Thanks for all the kind reviews!!! Spacey you rock, you know it! MaryRose,
redheadedangel, Hebe! Thanks guys. My special german friends Elyc and
Cooooobrraa! Miss ya too, shorty!!! And to all the others.
As you´ll see, I LOVE CLIFFHANGERS!!! So, keep reviewing, or I let you
WAIIIIT!!! I know, guys, it´s TORTURE!
Scaramouche did the beta! Again! (THX!). and gave me a hard time to find the word "tadpole" *gg*
I just hope it´s what I think it is!!! Frog-babies!!! ;-D
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A squealing and screeching and the clapping of... fins? Leo suddenly turned serious.
"They are on shore!" He shouted.
All eyes turned to the yellow alien.
"Who? " They all asked at the same time.
"The children of our Master. Once a month they come on shore to be fed." The excitement in his voice was audible.
"The children of your Master? " Dylan asked skeptically.
"Yes, yes! " Leo confirmed. "They are growing in our oceans and one day... one day, they will live with us, under us. "
Trance hands lay on Harpers shoulder; she could feel him tense as Leo spoke.
"Nightsiders..." he whispered.
Beka's head shot up. "WHAT?! "
"It's always pleasant to hear, that I'm not totally forgotten. " All could hear a well-known, squealing voice from one of the small side-streets.
Dylan, Beka and Harper reacted immediately and drew their weapons. Trance, who still stood behind Harper, escaped a small scream and Mr. Leo, the yellow-skinned alien, fell on his knees.
"My Master. "
Without any hurry the Nightsider stepped out of the side-street, shadowed by two armed guards on each side of him. In his hands, he carried a at least lower-arm long, hairy and really ugly tadpole.
"Trance, Beka...Harper." he paused some time between Beka's and Harper's name and neglected Dylan intentionally. "May I bid you 'welcome' on my planet? "As he said so, he stroked through the fur of the hairy bundle in his arms. "And may I introduce you to my family?" with these words Gerentex lifted the fur-ball in his hands. Four pair of eyes stared at the Nightsider in disbelieve.
Then Harper said, "As if it wouldn't have been enough with one of you?"
Before his counterpart could even take a breath to answer him, Harper received a hit on his head. "Seamus Zelazny Harper!" Trance raged.
Because of her outburst Dylan, Beka and Harper got distracted. It was only for a moment, but the body-guards of Gerentex didn't waste their opportunity and where about to open fire. But they never could start with their attack. Both guards behind the Nightsider suddenly fell unconscious and a strength arm found its way around Gerentex throat.
As wouldn't it have been enough, he felt the cold metal of a Dagger on his neck. Totally surprised by this change of fate Gerentex lost the grip on his brood. The Nightsider-Baby fell on the ground and squeaked pitifully.
"Weapons down!" everyone could hear the low voice of Tyr.
Seconds passed without anything happened, but finally the leftover guards let their weapons down.
"Amateurs." Tyr stated as he loosened his grip on Gerentex´s throat a little and started walking backwards to his crewmates. His concentration left the guards only for a short moment as he asked his captain: "Can we leave this damn planet NOW?"
Back on the Maru Tyr released the Nightsider. All protests of Harper didn't help. As they had gotten rid of Gerentex the Maru took off immediately. While Beka had to fly, the others sat in the kitchen and speculated about the "Why's and How's" that had given Gerentex the opportunity to own a planet. Dylan still seemed to be astonished by what had happened today.
"Have you seen Leo? I think he almost fainted, as Tyr threatened rat-face with his Dagger." Harper said.
Trance shook her head: "That you always have to be that insulting about him..."
"Yahhhh!" Harper defended himself, "but it's the truth... can't a man tell the truth?"
Tyr followed their babbling, but didn't talk. He was busy with something else. Something was different on this ship. Something... smelled different. He didn't know what or why. But he knew it was something foreign.
"...Tyr?"
As he lifted his head he met a pair of blue eyes. "What do you want?" he asked annoyed.
"I thought something's wrong, cause... hmmm... you seemed absent."
With a sharp movement Tyr stood: "Aren't I allowed to think?" he snarled.
Before Dylan could reply Harper had to bellow: "Well, it isn't really 'Nietzschean' to think!" Everyone grew silent, awaiting the explosion from Tyr. But Tyr's reaction wasn't as expected.
A short moment he stared at Harper, than he explained with worry in his voice. "Something isn't right. Something's different. Something changed. It... smells... different."
All three's attention turned to him. They looked at him seriously and then, suddenly started to laugh and giggle. Tears spilled over their faces because they laughed so hard. It seemed obvious that they enjoyed Tyr's words.
The Nietzschean frowned even more at his Crewmates reactions, than turned on his heels and started for the cockpit.
Beka sat in silence. Her attention wasn't by flying today. She shook her head, trying to get rid of the confusing things in her head, as she heard footsteps.
"Beka!" she heard Tyr's voice calling her. "How are you doing?" Beka almost lost her grip on the steering-controls.
"What?" she asked astonished. "Did I hear a 'how are you' from 'you'?" A smile spread over her face. "Well, I'm fine, actually. I'm still trying to comprehend how Gerentex fulfilled the task to get a whole planet in trusting him... but I should really stop wondering, because even Tyr Anasazi isn't Tyr Anasazi anymore, asking 'me' how I'm doing! But... what's with you? Everything's alright?" Tyr had listened to her monologue and needed a moment to realize that she had asked him a question.
He then nodded and shook immediately afterwards his head no. "Something isn't as it should be." He answered her question.
Beka raised her eyebrows curiously. "And that would be?" she wanted to know.
"Well, the others found my words pretty... amusing," he sought for a describing word, "I think they're still laughing... but something's wrong Beka. The air smells odd, not like the air of the Maru should smell. Somewhat... someone... is or was here."
Beka took her eyes off the controls and glanced at him. "Someone? Somewhat? Tyr... the Maru would have reported any unauthorized entrance. No one can come aboard or from board without Maru informing us."
Tyr didn't seem to be convinced by her words but before he could complain something happened to Beka. It was as someone would have switched a button in Beka's brain. One moment she looked at him seriously, the next she started to grin.
"Remember Tyr, when Harper had hidden from you on the Maru? What did he do? Wasn't it because he had changed your entrance-authorization for your quarters? And you came around the corner at exactly that moment?... it was soooo funny..." she started laughing. First a quiet giggle but soon it grew louder and louder.
"Beka. What's wrong with you... why..." The Nietzschean stared at the Captain of the Eureka Maru in disbelieve. It happened like it had happened in the kitchen before. But a second later he forgot about his worries as he himself started to feel weird. His thoughts ran in wild circles round his head. He remembered several funny occurrences at the same time, blended with bad experiences, mixed together to an absolute new feeling.
Something, that seemed to be extremely funny. A grin started its way over his face, soon followed by the first laughter.
But before it could get any worse they where interrupted by a scream. Beka and Tyr stopped laughing and stared at one another in shock. With an often practiced movement Beka switched on the auto-pilot and together they started for the small kitchen of the Eureka Maru.
Scaramouche did the beta! Again! (THX!). and gave me a hard time to find the word "tadpole" *gg*
I just hope it´s what I think it is!!! Frog-babies!!! ;-D
================================
A squealing and screeching and the clapping of... fins? Leo suddenly turned serious.
"They are on shore!" He shouted.
All eyes turned to the yellow alien.
"Who? " They all asked at the same time.
"The children of our Master. Once a month they come on shore to be fed." The excitement in his voice was audible.
"The children of your Master? " Dylan asked skeptically.
"Yes, yes! " Leo confirmed. "They are growing in our oceans and one day... one day, they will live with us, under us. "
Trance hands lay on Harpers shoulder; she could feel him tense as Leo spoke.
"Nightsiders..." he whispered.
Beka's head shot up. "WHAT?! "
"It's always pleasant to hear, that I'm not totally forgotten. " All could hear a well-known, squealing voice from one of the small side-streets.
Dylan, Beka and Harper reacted immediately and drew their weapons. Trance, who still stood behind Harper, escaped a small scream and Mr. Leo, the yellow-skinned alien, fell on his knees.
"My Master. "
Without any hurry the Nightsider stepped out of the side-street, shadowed by two armed guards on each side of him. In his hands, he carried a at least lower-arm long, hairy and really ugly tadpole.
"Trance, Beka...Harper." he paused some time between Beka's and Harper's name and neglected Dylan intentionally. "May I bid you 'welcome' on my planet? "As he said so, he stroked through the fur of the hairy bundle in his arms. "And may I introduce you to my family?" with these words Gerentex lifted the fur-ball in his hands. Four pair of eyes stared at the Nightsider in disbelieve.
Then Harper said, "As if it wouldn't have been enough with one of you?"
Before his counterpart could even take a breath to answer him, Harper received a hit on his head. "Seamus Zelazny Harper!" Trance raged.
Because of her outburst Dylan, Beka and Harper got distracted. It was only for a moment, but the body-guards of Gerentex didn't waste their opportunity and where about to open fire. But they never could start with their attack. Both guards behind the Nightsider suddenly fell unconscious and a strength arm found its way around Gerentex throat.
As wouldn't it have been enough, he felt the cold metal of a Dagger on his neck. Totally surprised by this change of fate Gerentex lost the grip on his brood. The Nightsider-Baby fell on the ground and squeaked pitifully.
"Weapons down!" everyone could hear the low voice of Tyr.
Seconds passed without anything happened, but finally the leftover guards let their weapons down.
"Amateurs." Tyr stated as he loosened his grip on Gerentex´s throat a little and started walking backwards to his crewmates. His concentration left the guards only for a short moment as he asked his captain: "Can we leave this damn planet NOW?"
Back on the Maru Tyr released the Nightsider. All protests of Harper didn't help. As they had gotten rid of Gerentex the Maru took off immediately. While Beka had to fly, the others sat in the kitchen and speculated about the "Why's and How's" that had given Gerentex the opportunity to own a planet. Dylan still seemed to be astonished by what had happened today.
"Have you seen Leo? I think he almost fainted, as Tyr threatened rat-face with his Dagger." Harper said.
Trance shook her head: "That you always have to be that insulting about him..."
"Yahhhh!" Harper defended himself, "but it's the truth... can't a man tell the truth?"
Tyr followed their babbling, but didn't talk. He was busy with something else. Something was different on this ship. Something... smelled different. He didn't know what or why. But he knew it was something foreign.
"...Tyr?"
As he lifted his head he met a pair of blue eyes. "What do you want?" he asked annoyed.
"I thought something's wrong, cause... hmmm... you seemed absent."
With a sharp movement Tyr stood: "Aren't I allowed to think?" he snarled.
Before Dylan could reply Harper had to bellow: "Well, it isn't really 'Nietzschean' to think!" Everyone grew silent, awaiting the explosion from Tyr. But Tyr's reaction wasn't as expected.
A short moment he stared at Harper, than he explained with worry in his voice. "Something isn't right. Something's different. Something changed. It... smells... different."
All three's attention turned to him. They looked at him seriously and then, suddenly started to laugh and giggle. Tears spilled over their faces because they laughed so hard. It seemed obvious that they enjoyed Tyr's words.
The Nietzschean frowned even more at his Crewmates reactions, than turned on his heels and started for the cockpit.
Beka sat in silence. Her attention wasn't by flying today. She shook her head, trying to get rid of the confusing things in her head, as she heard footsteps.
"Beka!" she heard Tyr's voice calling her. "How are you doing?" Beka almost lost her grip on the steering-controls.
"What?" she asked astonished. "Did I hear a 'how are you' from 'you'?" A smile spread over her face. "Well, I'm fine, actually. I'm still trying to comprehend how Gerentex fulfilled the task to get a whole planet in trusting him... but I should really stop wondering, because even Tyr Anasazi isn't Tyr Anasazi anymore, asking 'me' how I'm doing! But... what's with you? Everything's alright?" Tyr had listened to her monologue and needed a moment to realize that she had asked him a question.
He then nodded and shook immediately afterwards his head no. "Something isn't as it should be." He answered her question.
Beka raised her eyebrows curiously. "And that would be?" she wanted to know.
"Well, the others found my words pretty... amusing," he sought for a describing word, "I think they're still laughing... but something's wrong Beka. The air smells odd, not like the air of the Maru should smell. Somewhat... someone... is or was here."
Beka took her eyes off the controls and glanced at him. "Someone? Somewhat? Tyr... the Maru would have reported any unauthorized entrance. No one can come aboard or from board without Maru informing us."
Tyr didn't seem to be convinced by her words but before he could complain something happened to Beka. It was as someone would have switched a button in Beka's brain. One moment she looked at him seriously, the next she started to grin.
"Remember Tyr, when Harper had hidden from you on the Maru? What did he do? Wasn't it because he had changed your entrance-authorization for your quarters? And you came around the corner at exactly that moment?... it was soooo funny..." she started laughing. First a quiet giggle but soon it grew louder and louder.
"Beka. What's wrong with you... why..." The Nietzschean stared at the Captain of the Eureka Maru in disbelieve. It happened like it had happened in the kitchen before. But a second later he forgot about his worries as he himself started to feel weird. His thoughts ran in wild circles round his head. He remembered several funny occurrences at the same time, blended with bad experiences, mixed together to an absolute new feeling.
Something, that seemed to be extremely funny. A grin started its way over his face, soon followed by the first laughter.
But before it could get any worse they where interrupted by a scream. Beka and Tyr stopped laughing and stared at one another in shock. With an often practiced movement Beka switched on the auto-pilot and together they started for the small kitchen of the Eureka Maru.