5.01 - The Fearing Mind

Chapter 7 - Bridge Over Troubled Waters

(21/6/04)

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OK, so I won't be able to manage a chapter a day, but I'll try and do one as often as I can, which will probably mean two or three per week. In the meantime, I think this chapter is roughly one third of the way through this "episode".

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Chapter 7 - Bridge Over Troubled Waters

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"Rygel, keep up!" Noranti shouted behind her. "Unless you want to become food for these people!"

"So long as it's good food, like cop porn." Rygel said. "We're going to die anyway, why not now?"

"As usual, you are a tower of strength!"

Noranti and Stark were busy helping Chiana through the passages of Moya, one at either side of her, arm slung over shoulders. Rygel was covering the rear, although Noranti doubted he'd do a very good job at it. They were on their way to Pilot's Chamber, and Pilot would try and seal them in. As soon as Moya's vital systems were fixed by the DRDs, the DRDs would track down the intruders as best they could, or at the very least supply backup.

"How far left?" Chiana said, her head trying to gaze every which way but the right way.

"Not long not long not long not long not long..." Stark muttered.

"What are we going to do about D'Argo?"

"Nothing we can do at the moment." Noranti replied. "When he gets back, he'll be able to get through those creatures, whatever they are."

"Now who's being the hopeful one?"

Noranti was just about to giggle at this when they rounded a corner, and came face to face with a large creature wearing some bizarre battle robes and a very odd haircut. It charged, and the threesome hurriedly turned and went in the opposite direction.

All apart from Rygel, who was looking the other way, trying to guard them from behind. He was cast into the air off his thronesled, spinning, but found himself suddenly caught by the jaws of a clawed instrument the creature was carrying.

Fortunately Rygel, being obviously small, was too small for the sharp, jagged parts of the jaws, so he slipped into the part between them and the hinge, where he was squeezed.

The creature had a manic, almost zealous look on his face as he squeezed Rygel, hoping he would kill the Hynerian. Rygel groaned in pain as Noranti and Stark watched, and Chiana tried to, until suddenly a rumbling could be heard.

The creature stopped squeezing and sniffed gingerly at the air. "Could it be?" he said, his voice suddenly very squeaky. "Chemical weapons?"

The creature sniffed the air, and suddenly dropped his claw device, which Rygel instantly slipped out of. "Poison!" the creature screamed as it ran off into the depths of Moya. "Biological poison!" The creature was eventually tripped over by a DRD and knocked himself out.

The four crew members stared blankly for a moment, before Stark finally broke the silence. "Well done Rygel!" he congratulated the Hynerian, who was regaining his rogue Thronesled. "One down!"

"Ugh..." Rygel moaned. "If that's the only way to get rid of them, I don't think I can manage another just yet..."

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"So now it's unconscious?" a weary Pilot asked Noranti. They had managed to get to Pilot's Chamber without incident after facing the creature.

"Indeed so Pilot." Noranti replied. "Though something is bothering me. This planet is over ninety-nine percent ocean, with the only land being tiny outcroppings not big enough even for a small village. Yet that creature was definitely adapted to living on solid land."

Stark, sitting close to Chiana, looked around. All around the Chamber and the shaft through the very core of Moya, sparks flew, illuminating the room as DRDs repaired and maintained the links and roots between Pilot and Moya, until Moya could do the job herself.

Suddenly there was a loud bang at the sealed door to the chamber, reverberating. The crew stayed silent, and there was another.

"Oh, how I hope that's D'Argo..." Rygel said quietly.

The door was suddenly shot off it's two hinges, and the shape caused it to fly onto the narrow bridge between the doorway and the core, and then fall into the pit below.

At the door stood another one of the creatures, claw device held at it's side, and a determined look on the face.

"Invaders," it said, it's voice sounding very nasal, "we have come to liberate this magnificent creature from your debasing ways. You will pay with your lives."

"What are you talking about?" Rygel spoke up. "Moya is a companion to us, and our home."

"Your home, but not your friend." the creature said again. "Commandeered for your use, of course. We will not listen to your lies, and the Leviathan and Pilot shall be freed from your tyranny."

Pilot managed a few words. "This... is a mistake..." he said. "These people... are our friends..."

"Brainwashing!" the creature roared as it advanced towards them. "The invaders have used their superior technology to brainwash you, oh gentle Pilot!"

A new voice was then heard, booming in a commanding tembre. "Turn!"

The creature turned, seeing a large, imposing figure at the doorway, wearing red robes, tentacles, facial hair, and carrying an ancient weapon at it's side.

"My name is Ka D'Argo, captain of this Leviathan, Moya." D'Argo growled.

The creature responded in kind. "Our name is Nas, Soldier of the Sedum." it said. "We are here to liberate this Leviathan from you invaders."

"Over my dead body..."

"If that is your wish, then we will oblige."

The two combatants charged towards each other, weapons raised, and clashed. Their weapons locked together as they fought on the narrow bridge, light dancing in the semi-darkness from DRDs still continuing their work, sparks falling onto the surface of the bridge and then fizzling out.

Eventually Nas won and pushed D'Argo back, then opened his claw weapon and lunged at D'Argo's head. D'Argo recovered himself and swung downwards, hitting the feet of his opponent.

Nas fell onto his back, but instantly used his feet to kick D'Argo in the gut. D'Argo doubled over in pain, while Nas jumped up without using his hands, grasped his claw device and squeezed D'Argo's head with it.

D'Argo could not think of anything he could do. The jaws were clamped around his head and squeezing him into submission, when he remembered he still had his Qualta Blade in his right hand. He swung the blade at the narrow yet tense rods holding the jaws.

It went right through them.

Nas stood terrified as his claw weapon fell to pieces on the bridge, then fell unconscious as D'Argo's tongue struck his exposed neck.

D'Argo managed to stride over the body, walking to Chiana, a look of guilt on his face. Yet when he sat next to her, all she could do was put her arms around him.

"You're back..." she said. "I knew you would be..."

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Yadda-yadda-yadda, what'cha reckon, please read and review, visit www.savefarscape.com, check back for updates, winners don't do drugs.