"What are we going to do?" asked John as he and Aeryn hid in their hiding place.

"I don't know. This creature sounds too deadly for just us to kill. Do you think we could kill it?"

"I dunno Aeryn. We can't free our friends to help us. There are guards protecting the cells. We'd never get past them."

Aeryn sighed and took Critchon's hand gently.

"I wished we could go to a planet where we didn't get into trouble. And it wasn't even Chiana's fault this time. I just wish we could have saved the girl," said Aeryn.

"We did save the girl, but then lost her. We'll get her back and the crew. We haven't lost the fight yet. We need to devise a plan and fast."

++++++++

Alexia was placed back in her cell and chained to the wall. Her brother hung beside her.

"Randi I'm back, How are you?"

"I'm OK. The guards haven't used the cage in a while as they have been busy elsewhere. Who were those aliens that came in?" he asked

"Two of the aliens saved me from the cage. Their friends are down the hall. Tomorrow they have to fight the 'Billop' to free them. They're going to free us, to save us and hopefully we might get away from here to safety"

Randi produced a smile.

"How are all your bruises?"

"They hurt, but I'll live. Critchon, one of the aliens said he would get one of his crewmembers to examine me. I don't like being tortured for doing nothing wrong."

"I agree, Alexia. It's not fair. They seem to target you more than me. I wonder why?" asked Randi frowning.

"I think its because I am weaker than you. You are a cycle and a bit older than me. I want to leave this place. I hate it here," said Alexia as a tear rolled down her cheek.

++++++++

"Look, John, the best thing we can do is use our weapons and fight. At the moment they are only hope. Our friends are stuck in cells and unless they manage to free themselves, fighting the creature is our only hope to save them. They might use the cage on the girl and her brother again. I don't want that to happen."

"Don't worry. Winona will never fail me. She is always ready when you need her."

Aeryn smiled, "If we come out this alive. I never want to leave you John, you are my centre of the universe." John took her hand and kissed her sweetly on her cheek. They hugged each other.

+++++++++

In the main arena Aeryn and John stood facing the 'Billop', a four legged creature with purple hairy skin and yellow eyes. Around the room an audience of aliens sat eagerly in their pews waiting for tournament to begin.

Aeryn charged in firing her pulse rifle at the creature. She was followed by John, who did the same firing at the creature's body, having no effect though. The creature was strong. Mac was right. Would they kill the 'Billop'? Aeryn fled backwards off to her left shooting as she went, Critchon fired from his right. A mass of bolts of light flying across the room was all you could see. The bolts of light darted back and forth throughout the room. Aeryn fired again as the creature swooped around, smashing into Aeryn's side. She flew to the ground with a thud.

"Aeryn, you alright?" shouted John from the other side of the room. Aeryn stirred, her vision had gone all fuzzy. She staggered to he feet when the creature smashed her again, she went flying back to the floor. The crowd cheered with joy. Still shooting Cricthon made his way over to Aeryn. He bent down and nudged her. There was no response.

"Aeryn don't die on me now. I have a big ugly bug chasing me and I need your help."

Aeryn's eyes flickered open.

"John is that you?" she questioned

"It's me, John Critchon, Human astronaut. Look we gotta kill this creature before it kills us"

Aeryn groaned and with John's help pulled herself up. John and Aeryn needed some thought of miracle to save them.

+++++++++

D'Argo, Chiana and Zhaan had devised a plan of escape so they could go and help their friends.

"Do you think it will work?" asked Chiana

"Lets hope so. D'Argo you pretend to have a fit, the guards will see and come. Chiana try shouting to get their attention, once they have opened the door we make a run for it. Collect our weapons and find John and Aeryn." instructed Zhann.

"Everybody clear on what they have to do." asked Zhaan. Everyone nodded in unison

"Ok, lets go!"

D'Argo fell to the ground pretending to have a violent fit and Chiana rushed to the cell bars.

"Pist, hey you, guardman, I need some help here. My friend is having a fit He needs some fresh air. Unlock the cage so we can take him outside."

Two guards appeared at the prison cell bars and peered in.

"Look, he needs air, open the cell," called Zhaan from the back of the cell.

"Very well. Monop unlock the cell, let the Luxon have some air".

Monop unlocked the cell door and pulled it open. D'Argo immediately sprang up from the floor and with his tongue, set one of the guards unconscious on the ground. The other guards tried to run but was knocked to the ground by a blow from Chiana's left leg.

"Nice one, D!" shouted Chiana. Zhaan looked on smiling.

Suddenly more guards set upon the crew. Firing as they did so. Again D'Argo held one off with his tongue and Chiana did another high kick sending a female guard crashing into the wall. Zhaan stayed back, her fighting skills we not as good as D'Argo's and it was nice to see Chiana having a go. More fighting and the remainder four guards landed in a large heap on the ground. All there was to be seen was a mine field of bodies.

"Where are Aeryn and John?" asked Zhaan looking at the mess of guards on the floor

"I don't know. Let's find our weapons and look for them." said D'Argo

+++++++++

The 'Billop' backed away into a shady spot of the room. It's eyes glowing bright yellow. It's teeth oozing with saliva. The creature growled and pounced on John. Sinking it's teeth into John's leg it drew blood. Aeryn fired, once, twice. The creature retreated and returned to a corner of the room. John winced in pain.

"John, are you alright? Are you hurt?" questioned Aeryn frowning.

"Frelling, creature bit my leg! I'll be fine, just need something to stop the bleeding."

Aeryn didn't hesitate and tore a piece of her t-shirt and wrapped it tightly around Cricthon's leg.

"Thanks Aeryn," said John smiling.

Aeryn and John carried on fighting as the audience cheered around them. The creature was hard to keep at bay. What they didn't know was that Chiana, Zhaan and D'Argo had escaped their cell and had found their weapons in a back room. They where heading to find their friends and save them. Could the crew save themselves and the children?

If you enjoyed that, watch this space there's more to come.

Thanks for the reviews. Keep them coming.