any longer.
"ALEX!" she yelled.
At that moment, two guards stopped her, grabbing her by her arms as Kelar and his guests turned to her.
"It can't be you!" she cried.
-Alysson...-
"Tsk tsk tsk, Xue," Kelar said as he came to stand before him. "You've been a very naughty person haven't you?" He then smiled as he waved his hand and the two guards holding her back, let her go. She fell forward almost losing her balance, but she then found herself being caught in two strong arms.
She looked up, meeting the gaze of the one man she had not seen in so long. The one man she had given her heart to, and was suddenly taken from her.
"Alex?" she whispered. "It can't be you."
"Alex?" Allura asked as she turned to Keith. "Wasn't that the name...."
"Yes," he said.
"But how.."
"How little you all know," Kelar said as he turned away from them. He walked back toward the throne, and as he took a seat on it, he turned to them. "Xue there, is of an ancient race that used to live high in the mountains in the northern most territory of Vallis. Even older than the humans that settled here."
"Ancient race?" Allura asked.
-A race that you could not even conquer, Kelar,- Xue stated as he stood, helping Alysson to her feet.
"Not that I wanted to, you forget that, Xue," Kelar stated. "As I was explaining. They are magical creatures, wielding power that one could envy. Though there was a great weakness to their usage of that magic. They had to be in the employ of a human; a servant to a human, if they wanted to use that magic. "Xue happened to be in a desperate situation when I found him," he continued. "And in return for me in rescuing him, he pledged his life to me."
-More like you threatened me- Xue said.
"But how does that explain..."
"Xue's race is born without any distinguishing characteristics, I shall say," Kelar went on. "When they come into the employment of a human, it is then and only then, they take on the characteristics of a human." He then turned to where they were standing. "It was also at that time when Xue came into my employment, the Lady Alysson also came to live at the castle, along with her daughter. And I always thought he wore that stupid robe to hide the fact that he did not choose a look, or was pleased with one."
-You are partly correct, Kelar,- Xue started. -We choose to take on the characteristics of anyone we wish. Though we tend to favor those who treat us with great kindness. We also will take on any personality that is remnant of the person we imitate, whether they are long dead or still alive.-
"Whatever the reason, it is why he stands before you right now, looking the way he does," Kelar finished. "In any case, he is as much Xue as he is much of this .... Alex."
Alysson could only stare at Kelar, as Xue held her in his arms. She slowly pried herself away, finding her strength again, to stand on her own.
"The more you destroy lives, Kelar, the more they will come back to haunt you."
Kelar got to his feet again. "Don't make me go back on my word on letting you live, princess," he threatened.
Alysson stared at him, then slowly turned her gaze to Xue. She then looked down before turning to Kelar.
"Then if Xue has gone against you, he is no longer in your employ?" she asked.
-Milady?-
She held her hand up to him as she took a step toward Kelar. "Is he not under your employ?"
"Since he has betrayed me, he is no longer in my employ," Kelar stated. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"
Alysson then turned to where Allura and Keith were standing, as she stepped back toward Xue.
"Yes, that is exactly what I wanted to hear."
Allura saw the expression on Alysson's face, and quickly grabbed Keith's arms, realizing what she was referring to. He turned to her as she started to pull him slowly away from where they were standing.
"What?"
"Remember what I told you about women's intuition," she stated.
"Why?"
"I'm having one of those right now."
Keith then turned to his mother as she stared at Kelar.
"Xue, you heard him," she said with a hesitant smile. "You are free to go."
-You've only limited my usefulness, milady.- he started to say.
"Then, for saving your life, you owe me yours," she said.
"What?" Kelar started to say as he started toward them.
"Xue, do you agree to serve under me, until I see fit to release you from your life bond?"
A sudden realization crossed Xue's features as he then stared up at Kelar.
-Yes, milady.- he said quickly. -With all the power that I hold.-
"No!"
Kelar rushed toward Alysson, but before he could reach her, an invisible force was brought up between them, and he was knocked backwards. Alysson breathed in deeply as she turned to Xue.
"I know your power can only protect me, but see to freeing Lance and Lotor," she said.
-I can't hold my power over you for long,- he warned.
"I know," she said.
She turned toward Kelar as he got back to his feet. She stared him down as he looked toward her.
"Too many mistakes, Kelar," she stated. "I told you that one day, someone will have the power to take you on."
"You think that I can't handle you, princess?" he asked as he turned to her. "You think that I don't know Xue's full power?"
"Its enough to take care of you."
He smiled as he started toward her.
"One thing I take pride in, my dear, is how much time I put in to the weapons and technology I create."
Alysson stared at him as he neared her. He reacted to the invisible force that had been around her, but was able to pass through that. Before she could react, he swung his hand out to her, slapping her across her face. The force of the hit sent her flying to the ground.
"Mother!"
Keith released Allura's hold on him as he ran toward Kelar as he came to stand over Alysson.
"Keith, no!" Alysson yelled.
Kelar quickly turned around seeing the young captain running toward him, and with one swift motion, he turned around, and hit Keith in the stomach, and then grabbed him by his throat.
"Keith!" Lance yelled from across the room.
Lance, Lotor and Xue ran over to where Alysson was lying on the ground as they stared at Kelar who was now holding Keith off the ground, grabbing tight as his hand held him by his throat.
"No," Alysson said as she was helped to her feet, stopping Lance from advancing forward. "I was hit by metal."
"Metal?"
They then looked toward Kelar has he held Keith. The sleeve of the shirt he wore was pulled away, and Alysson saw the arm beneath it.
"He's part machine."
"That should do it."
Anala stared at the wall of panels before her and saw that the several she and Hunk had activated were now flashing in red, signaling that the pumps to those storage tanks were now pumping water toward the surface of the planet.
"That looks like it will do for now.
As she stepped back, she found herself unable to catch her breath. She fell to her knees as she gasped for air.
"Anala?"
Hunk came over to her as she felt her lungs burning.
"Anala, what is it?"
She then was able to breathe in deeply, nearly gasping as she grabbed onto Hunk for support.
"What happened?" he asked.
"I...I don't know," she stated.
She was then silenced again, as the feeling of unable to breathe came to her again. She grabbed onto her throat, as she fought to breathe. Hunk quickly picked her up, as he grabbed for the communicator she wore.
"Pidge, come in."
"**Yeah what's up?**"
"You got that whole code thing worked out?"
"**Just about,**"
"Well, step on it," he said. "Something's wrong with Anala, she can't breathe all of a sudden."
"**What?**"
"Hurry it up," he said. "I'm heading toward you."
"**I'll signal for my Lion,**" Pidge said. "**First time Im going to try and fly by remote.**"
"Hurry."
He looked down at Anala, and saw that she was able to breathe again.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know," she said breathlessly. "I don't know."
Chapter 17
"Anala!"
The two guards who had been watching those set of huge doors were then alerted to their presence.
Pidge watched as Anala suddenly appeared like an angel out of the sky as she sprouted wings and swoop down past where he and Hunk had been hiding, and punched one of the guards.
She quickly landed, seeing that she had only phased the guard, and reacted as he came back to defend himself. He swung at her, but she deftly avoided his punch as the second guard tried to attack her.
"Hunk!"
Hunk got his signal and soon came charging out from behind the large rock formation and grabbed hold of the first guard as he was about to take down Anala. She turned to him and smiled her thanks as she took out the second guard.
"They fight like girls," she said to him as she picked up her bag she dropped. "Shall we?"
"How...?"
She smiled as she stared up at the ledge she had been on and then at Pidge who still in their hiding place, staring at them.
"Family secret," she said. "Come on, we don't have much time."
"Pidge!"
Lance held his breath as he prepared to open the doors. He then looked to Lotor who was as well getting ready.
"On three," he instructed.
"Three."
The both of them pushed with all their might, and the doors to the throne room opened, and they both reacted, drawing their weapons as they entered the room.
Lance quickly scanned the room, wondering why it was empty.
"This is just too convenient," he stated. "I don't like it."
"Of course you don't."
Lance and Lotor quickly turned to face the door, as it slowly closed behind them.
"I thank you for making yourselves easy to catch," Kelar said as he walked toward them, flanked by 4 guards on each side. "2 down, 3 to go."
"Damnit," Lance swore under his breath.
"I don't permit swearing here, my friend," Kelar said as he walked past them. "Come, the princess is eagerly waiting for some company to join her."
The guards then came up to them and escorted the two of them into the heart of the throne room.
Alysson slowly stood from the chair she was sitting in as Lance and Lotor were brought over to her.
"I'm sorry," she said to them as they approached.
"Don't worry, ma'am," Lance stated to her. "We have friends."
"Hunk, over here!"
Hunk turned to Anala where she was trying to open a rather large door.
"Where does this lead to?"
"The control center," she said. "If we can override the locks on the storage containers, we can make the pumps work backward."
"Then let me at it."
Anala stepped aside as Hunk came over and looked the door over.
"How thick do you think it is?"
"At least 2 inches," she said. "Why?"
"I thought so."
Before she could say another word, he took three steps back and ran full force into the wooden door. The door gave way under the pressure, and broke at its hinges as it fell into the dark room on the other side.
Hunk smiled as he looked in. "After you, milady."
Anala shook her head as she stepped carefully over the fallen door, and quickly turned on the light. Against what would be the wall of the room was a series of panels with different blinking lights as well as two heavy set levers.
"Oh my,"
"What is it?"
"According to this, there are over 1000 such storage units all over this planet," she said as she walked over to the panels. "If we opened them all, we'll create this world's first flood."
"Sounds like the threat we had back on Earth about our polar ice caps melting," Hunk commented. "How much water do those things hold?"
"I have no idea," she said. "Enough to feed over a 4 million on this planet alone."
Hunk let out a whistle as he looked over the panel. "Hey, what's the signal your communicator runs on?"
"Why?"
"We need the mind of a genius to figure this one out."
"What?"
**You heard me, 1000 units.**
"1,000?" Pidge asked as he tinkered with the control panel before him. "Is there anyway to know which ones will release where on the planet?"
**From the looks of this panel...no.**
"Making it harder on me than it really is?" Pidge asked. "Well, we have to assume that Kelar will keep the most near this Castle."
**So what do you think we should do?** came Hunk's question.
**We surely cant open them all.**
"And we can't play guessing games on which ones to open."
**Pidge, are you in the control room there?** Anala asked.
"Yeah, just about to finish up this little code problem of ours."
**Once you finish that, do you think you can patch into the main computer in the castle from there?**
"Shouldn't be too hard," Pidge said as he looked around the small room. "There is something here that looks like a computer. It needs help though."
**Well try to work something out,** Anala said. **Everyone's lives depend on it.**
-This is it.-
Keith slowly nodded as he, Xue and Allura stood outside of the large doors that led to the main throne room.
"Do you think he knows that we are on our way?"
"It can only explain why this place has been left unguarded," Keith stated. "Well, I'm tired of playing this little game."
-You must be careful, sir,- Xue stated. -Kelar is a formidable opponent.-
"If it's a kingdom he wants, he's going to have to fight for it."
Xue nodded as he then turned to Allura. -You do not have to enter, if you do not wish to.-
"This is as much of fight for me as it is for Keith," she said. "We work together."
"Ready?"
Xue nodded, and with one push, the doors to the throne room swung open. The three slowly walked inside, as they focused their attention toward the center.
The doors behind them closed slowly, but this did not bother them as they made their way.
Alysson looked up as the three slowly came to the center of the throne room, her attention then drawing toward Kelar as he stood to greet them. She then turned to Lance and Lotor as they stood nearby, their wrists shackled as they too watched.
"Well done, princess," Kelar said as he came to stand before them. "I commend you for escaping that very long fall."
"No thanks to you," Allura stated. "You cheated, Kelar."
"Not as much as you have, my dear princess," he stated as he then turned his gaze onto Keith. "Come here, and dare to lie to me? Under a false pretense to share your secrets only to try and run me out of my kingdom?"
"Your kingdom?" Allura asked. "From the way I hear it, you stole this kingdom from the rightful heirs."
"Rightful heirs?" Kelar asked with a laugh. "You mean that feeble old King and his non-existent daughter? Why should she be allowed to rule a planet she had not lived on for most of her life? Why pass on the rule of a planet with so much potential to a weak- minded woman?"
"You'd be surprised at how strong we really are," Allura stated.
Kelar shook his head as he met Keith's gaze again. "So, young man, do you honestly believe that you can now claim what was yours?"
"And do you honestly think that this kingdom is yours to have?"
Kelar let out a laugh. "I deserve it well more than you do," he stated. He then spied the third companion. "Xue, you dare to go against me?"
-I dare to do anything I wish.- he stated. -You stole my life as you did everyone's lives on this planet.-
Alysson watched as they continued to speak with Kelar. She could not help but wonder what they were saying. Though, she found herself wondering who the man who was with her son was. She slowly made her way closer, hoping she could get a better look at him. As she neared, she suddenly felt a weight on her heart as tears started to well up in her eyes. She shook her head, trying to deny herself as the man came into her view.
"It can't be..." she had to say to herself. Though, as she drew nearer, she could not deny it any longer.
"ALEX!" she yelled.
At that moment, two guards stopped her, grabbing her by her arms as Kelar and his guests turned to her.
"It can't be you!" she cried.
-Alysson...-
"Tsk tsk tsk, Xue," Kelar said as he came to stand before him. "You've been a very naughty person haven't you?" He then smiled as he waved his hand and the two guards holding her back, let her go. She fell forward almost losing her balance, but she then found herself being caught in two strong arms.
She looked up, meeting the gaze of the one man she had not seen in so long. The one man she had given her heart to, and was suddenly taken from her.
"Alex?" she whispered. "It can't be you."
"Alex?" Allura asked as she turned to Keith. "Wasn't that the name...."
"Yes," he said.
"But how.."
"How little you all know," Kelar said as he turned away from them. He walked back toward the throne, and as he took a seat on it, he turned to them. "Xue there, is of an ancient race that used to live high in the mountains in the northern most territory of Vallis. Even older than the humans that settled here."
"Ancient race?" Allura asked.
-A race that you could not even conquer, Kelar,- Xue stated as he stood, helping Alysson to her feet.
"Not that I wanted to, you forget that, Xue," Kelar stated. "As I was explaining. They are magical creatures, wielding power that one could envy. Though there was a great weakness to their usage of that magic. They had to be in the employ of a human; a servant to a human, if they wanted to use that magic. "Xue happened to be in a desperate situation when I found him," he continued. "And in return for me in rescuing him, he pledged his life to me."
-More like you threatened me- Xue said.
"But how does that explain..."
"Xue's race is born without any distinguishing characteristics, I shall say," Kelar went on. "When they come into the employment of a human, it is then and only then, they take on the characteristics of a human." He then turned to where they were standing. "It was also at that time when Xue came into my employment, the Lady Alysson also came to live at the castle, along with her daughter. And I always thought he wore that stupid robe to hide the fact that he did not choose a look, or was pleased with one."
-You are partly correct, Kelar,- Xue started. -We choose to take on the characteristics of anyone we wish. Though we tend to favor those who treat us with great kindness. We also will take on any personality that is remnant of the person we imitate, whether they are long dead or still alive.-
"Whatever the reason, it is why he stands before you right now, looking the way he does," Kelar finished. "In any case, he is as much Xue as he is much of this .... Alex."
Alysson could only stare at Kelar, as Xue held her in his arms. She slowly pried herself away, finding her strength again, to stand on her own.
"The more you destroy lives, Kelar, the more they will come back to haunt you."
Kelar got to his feet again. "Don't make me go back on my word on letting you live, princess," he threatened.
Alysson stared at him, then slowly turned her gaze to Xue. She then looked down before turning to Kelar.
"Then if Xue has gone against you, he is no longer in your employ?" she asked.
-Milady?-
She held her hand up to him as she took a step toward Kelar. "Is he not under your employ?"
"Since he has betrayed me, he is no longer in my employ," Kelar stated. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"
Alysson then turned to where Allura and Keith were standing, as she stepped back toward Xue.
"Yes, that is exactly what I wanted to hear."
Allura saw the expression on Alysson's face, and quickly grabbed Keith's arms, realizing what she was referring to. He turned to her as she started to pull him slowly away from where they were standing.
"What?"
"Remember what I told you about women's intuition," she stated.
"Why?"
"I'm having one of those right now."
Keith then turned to his mother as she stared at Kelar.
"Xue, you heard him," she said with a hesitant smile. "You are free to go."
-You've only limited my usefulness, milady.- he started to say.
"Then, for saving your life, you owe me yours," she said.
"What?" Kelar started to say as he started toward them.
"Xue, do you agree to serve under me, until I see fit to release you from your life bond?"
A sudden realization crossed Xue's features as he then stared up at Kelar.
-Yes, milady.- he said quickly. -With all the power that I hold.-
"No!"
Kelar rushed toward Alysson, but before he could reach her, an invisible force was brought up between them, and he was knocked backwards. Alysson breathed in deeply as she turned to Xue.
"I know your power can only protect me, but see to freeing Lance and Lotor," she said.
-I can't hold my power over you for long,- he warned.
"I know," she said.
She turned toward Kelar as he got back to his feet. She stared him down as he looked toward her.
"Too many mistakes, Kelar," she stated. "I told you that one day, someone will have the power to take you on."
"You think that I can't handle you, princess?" he asked as he turned to her. "You think that I don't know Xue's full power?"
"Its enough to take care of you."
He smiled as he started toward her.
"One thing I take pride in, my dear, is how much time I put in to the weapons and technology I create."
Alysson stared at him as he neared her. He reacted to the invisible force that had been around her, but was able to pass through that. Before she could react, he swung his hand out to her, slapping her across her face. The force of the hit sent her flying to the ground.
"Mother!"
Keith released Allura's hold on him as he ran toward Kelar as he came to stand over Alysson.
"Keith, no!" Alysson yelled.
Kelar quickly turned around seeing the young captain running toward him, and with one swift motion, he turned around, and hit Keith in the stomach, and then grabbed him by his throat.
"Keith!" Lance yelled from across the room.
Lance, Lotor and Xue ran over to where Alysson was lying on the ground as they stared at Kelar who was now holding Keith off the ground, grabbing tight as his hand held him by his throat.
"No," Alysson said as she was helped to her feet, stopping Lance from advancing forward. "I was hit by metal."
"Metal?"
They then looked toward Kelar has he held Keith. The sleeve of the shirt he wore was pulled away, and Alysson saw the arm beneath it.
"He's part machine."
"That should do it."
Anala stared at the wall of panels before her and saw that the several she and Hunk had activated were now flashing in red, signaling that the pumps to those storage tanks were now pumping water toward the surface of the planet.
"That looks like it will do for now.
As she stepped back, she found herself unable to catch her breath. She fell to her knees as she gasped for air.
"Anala?"
Hunk came over to her as she felt her lungs burning.
"Anala, what is it?"
She then was able to breathe in deeply, nearly gasping as she grabbed onto Hunk for support.
"What happened?" he asked.
"I...I don't know," she stated.
She was then silenced again, as the feeling of unable to breathe came to her again. She grabbed onto her throat, as she fought to breathe. Hunk quickly picked her up, as he grabbed for the communicator she wore.
"Pidge, come in."
"**Yeah what's up?**"
"You got that whole code thing worked out?"
"**Just about,**"
"Well, step on it," he said. "Something's wrong with Anala, she can't breathe all of a sudden."
"**What?**"
"Hurry it up," he said. "I'm heading toward you."
"**I'll signal for my Lion,**" Pidge said. "**First time Im going to try and fly by remote.**"
"Hurry."
He looked down at Anala, and saw that she was able to breathe again.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know," she said breathlessly. "I don't know."