Author's Note:

(Nothing really important to write here today, so enjoy the fic! ^_^)

Chapter Four

******************

Griff followed Minnie and Daisy in silence, their steps echoing in the expansive hallways. At one point, Minnie had opened a simple wooden door, revealing a long, dark staircase beyond it. The trio descended, and finally entered a large room, with machines stretching from wall to wall. In the center, was what looked like a vessel. It was small, able to fit only one person within its small cockpit. "This is what we call a Gummi Ship," Minnie said. "We use it to travel between worlds. This is the Ahriman model, the smallest we have available at the moment." Griff looked up at it from his vantage point on the floor. It was mostly blue in color, and had what looked to be several scorch marks on the sides. "Looks like this one's a little beat-up," he commented. "Yes, it's been through a lot," Daisy said.

Two chipmunks scampered into the room, standing on their hind legs and saluting. "This is Chip and Dale," she continued, "our mechanics. They will answer any questions you might have." Griff nodded his head to the two chipmunks before looking up at the Ahriman again. "How soon can I get out of here?" he asked. "As soon as you're ready," squeaked Dale. Chip bonked his twin on the top of the head. "You know full well that he doesn't know how to fly."

Griff shook his head. "I don't care. All I want is to find Tasha." Daisy sighed. "If you are sure," she said, "then go ahead and get inside. Chip and Dale will help." The two chipmunks saluted, and scampered off into the control room, climbing onto the console and pausing in front of a large button. They nodded to each other, and jumped on the button, starting up a system of machines that Griff couldn't see. Looking up, a large hand descended and lay itself flat on the floor in front of him. Griff stepped upon it, and the hand started to rise, positioning itself next to the open cockpit. As he stepped off the hand into the Ahriman, Daisy called up to him. "Griff! Take this with you!" She heaved a small package up to him, which the young man deftly caught in one hand. Opening it, he found a sort of bandolier, with a strap of leather crossing the back, from the right shoulder to the left hip. On this strap, were two clamps. "Use that to carry your weapon," she said. Griff smiled at her, and put it on. Taking his swallow in his hand, he placed it behind his back. The swallow was pulled into the clamps automatically, and Griff tested his mobility, bending and twisting at the waist. His weapon did not shift at all. Satisfied, he sat down in the seat, looking over the controls. It was a simple enough layout: a double-handled control stick, power readout, and armor gauge. There was a throttle lever to his left.

"Griff?"

Griff looked around him, unable to find the source of the voice. "Dale to Griff. Do you copy? Over." Griff glanced down at a small speaker to his right. A small button flashed beneath it. Griff pressed it, and began to speak. "Yeah, I'm here," he said, trying to figure out what was going on. "Uh, roger that, Griff," Dale replied. "We're gonna' give ya' a crash course in Gummi-flying." There came the sound of a brief scuffle from the other end, and when it ceased, Chip's voice came through the speaker. "Sorry about that," said the chipmunk. "What I'm going to do is talk you through this. You ready?" Griff nodded his head, gripping the control sticks. "Yeah, go for it."

"Okay. First," said Chip, "we're going to launch. See the small green switch on the panel on front of you?" Griff scanned the instrument panels until he found a plain, green switch. "I see it. Now what?"

"Flip it."

Griff obeyed, and in that instant, the floor beneath the ship dropped open, and the Ahriman went hurtling downward. The ship suddenly lurched to a halt after a short while, floating in what seemed like a whirling mass of colors, all interconnecting and turning into each other. Chip's voice crackled over the speaker. "Okay. You're clear. Now, do you see the video screen in front of you?" Griff stared at the blank monitor. "Yeah," he replied. "Turn the switch on its right," said Chip. Griff did so, and a map appeared. Displayed upon it were several pictures, each one looking like some kind of structure sitting on top of a sphere. One of them blinked incessantly. "The blinking picture you see is your current destination," said Chip. "Turn the controls so that your ship faces it." Once again, Griff obeyed, turning the sticks. They moved quite smoothly for such a beat-up ship.

"Now slowly push the throttle lever forward."

Griff reached down with his left hand and rested it on the throttle lever. After a moment, he eased it forward, and the Ahriman's engines roared to life. It was quite a fast little ship, for as Griff looked behind him, the world he had left was quickly fading into the distance.

Griff looked at the map again, identifying his destination as a place called "Traverse Town." He released the control sticks and sat back in his seat. Apparently, it would take some time before he got there, so he decided to relax. The speaker crackled, and Dale's worried voice erupted from it. "Griff! You've got bogies on your six!"

"What?" Griff sat up, wondering what Dale meant.

"You've got Heartless ships coming at you from behind!!!"

Before he could reply, three beams of light passed within inches of the Ahriman. In another instant, the ship rocked as another volley struck it squarely from behind. Three orange, yellow, and green-colored vessels streaked past the Ahriman. "Dale!" Griff shouted into the speaker. "Does this ship have what they have?" The speaker crackled again. "Not quite," said Chip. "They've got Thunder Beam-cannons. You've got a Comet Laser." Griff made a face. "Mind speaking in English?"

"Look at your control panel. There should be a switch beneath a red cover. Hit it." Griff did so, following Chip's instructions. A box appeared in the cockpit window, a cross in the very middle. A soft hum emanated from the underside of the Ahriman. "Your weapon systems are now active," the chipmunk said. "Now blow 'em outta' the sky!" Dale shouted. Looking out the cockpit window, Griff saw that the three enemy vessels had turned around. A red circle appeared around one of them. He gripped the control sticks, and squeezed the trigger. A bright burst of light shot forth and impacted on the other ship, destroying it. "The Comet Lasers are like missiles," Chip said. "They pack a wallop, but you can only use them so many times before they run out." Griff rolled his eyes. "Thanks for telling me that now, guys," he grumbled. The red circle outlined another of the vessels, and Griff fired again. The target attempted to evade, but the laser tracked and destroyed it, leaving one more. It turned so that it headed straight for the Ahriman, giving Griff little time to react before the enemy opened fire, a flurry of beams erupting from the underside cannon. The Ahriman rocked, and alarms began blaring into Griff's ears. "Get out of there, Griff!" shouted Dale. "One more solid hit, and you're done for!"

Perfect…Griff thought to himself. Veering away from the attacking ship, Griff grabbed the throttle lever and shoved it forward with all his might. The Ahriman hesitated for a split-second, then it shot forward, faster than anything Griff could comprehend. The enemy vessel was left far behind, disappearing into the distance within an instant. "Slow down!" shouted Chip. "The Ahriman won't hold together at that speed!"

Griff ignored the plea, instead bracing himself as another world came into view. He steered himself straight toward it. The world drew closer at an astounding rate, and a bright flash filled the Ahriman's cockpit. Griff closed his eyes, keeping his hands on the controls even as the Ahriman itself began to lose its hull-plating in large chunks.

***********

Chip and Dale stared in horror at the view screen, watching the Ahriman disintegrate just above Traverse Town. When the explosion ceased, the twin chipmunks lowered their heads. Griff had been on a mission with the most honorable of intentions, but now it appeared as though that would never happen. Chip and Dale slowly climbed off the control panel and exited the control room, entering the main hangar bay where Daisy and Minnie waited. The queen looked up at them, smiling at first, but it quickly vanished when she saw their expressions. "What happened?" she asked. "The ship ignited just above Traverse Town," said Chip. Dale's shoulders shook. "He didn't make it, your Highness…!" he bawled. Minnie and Daisy exchanged wide-eyed glances, before rushing to console the twins.

***********

(::Sniff:: Aww…I made the chipmunks cry..! Don't worry guys. I'll make everything better (somehow…o_o;) The work on these is coming along great, and I expect to have at least another chapter posted by tomorrow. See ya then!)