Chapter 10
I was manning the view screen module when our sonar began to pick up beams from another ship.
Captain Evaren nodded amusedly, Distress beams.
Your orders, sir? Ajax asked.
We will help out the ship, but be prepared. Aristh Yaolyn, pinpoint our direction.
I stared at the screen. Two points north and three ticks east.
Set the course, Ajax.
Ajax picked up our flight pace and followed my coordinates thoroughly. We were finally doing something right in the eyes of our captain.
The view screen began to click with the sonar, indicating the ship's size and system programming.
I gawked unblinkingly. Sir..?
Yes, aristh?
Sir, the sonar indicates a ship larger than The Shorm. Sonar shows no other surrounding ships. No malfunctions of any type.
Evaren looked over to me. He seemed surprised rather than the perplexed look I wore. His main eyes hardened but his stalk eyes still showed the surprise as he replied, Sonar is not always correct.
Impeccable! Though Evaren knew our own technology was very advanced, the Shorm's sonar was made with modifications from humans. Which, we all knew, made it almost flawless.
What was his motive?
I peered to him. Curious.
His eyes flashed a small, barely noticeable smile.
He was trying to reassure us all, including himself.
Rather bland job.
Sir! Ajax called, The ship! It's turning to us! They're firing!
Dodge you fool!
The Shorm veered to her right as Ajax flipped the helm. I was thrown from my place as was Evaren.
He glared, Return fire, aristh!
It occured to me then, he was yelling at me! I leapt up and raced toward the weapons console. I had barely grabbed the stick when another shot fired. This time Ajax had no time to react.
BA-BOOM!
The Shorm teetered in space.
As Ajax was thrown down, and I was soon to follow, my fingers tightened around the stick. I accidentally pushed the button.
TSSEEEW!
TSSEEEW!
Two Dracon beam lazers shot out from our tottering ship. I watched from the floor as they hit the oncoming ship.
They buried themselves in the main and second engine of the ship. They would be of no use.
Suddenly, Zachary burst through the doorway, I was amazed he wasn't on the ground with the rest of us.
"Captain! The engine room has taken severe damage! It cannot be fixed as of this mome-"
He stopped. Saw the view screen. Saw the monstrous ship that was slowly coming toward us, using its only remaining engine.
TSSSEEEEEEWWWW!
KAAAH-WHUUMFF!
We had no time to react once more as they fired an unearthly shot. It hit our ship dead on, but we did not incinerate.
No, the beam bounced of our shield, shattering it. Stunning our ship. We were helpless.
Totally helpless as they fired another shot.
It wasn't like the other beam, this one was puny compared to the others.
But when it hit us we spun wildly out of control.
I screamed along with my comrades.
Watched as the ship got closer.
Watched as it loomed above us.
Watched as I was flung into the console I had been previously tending.
Blacked out.
* * *
Aah!
I awoke to seering pain. I couldn't see, my vision was blurred. It took several moments before it cleared.
I found myself lying on a table between Zachary and Kelt. I tried to lift my head and my tail, but I couldn't. I was being blocked.
A shield of some sort.
Laughter.
Though I could not move my own head, I could see.
Above me was a mess of bright lights. Blinding light, I was forced to look away.
But I couldn't.
No matter how hard I tried, no matter how hard I strained, I couldn't do anything!
A dark figure loomed into my view range. Course features. I had never seen such a creature in all my years.
Skin which held a short red-orange fur in place. Wings were connected to long, strong arms. At the end of each wing were four claws which were probably used as fingers. Upon the creatures coarse head was a single horn, like the large horn of a rhinocerous morph I have.
He had a long, thin tail, it seemed to look like Kelt's for the most part, with one blade at the tip and another toward the end section. His feet were round like a rhino's, and had three 'toes' on each one. Around his neck, ankles, and tail were long, black hairs that flared out around the areas they were in. (Like a Clydsedale.) Around his waist was a burlap cloth.
Dark, navy eyes stared coldly at me. I could tell he had a type of needle in his claws, he was injecting me.
I could only wonder what it was.
I groaned and the creature nodded, reassuring itself. It stepped forward, leaning in closely to me. "Who are you?" it asked in a deep, gruff voice. "Why have you come here, to this place?"
I tried to speak through my groggy senses. I, I am an Andalite. I am on a mission. I paused, glared. Who are you? I demanded.
The creature snorted, "I am a Devilian. I am your captor, you answer my questions."
Fair enough, but first, what did you inject me with?
"The injection will render you helpless for a short while. The pale creature beside you woke up but his injection made him fall asleep once more," he said. "What is your mission, Andalite?"
I hesitated, how was I to know if he was lying? If he really was a Kelbrid, and not some 'Devilian'? What was a Devilian, anyway? I finally answered.
My friends and I are supposed to be saving four legends and a few others who flew into Kelbrid Territory years ago.
The creature laughed, "So, you are on a suicide mission?"
It's not suicide.
"Oh, but it is, just as the creatures aboard the Rachel knew when they flew through space here."
I stopped, gaping. You saw them?
"Two bodies floated through space. I picked them up and froze them. The other ship was seriously maimed, another ship came and picked up living creautres, along with the rest of the bodies."
What happened?
"Two bodies floated through space. I picked them up and froze them. The rest must still be aboard the other ship."
I tried to move my head. Amazingly, I was rewarded when my head lifted from the table. May I get up?
"Yes, but let me warn you, Andalite, one false move and you will be fried."
I shrugged, Very well. But my name is Yaolyn.
"And mine is Marcax."
I got up. Marcax watched me keenly. I saw how he noted my movement and reactions as I looked around the ship. It was as grand and free as our R&R area. I looked over to my friends, or atleast, comrades.
Alloran stared dazedly from his table. I looked over to Marcax, May he?
"Yes, but the rest of them will have permanent shield over them until one of you return to the tables."
Alloran rolled off the table, as Marcax was about to speak he held up a hand. No need, he said, I heard everything. My name is Alloran-Semitur-Corass. I heard you have two frozen bodies, are they well intact?
"Yes, of course."
May I see them?
"I will lead the way. Follow me."
I was manning the view screen module when our sonar began to pick up beams from another ship.
Captain Evaren nodded amusedly, Distress beams.
Your orders, sir? Ajax asked.
We will help out the ship, but be prepared. Aristh Yaolyn, pinpoint our direction.
I stared at the screen. Two points north and three ticks east.
Set the course, Ajax.
Ajax picked up our flight pace and followed my coordinates thoroughly. We were finally doing something right in the eyes of our captain.
The view screen began to click with the sonar, indicating the ship's size and system programming.
I gawked unblinkingly. Sir..?
Yes, aristh?
Sir, the sonar indicates a ship larger than The Shorm. Sonar shows no other surrounding ships. No malfunctions of any type.
Evaren looked over to me. He seemed surprised rather than the perplexed look I wore. His main eyes hardened but his stalk eyes still showed the surprise as he replied, Sonar is not always correct.
Impeccable! Though Evaren knew our own technology was very advanced, the Shorm's sonar was made with modifications from humans. Which, we all knew, made it almost flawless.
What was his motive?
I peered to him. Curious.
His eyes flashed a small, barely noticeable smile.
He was trying to reassure us all, including himself.
Rather bland job.
Sir! Ajax called, The ship! It's turning to us! They're firing!
Dodge you fool!
The Shorm veered to her right as Ajax flipped the helm. I was thrown from my place as was Evaren.
He glared, Return fire, aristh!
It occured to me then, he was yelling at me! I leapt up and raced toward the weapons console. I had barely grabbed the stick when another shot fired. This time Ajax had no time to react.
BA-BOOM!
The Shorm teetered in space.
As Ajax was thrown down, and I was soon to follow, my fingers tightened around the stick. I accidentally pushed the button.
TSSEEEW!
TSSEEEW!
Two Dracon beam lazers shot out from our tottering ship. I watched from the floor as they hit the oncoming ship.
They buried themselves in the main and second engine of the ship. They would be of no use.
Suddenly, Zachary burst through the doorway, I was amazed he wasn't on the ground with the rest of us.
"Captain! The engine room has taken severe damage! It cannot be fixed as of this mome-"
He stopped. Saw the view screen. Saw the monstrous ship that was slowly coming toward us, using its only remaining engine.
TSSSEEEEEEWWWW!
KAAAH-WHUUMFF!
We had no time to react once more as they fired an unearthly shot. It hit our ship dead on, but we did not incinerate.
No, the beam bounced of our shield, shattering it. Stunning our ship. We were helpless.
Totally helpless as they fired another shot.
It wasn't like the other beam, this one was puny compared to the others.
But when it hit us we spun wildly out of control.
I screamed along with my comrades.
Watched as the ship got closer.
Watched as it loomed above us.
Watched as I was flung into the console I had been previously tending.
Blacked out.
* * *
Aah!
I awoke to seering pain. I couldn't see, my vision was blurred. It took several moments before it cleared.
I found myself lying on a table between Zachary and Kelt. I tried to lift my head and my tail, but I couldn't. I was being blocked.
A shield of some sort.
Laughter.
Though I could not move my own head, I could see.
Above me was a mess of bright lights. Blinding light, I was forced to look away.
But I couldn't.
No matter how hard I tried, no matter how hard I strained, I couldn't do anything!
A dark figure loomed into my view range. Course features. I had never seen such a creature in all my years.
Skin which held a short red-orange fur in place. Wings were connected to long, strong arms. At the end of each wing were four claws which were probably used as fingers. Upon the creatures coarse head was a single horn, like the large horn of a rhinocerous morph I have.
He had a long, thin tail, it seemed to look like Kelt's for the most part, with one blade at the tip and another toward the end section. His feet were round like a rhino's, and had three 'toes' on each one. Around his neck, ankles, and tail were long, black hairs that flared out around the areas they were in. (Like a Clydsedale.) Around his waist was a burlap cloth.
Dark, navy eyes stared coldly at me. I could tell he had a type of needle in his claws, he was injecting me.
I could only wonder what it was.
I groaned and the creature nodded, reassuring itself. It stepped forward, leaning in closely to me. "Who are you?" it asked in a deep, gruff voice. "Why have you come here, to this place?"
I tried to speak through my groggy senses. I, I am an Andalite. I am on a mission. I paused, glared. Who are you? I demanded.
The creature snorted, "I am a Devilian. I am your captor, you answer my questions."
Fair enough, but first, what did you inject me with?
"The injection will render you helpless for a short while. The pale creature beside you woke up but his injection made him fall asleep once more," he said. "What is your mission, Andalite?"
I hesitated, how was I to know if he was lying? If he really was a Kelbrid, and not some 'Devilian'? What was a Devilian, anyway? I finally answered.
My friends and I are supposed to be saving four legends and a few others who flew into Kelbrid Territory years ago.
The creature laughed, "So, you are on a suicide mission?"
It's not suicide.
"Oh, but it is, just as the creatures aboard the Rachel knew when they flew through space here."
I stopped, gaping. You saw them?
"Two bodies floated through space. I picked them up and froze them. The other ship was seriously maimed, another ship came and picked up living creautres, along with the rest of the bodies."
What happened?
"Two bodies floated through space. I picked them up and froze them. The rest must still be aboard the other ship."
I tried to move my head. Amazingly, I was rewarded when my head lifted from the table. May I get up?
"Yes, but let me warn you, Andalite, one false move and you will be fried."
I shrugged, Very well. But my name is Yaolyn.
"And mine is Marcax."
I got up. Marcax watched me keenly. I saw how he noted my movement and reactions as I looked around the ship. It was as grand and free as our R&R area. I looked over to my friends, or atleast, comrades.
Alloran stared dazedly from his table. I looked over to Marcax, May he?
"Yes, but the rest of them will have permanent shield over them until one of you return to the tables."
Alloran rolled off the table, as Marcax was about to speak he held up a hand. No need, he said, I heard everything. My name is Alloran-Semitur-Corass. I heard you have two frozen bodies, are they well intact?
"Yes, of course."
May I see them?
"I will lead the way. Follow me."