Dark Shadows

It was dark. Too dark. Jax could hardly see where he was going, and could see nothing at all of the tunnel in front of him, save what Cail's luma shone on. Even then, the light from the luma was flickering dangerously, threatening to go out every minute. Jax was also beginning to think there had been no sound at all, that he had just imagined it. It wasn't making any sound now. "You hear it anymore?" he asked Cail.

"Nope. The humming's stopped."

"Maybe we're going the wrong way," he suggested.

Again, the sound filled the tunnel, now most definitely louder, but still nice and calming. Cail shook his head calmly. "Uh, nope. We're going the right way." Cail turned, careful not to shine the light in his friend's eyes. "But now it doesn't sound so animal."

Then, from behind them, a green light filtered into the cavern. It grew brighter as something approached them.

Cail spun around. "What is that?" he cried. Two green specks, keeping totally level to one another floated closer, blinking on and off ever few seconds.

"Guys, calm down, it's just me." Nelkf held up her hands defensively. Cail lowered his luma. Blinding her would do him no good.

Jax laughed. "Nelkf! What are you doing?"

Cail cocked his head, looking puzzled. "And where's that glow coming from? What do you have?"

"Nothing," she replied. "it's my eyes."

Jax explained. "They glow in the dark, but in the light they just look weird."

Nelkf cut him off. "And as far as why I'm here," she rested her wounded hand on Jax's shoulder. "I owe him."

Jax shook his head. "You said we were even."

"We were until you saved me from being part of a swoop wreck."

Cail looked at her sideways in the near darkness. "I thought you were a being who didn't care about others."

"I sort of am," she said, "but I guess you two are too, so I can relate to you."

Cail laughed. "I also thought you said you wanted to live a long life."

"I do," she said, "but what's the point if I have the blood of my friends on my hands." Suddenly, she clapped her hands over her mouth, as if she couldn't believe what she had just said. A moment later, she recovered and took a deep breath. "Well?" she said, pulling her own blaster out of her pocket. As few shots as I've got, it may come in handy. "Are we going to check this out or just wait around?"

Cail laughed and shined his luma down the path they were taking. "That's more of what I understand. Movement and action, not that philo-sofi-fucl stuff."

Nelkf knew that wasn't how the word was pronounced, but she didn't know the correct pronunciation and no one seemed to care, so she just kept quiet.

The sound was closer now, although it seemed to have taken on a deep hum with no trace of a hiss at all. The trio continued to sneak along the walls of the cavern until they reached a final cavern. Three smaller tunnels forked off in separate directions. There was no way to tell where the noise was coming from.

Cail turned to his companions and shrugged. "Looks like we're going to play banana. Here, Jax," he tossed Jax the luma. "I can see fairly okay in the dark. I'll give a yell if I need help."

Jax nodded as Cail ran off into the middle of the three tunnels. He then put his hand on Nelkf's shoulder. "You'll be okay?"

Nelkf glared at him for a moment, but realized Jax meant no offense. Just the same, she wasn't happy. "I'm able to take care of myself, I'm not a kid," she told him before turning and marching into the left tunnel.