5
Chapter 54
Grunting and loud, raucous snores echoed through the cramped room.
The walls were filthy and decayed…dark, rusted metal.
On one side…monitors and an array of multi-colored lights lined the surface; reds, greens, yellows.
Two aliens sat in front of a monitor; one sat carelessly in his chair. The other was fast asleep.
The alien who was awake created the grunting sounds…followed by smacking sounds from his lips. Spittle showered from his lips onto the monitor.
"Gfffff," he muttered…struggling to his feet.
Both aliens were grossly heavy-set.
He stumbled forward…a tinge of drowsiness in his eyes.
He collapsed his weight onto the side of a small, metal box in the corner…shaking it with his portliness.
He opened the box…and retrieved a small glass bottle containing liquor.
He removed the cap and tossed a few feet away…chugging away at the bottle.
"Ahhhh," he exclaimed.
He struggled back to his seat…scratching his behind as he moved.
He collapsed onto his seat with a thundering sound; the other alien slowly desisted his snoring.
"Erggghhhhhhh," he groaned…peeling an eye open.
The first alien let out a barreling laugh; he chugged more of his bottle…and laid back in his seat.
The second alien slowly lifted his head…a thin string of drool dribbling from his lower lip.
"You toad!" he roared.
He slowly lifted his body…his hair a scraggly mess.
His eyes were foggy with fatigue; he glanced around slowly...adjusting to the light.
The first alien chuckled.
"You sleep more than you work!"
"Work?! This is work!?" the second alien motioned to the monitor.
The second alien groaned.
"Aiiiiiiiiiii…could be…"
"Yesssss…don't bore me anymore,"
The second alien let out a gentle growl. He glared at his companion…his lower lip hanging down slightly. His eyes honed in on the bottle.
"You drink more than a bar rodent!"
The first alien let out a belly laugh.
"You make this place all the worthwhile!"
The second alien snarled; he laid back down in his chair…his eyelids drifting closed.
"I would…I would…"
He yawned…unable to maintain any composure.
"I will…"
Beep. Beep.
A light flashed.
An image appeared on the monitor.
"Erggghhhhhhh…what now?!" the second alien roared…slowly lifting his head.
The first alien set his bottle down…and fixed his eyes on the screen with curiosity.
"The aliens,"
"What about them!?"
The first alien pressed a few buttons.
"They've left the nebula,"
The second alien shoved his companion to the side…and jutted his head forward so his eyes were inches from the screen.
A look of surprise washed over his face…his eyes widening.
He slowly turned to look at his colleague; the first alien looked a bit apprehensive.
"Should we?"
The two sat there for a moment…staring at each other and turning something over and over in their heads.
"The paper work," the second grunted. He let out a loud chuckle.
"I didn't see anything," he said…returning to his resting place.
The first alien shrugged his shoulders…resting comfortably in his chair and grabbing his drink.
The Republic slowly entered normal space…her battered hull now glimmering in the light of a nearby star.
Her body was lined with scratches, holes and scorch marks; but despite her flaws, in all of her sleekness and finely crafted physique…she was still majestic.
Her deflector dish flicked from orange to metallic blue; a loud hum echoed from her nacelles.
The small lights at the end flickered…the body of the ship slowly stretched forward as if a hand had reached out and grabbed it.
Then in a dash of glimmering light…she was gone.
Leaving a ripple in her wake.
"General…the Humans,"
Lo-Chem did not look up; his eyes remained vacant and un-emotional.
"Yes," he said quietly.
The young soldier stepped forward; his hands at his sides were trembling.
"They're but a day away…it's only a matter of time…" the young man said quietly.
"Understood. Return to your post,"
The boy paused…a look of reluctance in his eyes.
"Aye, Sir,"
"The hour is at hand,"
"Yes, father,"
"In a weeks time…we shall be at war,"
"Yes…father,"
"And you shall vanquish our greatest enemy yet,"
"Yes,"
The young man paused on his way out…turning back to catch a glance of Lo-Chem.
His face reeled with disgust.
"You are mad," he thought to himself.
Lo-Chem's eyes slowly drifted to him; the sight of them sent chills up his spine.
"That…will…be…all," he said quietly.
The boy left…trembling even more than before.