Xander's Glory 5: Quest on Kregen

Still am not fully awake, so heck, I'll post and hope I didn't send anything too sucky…

Summary: Answer to Djhardim's idea that Xander dress up as a certain medical student, and all that meant
Crossover: None right now…
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I see nothing! Not even this Ken Buhlmer stuff about Dray Prescot of Kregen under Antares.
Feedback: It would be welcome! Please!

Oh, a voller is flying craft, like a yacht or raft in space depending on model and money involved.

The next few hours were filled with the pain and death of a vast sea battle, where enemies opposed to the very existence of the other hurled themselves to the last being. But the Red Forces to which the pack found themselves allied, suffered few losses as the ship of the Green Admiral was the one onto which they fallen. Leaderless at the onset of battle, the Greens had fought an incredible series of actions in an attempt to break away in spite of unfavorable winds and tides.

Several times, they'd rammed into other vessels, killing off the soldiers and often time replacing their own numbers from the slave crews aboard. And among the liberated, it was taken as a good omen that there were two Alekzanderz and a Klorificuz leading them from the beginning. The hard Ks turned out to be a favorable sign among the Reds, and the apparent hard Zs were considered of the highest possible favor of Zair.

The armada of the Reds toward midday, drew together and the Red Flagship came alongside that formerly of the Green. Many a seeming noble came over, Xander and Glow in their captured Red 'finery' and armor looking very much the barbarian warlords.

A man approaching Xander's age stepped forward first and addressed him.

"Greetings, are you the one named Alekzander of Harriz?" he asked, "I am Drak of Vallia, Krozair of Zy."

"I am," Xander replied, and decided on honesty, "I hope you appreciated our assistance, as wee are not of this world, but another."

"It made an important difference, Lord Alekzander, but what is this of a different world?"

"This is one world that moves around the suns in the sky, and the stars at night are each suns or pairs of suns that also have worlds around them. And many have races of beings on them. We are from one yellow-sun world, and because of a large blue scorpion-looking creature, ended up here instead of our home on Earth. But seeing how these Greens were up to mischief, we felt moved to help."

"Hmm, the tale of a yellow sun is something I've heard of, but that can wait. The Lord Admiral of Zy wishes to extend his city's hospitality to you, and yours. The value of this galley is such that to make it his own trophy he is willing to make you an appropriate offer to compensate."

"Thank you, Drak of Vallia, his graciousness is appreciated and accepted, so I guess the question remains…what now?"

"First we make sure that your men are cared for, and make ready for Zy itself; with the current and winds so favorable, we might just make it by morning next, though with me and my family we have three vollers that could lift you there sooner?"

Xander looked to where Dray and Alex stood, the ladder giving a careful nod as Dray stepped behind the man as a stunningly beautiful woman walked up behind her son with two other brawny hero types.

"We accept, but there are a hundred of us in all?"

"How about your immediate family and entourage, that way you'll have made arrangements for their lodging and such before they arrive."

"Alright, but it must be understood that as those with me have blooded in my service, and even should they be guilty of the highest crimes in your lands not involving children, they are now of my protection. Agreed?"

"Do you know of any outright?"

"No, but such things happen in the course of events, do they not? So I just wanted that out of the way first, so as not to suddenly find ourselves turning from brothers in battle to enemies with swords in hand."

"Very well, as the Lord Admiral did say anything, so be it."

"Alex, Dray, come forward, bring Fred with you. We'll be going with these folks for now."

The woman looked at the man stepping forward into view, and gasped, launching herself at him and the two embracing. Xander smiled and turned to Drak.

"Is this a custom among your people?"

The young man grimaced, his face hardening, but his sigh indicated that he understood that Xander had not deceived him in agreeing, "No, it seems that my father, traitor in Zy, has returned."

With Xander's explanation of other worlds, and how as the sound of the calling horn of Zy that summoned all Warriors to battle would probably not reach Earth for another century or so, Dray Prezcott should not be held responsible. Xander further pressed that since he did show up without hearing it, was liberated from the chains of the enemy…clearly he'd exceeded expectations, not failed in them.

Alex Hunter quietly advised the young man in his dealings with the Krozairs of Zy, keeping him from giving offense, and helping him convert his new wealth into something usable. But what had surprised him, was the fact that most of the humans of the pack seemed to like Zy enough to stay, as did the half-Brachens. Only Fred, Groo and a young woman with whom he'd developed a relationship remained of well over a hundred survivors. Almost sadly, he set aside half the money to get the 'tribe' started in trades and new lives.

The rest of the money was spent on the trip ahead. Alex Hunter, servant of Aphrasoe, stressed the trip needs, and seemed very helpful.

"Alex," Xander began after a week, "Don't take offense, but why are you so willing to help us?"

"Because there is a group called the Star Lords, and the Blue Scorpion is one of theirs. The fact that you arrived here after spearing it so many times, then assisting me on the ship, means that the Star Lords will not be happy in this situation,"

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend?"

"Exactly, but you also seem to be decent sorts, and while I know you seek your home world, I'm hoping that at some point in the future you might join us in making this world safe and unified."

"Hmm, It's unlikely, but so is travel between worlds, right?"

"Indeed, and as the only voller you were able to buy from the Vallians was at a ruinous price and needing to stop and fix something far too often for my comfort, means we'll be taking the trip slowly, and over as much land as possible."

"How far and long are we looking at?"

"Well, if it were a new voller, we could push the trip in a month, and if by sea vessel or overland trek, as long as nine or ten months. You say you are from America? Well, the distance is like traveling to Africa, then to the Spice Islands, then south to where it is cold."

Xander pictured that a minute, then nodded as he realized it was like New York to Australia, a long time in primitive conditions, but he had his family with him, "Alright, so with a faulty voller, we're looking at somewhere in-between?"

"Indeed, and we can develop your fighting skills on the way; while you have incredible natural ability, training is a must."

"Thank you, Alex, I appreciate the offer, even if it's designed to recruit us."

"It also passes the time, Alexander, and since they gave all of you those great bars of steel when they created you Krozairs of Zy, it wouldn't hurt to actually be able to use them. And at Aphrasoe, they are good enough blades we can sharpen it and make any necessary adjustments."

"Alright, Alex, let's get going, I guess."