Author's Notes: It has now been "some time." I also landed a summer job. I guess I'll update.
This chapter introduces a new species of alien. They're… yeah. I made these guys up years ago, and now finally I've finally gotten around to posting them on this site .
In response to the comments: Earth would have been interesting. Unfortunately, they are not flying in the correct direction, and Purple can't go super far due to the fact he will probably have to return to the Massive at some point. Not that I'm trying to give anything away… but that is probably in his thoughts.
He's not completely irresponsible although he sometimes likes to act like he is.
The Heroians
Lard Nar managed to eat one of the puddings Purple had brought along with him, although it took a full cycle. Swallowing reminded him of the tube that had been shoved down his throat.
It forced him to gag, and he coughed up blood because he couldn't swallow. He could still feel the bile in the back of his throat as the disgusting liquid was poured down the tube, making him want to wretch as his insides burned.
The memories caused him to shiver, and he winced.
"Are you ok?" Purple asked, glancing away from the controls long enough to regard the trembling Vortian. After watching Lard Nar fly the ship for a day, he began to catch on. Now he could control the vessel with very little instruction. "Does it still hurt to swallow?"
Lard Nar nodded slowly. Tears pricked his eyes. He really didn't want to be crying about this... not now.
"I'd be pretty upset if I couldn't eat snacks too," Purple remarked. "It'll get better though."
"I know... I know it will..." Lard Nar mumbled.
"Huh..." Purple blinked down at the small screen in front of him. "Something just appeared on the monitors."
Lard Nar leaned in a bit to get a closer look. The small flashing dot that appeared suddenly broke into three. It was impossible to tell exactly how large the objects were or even what shape they were. This alien technology wasn't as advanced as Irken and Vortian technology.
"It's heading straight for us isn't it?" Purple mused, scratching his chin.
"There's three..." Lard Nar murmured.
"Well they can't be Irken ships if they're travelling that fast," Purple reasoned. Spittle Runners were their fastest ships, but not even they travelled at the kind of speed he was seeing. He grabbed something out of his pocket and handed it to Lard Nar. "Here, wear this."
Lard Nar took it from the Tallest, and studied it. "This is a mask..."
"Yeah, you might want to put it on."
The former captain continued to stare at it. "Why...?"
"Vortians are worth a lot of monies on the slave market..." Purple replied somewhat hesitantly.
"What slave market?" Lard Nar frowned. He'd been outside of the Empire before, although he couldn't recall exactly being in this sector specifically. Still, something as big as a slave-trade wouldn't have completely escaped his notice…
"Can you just put it on?"
"I've never heard anything about a slave trade..." he insisted.
"Rich and powerful planets will pay a lot of monies to have slaves capable of creating weapons of doom," Purple responded. "There wasn't been much activity in the past year because the ones who were doing most of the smuggling were captured, and why do you need so much convincing? Can't you just trust me?"
The mask fit over his eyes, and Lard Nar quickly tied it tight so it wouldn't slip.
"Alright, they're hailing us... so let's try to be civil and maybe we'll get out of this in one piece," Purple spoke out loud. He was saying this mostly for himself since being civil to aliens wasn't really something he'd really practiced much before.
Purple flicked a switch, but it was the wrong one, so Lard Nar reached over and pressed the right one.
The screen flickered. Then a figure appeared. The top half of its face was covered by a mask similar to the ones Purple and Lard Nar were wearing. It had white skin, a small nose, and bright blue eyes. The creature was about the same size as Lard Nar, but it didn't appear to have any horns or antennae.
"Greetings comrades!" the creature was the first to speak. "I was worried you might be an enemy, but it's obvious with those masks you must have heard about the Heroian's quest to liberate all enslaved peoples and to do goodness in the universe."
Purple blinked. "Do what to the universe?"
"What my p-partner means to say is, of course we came to help with... um... whatever you're doing..." Lard Nar tried to cover for Purple, but his nervousness caused him to fumble with his words.
"I don't know captain," another alien off screen said, sounding a bit skeptical. "They don't look much like Heroians..."
The captain's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Hm... you're right. The masks are similar, but that's about it for the similarities... just who are you people?"
"My name is Kaenen," Purple replied, sitting up straight. "I'm a third generation soldier from the planet Miekar." He saluted half-heartedly, knowing it was unlikely the person on the monitor would salute back.
Lard Nar froze. He hadn't expected to have to come up with a new name on the spot. Hold on a moment… just how were the masks even working? Couldn't these people see Purple was obviously an Irken?
"And my friend's name is Toffer," the Tallest covered for him. "We were told about the Heroians, and how they defeated the Dalmish. We were curious."
"I've never heard of a planet Miekar," the alien off screen stated.
"Yeah, unfortunately it was destroyed ten years ago during a freak super nova," Purple waved at the aliens dismissively. "All of my people died. It was quite tragic."
Lard Nar wished he could disappear. The Tallest was obviously lying in a very obvious and apathetic manner. Anyone would be able to see through this charade.
"It was also quite far away," Purple added as an afterthought. "Yeah... I haven't met too many people around here that have heard of it. Toffer's people took me in, so I generally go by his planet's name rather than my own."
The captain cleared his throat. "Well, in any case, it doesn't sound like either of you associate yourselves with evil... so you're free to come with us. We're always looking for more recruits."
"Oh sure. We love fighting evil and stuff, don't we Toffer?" Purple glanced at Lard Nar who nodded mutely.
The screen flicked off, and Lard Nar let out a sigh. He hadn't even realized he'd been holding his breath.
"You don't do well under pressure do you?" Purple asked, suppressing a chuckle.
"If they find out we're lying... we're going to be in deep trouble..."
"Yes, but they won't find out," Purple replied with a smile. "So just relax and have fun."
Lard Nar wondered if the Tallest had a reason for being so confident. He always thought the leaders of Irk were reliant on their followers for everything, including protection. Maybe a Tallest could defend himself though, if he had to.
The Heroian ships led them back to the planet Heroia. They landed in the middle of a seemingly empty field that was surrounded by forest. The sky was a mix of pinks and purples, the clouds were a fair white.
Purple set the ship down next to the others and turned it off. "Well, I think this planet looks nice enough," he commented. "And it's not like we were planning to go anywhere specific."
"But what will happen to us if they find out we're lying...?" Lard Nar asked, clasping and unclasping his hands nervously.
"I think I'll have more to worry about than you," Purple commented. "Heroians are strictly against slavery. They will have pity on you because you're from a conquered planet, while I on the other hand will probably die for being the evil overlord of an evil Empire."
"But you aren't really evil..." Lard Nar remarked.
"Really? What makes you say that?"
Lard Nar had a few answers to give him, but he couldn't find the right words to express them. Purple just wasn't evil. No one who would risk his life to free a slave could be evil.
"Let me know when you have an answer," Purple yawned and stretched. "I'm sick of being in this ship! Let's go outside and explore."
"Aren't you the least bit worried?" Lard Nar pressed.
The Tallest got up from his chair. "Nope. Not really," he responded as he headed for the exit at the back.
Lard Nar slowly stood up, and he followed after the Tallest. Was Purple just naïve? The Irken probably hadn't been away from the Empire in a long time. Didn't he realize what could happen?
They were greeted by the captain. He wore a dark blue mask, and a uniform with silver cufflinks and lightning symbols along the sleeves. The cape he wore was also dark blue, his pants had a gold coloured clasp for each leg, and he also sported a black belt with a bright yellow buckle.
His followers gathered around him as he walked. Most of them appeared to be the same species as the captain, and all of them wore similar outfits in various colours. None of them were wearing a cape though, that seemed to be a privilege that only their leader had.
"Some of the boys are a little bit skeptical," the leader started to explain. "I hope you don't mind if I ask you a few questions in private."
"You mean an interrogation?" Purple questioned crossing his arms. "I don't mind."
"No no," the captain appeared to be doing his best to make both his followers and the strangers feel comfortable. He smiled ruefully and rubbed the back of his head. "Just uh... think of it as an interview. If you're going to join us, I just have to ask a few questions. That's all."
Purple shrugged his shoulders. "You can call it whatever you like." His eyes narrowed. "But you better go easy on my travel companion or you'll regret ever meeting me."
"Ha ha..." the captain held up his hands in defence. "Well then... please follow me."
There was a single tent set up near the tree-line. It had a giant lightning bold symbol on the entrance flaps, and the fabric was dyed blue and gold.
"Can I speak with you first Kaenen?" The captain asked, glancing back when he reached the entrance of the tent.
"Yeah sure," Purple responded. He looked down at Lard Nar who had started to tremble. "I'll only be gone a minute alright?"
"Y-yeah... alright," Lard Nar responded uneasily.
Purple stepped inside, and the flaps came down, blocking the entrance. Immediately two of the captain's followers grabbed Lard Nar and hauled him a good distance away. The Vortian's whole body stiffened and he squeezed his eyes closed. Even when they deposited him on the ground, he didn't move.
"You're awfully nervous for someone who has nothing to hide," the first spoke. Lard Nar recognized his voice as the one he and Purple had heard on the monitor.
"Our captain is a really nice guy, but he trusts people too easily," the other explained. "That's why if you and your friend are plotting something, we will find out. Understand?"
Lard Nar nodded. He couldn't make himself speak.
"So are you ready to come clean then?"
If he could, Lard Nar would have given them any information they wanted, because he was scared of them, but he couldn't even talk... all he could do was stare fearfully up at his tormentors as he tried desperately to control his shaking.
"This one is pretty stubborn isn't he?" the first questioned, cracking his knuckles.
"Yeah, and here I was hoping to avoid a beating," the second remarked placing his boot on the Vortian's leg and stepping down. "The captain hates it when we're rough."
Lard Nar ground his teeth when he felt the pressure slowly turning into pain. He tried to curl up closer to himself to protect his hands and legs. Limbs were so easily broken. Even though he was far away from the Massive, he could hear the snapping sounds of his bones breaking and the cackling laugh of the bloody Irken standing over him.
What the heck was wrong with him? Why couldn't he move or speak?
"Grab his arms Crippit!" the first exclaimed.
The other masked alien lunged at their victim and took hold of both his wrists. He stretched them away from the Vortian's body and pressed them hard into the earth.
With Lard Nar's hands out of the way, he could no longer protect himself. While the one held his arms, the other straddled him and raised a fist.
Lard Nar winced, but the blow never came. Instead the masked alien that had been sitting on top of him went flying through the air. The other Heroian quickly let go and tried to run, but Purple easily caught up with him. The second flew even further than the first one had.
Dusting off his hands, Purple walked back to Lard Nar and offered him a hand. "Come on, get up."
Lard Nar' trembling hand tentatively reached for the Tallest's, and Purple pulled him back to his feet.
"Did they hurt you at all...?"
The Vortian shook his head no, but Purple could tell he was favouring his right leg.
"Where the helk did I throw them?" the Tallest asked, looking around the area. "Because I'm going to bloody kill them..."
"Wait, please!" the captain called. The band's leader panted as he ran, and he came to a stop near enough to speak, but far away enough to avoid getting hit. "My boys were stupid..." he breathed. "But it's my fault! I'm their leader, so please punish me instead."
Purple turned to face the captain angrily. "Fine. I won't kill them, but you better hope I never catch them trying to hurt my companion again, or so help me..."
The captain bowed his head. "Thank you... again, I apologize. Intimidating others is not the Heroian way…"
"Do you still want to talk to Toffer?" Purple asked. Even though he and Lard Nar were clearly in the right, they were still outnumbered fifteen to one which could easily turn into a million to one since they were on Heroia.
"Yes please... I promise this won't happen again..." the captain said.
"Alright, but you to talk here," Purple insisted. "I want to keep you in my sight."
Purple left the immediate area, but he stood around on the opposite side of a nearby stream so he could watch the exchange.
Lard Nar swallowed and fidgeted nervously as he kept his eyes lowered to the ground.
"Your friend sure is protective of you," the captain commented.
"Yeah... he is..."
"How long have you known him for?"
"Oh uh... not long..." Lard Nar really couldn't bring himself to lie.
"What planet are you from?"
"Vort."
"You're a Vortian? Really? Did you know Captain Lard Nar?"
Lard Nar lifted his eyes off the ground and stared at the captain. "How do you know about him...?"
"He was the reason I formed this small band of Heroians. I hoped one day we could join the Resisty, but then... the Irkens destroyed them. I heard there were no survivors."
"There was one survivor..." Lard Nar spoke.
"Really? Who was it?" the captain asked curiously.
"Me."
The captain stared at him with his mouth open. "R-Really? You aren't lying are you...? I mean, you're really Captain Lard Nar?"
"Former captain..." Lard Nar replied, looking away. "My crew is dead."
"I can't believe it!" the captain was grinning now. "I thought you died! Is that why you have that metal band around your horn? Did you get it in the crash?"
"No... I got it..." Lard Nar reached up to touch it. "I got it during the second torture..."
"Oh..." the captain's grin quickly vanished. "I... I was tortured by the Empire once as well... I'm sorry."
"You were...? When?"
The captain sighed and ran a hand down his face. "Well... when I was younger me and a couple friends decided to hold a public protest shortly after Spork was named Tallest of Irk. He had plans to conquer Deldonia which was an ally of Heroia at the time... anyway, all of us were brought in for disturbing the peace and resisting the Empire."
"How long...?"
"Oh, it was a day probably... you don't really remember time well under those circumstances ... but it's a secret. I don't want my boys knowing I was tortured."
"That makes sense... I don't really want people knowing about it either..."
"Does your friend know?"
"Oh... uh yeah... he's helped me out a lot..."
"That's good. You need friends like that after getting tortured. It makes the recovery easier... if you like, I'll keep your identity a secret. Just please don't say anything about this to my boys."
"Ok."
More notes/ramblings: -snirk- Yeah.. Toffer is a slight variation of the word toffee. What else can you expect from Purple? Kaenen is a variation on the name "Kane." Apparently all the time he spent covering for Red's outbursts has given Purple the ability to shamelessly lie on the spot. It's kind of like how writing fanfiction has given me the ability to shamelessly come up with these names on the spot. Bwah ha.
I hope to start posting these chapters more regularly before I begin looking back at these crazy ideas and wonder "what the helk was I thinking?" Like really? These names? Heroians? LOL! Oh well, they're better names than what I've been able to come up with lately... although this is the first time I've noticed the very close resemblance the name bares to a certain drug. -facepalm- Well, I meant for it to be like super heroes. Hero-ia (because most planets end in ia if they're like pun planets I guess). I shouldn't be allowed to write this much in here.
I'm also still surprised at what this Doc Manager tells me is spelled wrong. Defence and sceptical are spelled correctly where I'm from you program you.