The Forgotten Past Part 10: Capture
Ganiana was thrown into a dark prisoner's cell. Shame enveloped
her and she began to weep silently on the cold floor. Even though she
knew that in many people's eyes, she felt sympathy for the evil
incarnate, she felt no regret. Deep down, she knew she had made the
right descision, even if it was not the popular one.
"I never thought they'd put you in here." It was the boy.
"It's your fault," she replied bitterly.
"How can that be possible?"
"You didn't act like we percieve you to act. You're supposed to
be selfish, ruthless, greedy..."
"I get the picture. We're all supposed to be like Pokey."
"Pokey... that was the blond, fat boy that started all of this,
correct?"
"That's him."
"How can you be so calm? You are going to die any day now and
it will be far more painful than the death chosen for me," Ganiana
blurted out.
"It's best not to think about it."
"That's easy for you to say. You don't have any idea what will
happen. I do. I can't forget it."
"I've had plenty of time to think about death over the past
couple of days. You people sure know how to torture a person."
"What do you mean? We haven't had time for you. You have no
idea how much worse the torture will be."
"I'm sure it will be very painful. But being alone for three
days does strange things to a person."
"I had never thought of that."
"If you hate us so much, then why do you know our language?"
"It's a tactical advantage. That way, we can understand every-
thing you say, but you only understand what we want you to."
"You fear us that much?"
"We don't fear you. We don't fear anything!"
"Then why do you need to understand our language and better
your odds?" That stunned her into silence.
***
The commander stood with his back to the door of his office
when Jezira walked in. She had been summoned to his office to discuss
a new mission. The summon was the first time he had spoken to her
directly.
"C-commander?" His regal air made many Giygans nervous, even
without taking his military success into account.
"You are a Giygan. Be strong and act like one."
"Yes, sir! You sent for me, sir?"
"Yes. While Ganiana was in command, she allowed three of the
Chosen Four to escape. This error needs to be corrected. If there are
others with them, capture those humans as well. The less humans in
this universe, the better."
"If you believe that, then why did you consent to having only
those of the original two executed?"
"Silence! I will not tolerate insubordination!"
"Yes, sir."
He ignored her. "Perhaps you are on Ganiana's side! Perhaps
you think that Giygas's death was justified!" Madness gleamed in his
eyes and echoed through his words.
"I would never betray the Giygan empire!" Jezira cried.
"There was a time when Ganiana would say that," Now he was
almost whispering. Jezira, shocked at his sudden mood swing, remained
silent. "My allies are few and far between. No one can be trusted. You
have your assignment. Now go!"
"Sir?" Jezira felt she had to ask one final question. "What
will happen to Ganiana?"
His fist clenched with anger. "When I have found a suitable
punishment, the entire crew will know. In fact, they will watch."
***
Ness's friends and family were having a memorial service for
him at the one place that seemed fitting: near the site where the
meteorite had crashed. There was a little podium where those who knew
him shared past expieriences.
At the moment, Paula stood at the podium. She was relating the
story of how she had met him. Both the audience and she fought back
tears as the story progressed. Just as she was finishing up, a strange
object appeared in the sky. A couple people panicked and ran down the
hill. Most stayed to see what was coming.
"It's some kind of ship!" someone observed. The wind was
picking up, so he had to shout to be heard.
"Do you think they're aliens?" another person wondered in fear.
"Maybe they're good," suggested a little girl.
"Giygas wasn't," muttered several people under their breath.
The ship landed. Everyone held their breath as the aliens appeared.
***
Teddy and Jack watched the scene unfold from the hilltop
overlooking the ceremony. This was even closer to the meteorite than
the ceremony, ironically enough.
"I knew it!" Jack muttered.
"So now we're just going to sit here..." Teddy muttered. "This
isn't right."
"We have to do it this way. Otherwise all of humanity will have
to be sacrificed. Is that what you want?!"
"No, of course not."
"Besides, there's no way out."
"What are you talking about?"
"Back when all of this began, around the time of Giygas, I
tried to quit. They made it clear that it was not an option."
"Who's they?" Teddy asked.
"Our bosses. They made it clear that quitting this organization
meant termination." He sighed. "There was a time when I thought I would
take death over this, but..." He trailed off, sighing again.
"I didn't realize... Why didn't you tell me any of this
sooner?"
Jack ignored the question. "All we can do is keep the masses
from panicking. The only way to do that is to make sure no one knows
the truth about the disappearances." Teddy stared at him, both
dumbfounded and reticent. He focused his attention back onto the scene
just in time to see the first alien emerge from the spacecraft.
***
Jezira walked out with an air of confidence. Shortly afterward,
two Starmen Deluxe followed. She snapped the order to capture. One used
Paralysis Omega. The other began to round up the helpless victims.
"Poo," Jeff managed to say. "Can't you heal them, or
something?"
Poo, who had already healed himself, replied, "I cannot heal
everyone at once. You know that. Healing Beta!" Immediately, the
numbness left Jeff's body. They looked to Paula, who appeared to be
praying. A heavy wind picked up and blew the Starmen back, though the
damage it took away was trivial. Poo healed her as well and she ran
up to join them.
"What are you doing here?" Paula demanded. Her face was
streaked with tears, but her voice remained strong. Unlike Ganiana,
Jezira did not feel any desire to explain why she was there. Instead,
she barked the order to the Starmen to kill them.
The first used Starstorm Omega, which inflicted heavy damage
on all three of them. Too late, Paula countered with Shield Omega.
"What should we do? We're completely unarmed," Jeff wondered.
He was having trouble standing because of the Starstorm attack.
"We'll do our best to defend ourselves," Paula replied. Jeff
nodded and attacked the first Starman. It did little damage. Poo healed
Paula first because she needed it the most. The second Starman attacked
with Starstorm Omega as well. Thanks to the shield, this time
the enemy felt the effects.
"Paula, the last time we fought one of these Starmen, it was
using a shield," Poo reminded her.
Paula nodded in understanding. "Thunder Beta!" Lightning
flashed downward toward the first one, only to be reflected. Paula
staggered as it hit. When the second flash reflected back to her, Paula
smiled. Althogh it hurt, both of thier shields had been destroyed.
Jeff took a defensive stance. "Okay, Poo. Show them how
Starstorm ought to be done." Poo nodded and used the technique. It did
major damage. Both of them were nearly destroyed. As a last-ditch-
effort, one of them shot a beam at Jeff, who was so weak that he
collapsed. Too late, Poo tried to heal him. Needless to say, it had
no effect. The other Starman shot one at Poo, who collapsed as well.
Paula collapsed in prayer. A golden aura radiated from her
body. A moment later, rainbow light came down from the sky. Both Poo
and Jeff stood up, completely reenergized.
Jezira remained completely calm. She brought out a device,
which Jeff recognized.
"It looks like some kind of neutralizer." Unfortunately,
knowing what it was did not help. Thier shields were disspelled with
ease. Not knowing what else to do, Jeff attacked one of the Starmen
unarmed again. It began to show signs that it could not take much more.
Poo instantly followed up with Starstorm Omega. Both Starmen were
destroyed. The three celebrated.
"So, you think you've won?" Jezira laughed. She whispered
something inaudible in a dark tone. A brilliant flash of light
followed, rendering Paula, Jeff and Poo diamondized.
***
Tammy Marlow was late coming to the service. She was running
up the hills while the struggle took place. When she had almost gotten
there, Shalo teleported right in front of her.
"Wow! How did you...do that?"
"It's called Psi," Shalo replied, sounding a little annoyed.
After a few moments of silence, she added, "We'd better get going.
We're late already," in a kinder tone.
"Yeah." They ran up the hills, but when they got there, the
last of the guests were being hauled into the spaceship.
"What the-" Tammy cried.
"Hello, Tammy Marlow. I didn't think I would ever see your face
again."
"You're a Giygan!"
"It took you that long? I'm surprised you were able to
penetrate our defenses. However, this time, you will not escape." She
muttered the same phrase as before, but the attack was absorbed by a
shield.
"Psi...I'm not surprised." To herself, [Liar. She didn't
consciously use it, so how can the shield be so powerful? It's unheard
of.] She took out her gun and adjusted the settings.
She fired two accurate shots within miliseconds of each other.
Jezira looked at the other one. [Or maybe it was this other girl. She
seems to have plenty of control over her powers.] Two of her
subordinates approached her.
"Ma'am, we have captured all of the humans in the area."
"Even the ones on the hill above us?"
"Right here." She looked downward and saw two unconscious men
with them.
"Take these two children as well. Let's move out!" Within
moments, the ship took off. Jezira stared at the three diamondized
children. "These are the ones who defeated Giygas?" She cocked her
head to the side and said, "They are quite famous among their fellow
humans. We already have their leader..." She smiled as her plan began
to take shape.
***
Ness and Ganiana watched through their doors and heard the bang
of cell doors as stunned humans were hastily thrown into them. Jezira
walked over to Ganiana's cell.
"Your execution date has not been set yet," She gloated. This
was a bad sign for Ganiana. She couldn't stop herself from cringing.
"I'll bet you'd do almost anything to get out of this situation."
"Do you really have to be here?" Ganiana groaned.
"I think I have a way to get you out of this."
"What are you talking about?"
"The accusations against you are false, correct?" Jezira didn't
wait for her to answer. "I know a way for you to get out of this." Then
she walked away, leaving Ganiana mystified. She walked over to the
window to hear Ness's comments, but he was looking through the other
window.
"Who the..." The figure inside was diamondized, making
identification difficult, especially in the dim light. "Healing Gamma!"
"Where am I?" the figure groaned.
"Jeff?" Ness exclaimed. "Is that you?" It took him a long time
to answer.
"Ness! You're alive?"
"For now. What's going on? What are you doing here?"
"Uhh, well... We had all gathered together... in your memory...
and they attacked. Then they brought us here."
"Jeff, who is 'we'?"
"Well, uh, basically everyone you know."
"WHAT!"