Pandora's Box

Drowning was not a nice way to go.

Being in something as fluid and gentle as water, and suddenly realizing that it wasn't so. That it would drain in itself into every orifice of your body, and suck the life out of you, as you watched the precious air bubbling, fizzling to the top.

Temeran struggled for his life, but he felt his mind darkening, as pain shot up through his nostrils, bringing up white instead. As he floated off, he could no longer feel the monster grasping at him, but he could feel the breeze of water flowing around him...

Consciousness gathered around his mind, a numbness all around his body and a squeezing at his joints. Was this what dying was like? A constant fading in and out until you were finally gone? He shifted, his back rubbing against something rough, like chiseled granite. Something lit up in his hearts, something like a surprise, a gift.

He snapped open all four eyes, gazing up at only white at first as they struggled to get used to the light. He blinked a few times, realizing that he was in some sort of cave, the walls made of chalk, stalactites hanging from the ceiling above. It was bright, and that was hard to believe at first--wasn't he technically under water? Where was the light coming from. And more so--

Why wasn't he dead?

He took a step forward to explore his surroundings even further. He grunted.

((Of all the--)) he muttered. Something pulled him back, the pressures at his joints holding him. He was a prisoner.

He nearly died twice, both from lack of air, only to be held hostage by unknown beings. It could be the Yeerk forces. He was sure that they didn't even know of this--even the most advanced scans didn't show such caverns as this one. And the Yeerks had more primitive technology.

((Do not fear dear creature.))

He jerked in his bindings, his eyestalks turning towards the figure. He had no known that there was another being in the room--the thing had totally snuck up on him!

An ethereal creature moved into his line of vision, a face more angular than his own. Eyes swirling with ice, and a third down its neck, the neck long and curved. The elbows of the arms were sharp, hands three fingered, and where the thumb should have been was a talon. It was three-legged held up by paws, and a tail that hopped and dug into the ground as he moved for extra balance.

It looked up at him sideways, hands up in peace. ((Do not fear,)) it said again. It slowly put its hand on a particular lump on the uneven wall, and pulled it down--it was a lever! The pressures on him ceased, and he moved forward.

((Then why did you hold me captive?)) Temeran grated. He moved his wrists around, his tail, easing any stiffness that had been left. The creature watched, amazed.

((We were afraid that you would panic,)) he answered, taking a step forward. ((You are such a wonderful creature--you will suffice wonderfully.))

All four eyes were on him. There was a strange edge, and Temeran didn't like it.

((What?))

The ethereal hesitated, the motioned him to come towards him. The worn warrior followed him, tail cocked. And sure enough the white walls hid an unseen corner, the perfect hiding place for an entrance to a possibly primitive race without shielding. There was a staircase that curved downward so that he could see the bottom of them.

The blue of the cavern reflected the ocean, making the ice glimmer as they moved along downwards. Cautiously he followed--what else could he do?

The creature began to talk, and unwillingly he listened as he tried to get over the strange feeling that he had.

((We are ethereal beings and can only survive in this atmosphere under surface. We tired above and could not move with strength and ease and tried space travel--to no avail. We are a frail race.)) The creature seemed to say the last part with irritation. An explorer-type Temeran supposed.

The corner rounded, and Temeran's eyes widened.

((But you see we are not a primitive race.))

A city unfolded out before them, glowing and throbbing with life. There were more of these creatures all around the place. Domes and sky scrapers made out of just light and class it seemed, right into a ground that couldn't be seen at the height that they stood. They did not appear to be a weak species.

((What are you?)) he asked. ((Who are you?))

The creature seemed to smile. ((We are the Golflin. And my name is Oedma. Your observer, mentor and guide.))

Temeran scoffed. ((Mentor?)) He couldn't help but laugh. ((What is there left for me to learn? I am probably three times your age!))

Oedma moved on. ((We shall see, Andalite))

Maybe the lost battle had sent tremors to the ground, or they were much more advanced than this creature was letting on, but somehow he knew the species that Temeran was. He wasn't liking this whole field trip bit-by-bit. But, he reasoned with himself, the ultimate goal was to get home. Maybe to appease the little monster meant a way out of the place.

However, his wife would have been impressed with the civilization, and maybe he could get a hold of a few visual cards about them as a nice gift for her--and possibly his retirement. Maybe forget about the war…

Wishful thinking.

He was valuable to the military and would most likely be tossed back in with a new command, and he would soon carry new scars from the war. Ones that he would never show his wife. But wishful thinking was what helped him through the hard times. It didn't hurt to think about retirement.

((Where are we going?)) he asked, trying to ignore the Andalite comment. It bothered him--and words rarely bothered him.

((To get you educated,)) replied the Golflin. They were beginning to go into the city. The stairs stopped abruptly, a bridge of light connecting to the ledge after a moment. Temeran was beginning to tire of the show that this creature seemed to be putting on, and wanted to know what it seemed to be eluding to.

Cautiously, after a few moments hesitation, he stepped on what easily felt like solid ground. The bridge moved them down at a slant, as they walked across. The warrior couldn't help but feel in awe of the city, cities on his home world long ago extinct because of their impracticality. As they got closer to the structures, he realized that he could see right through them, and see the Golflin moving about with their daily life. They seemed to be a pretty harmless race, but a part of him kept his tail on guard.

((We are almost there Andalite friend,)) said Oedma. His voice concealed any form on emotion.

The bridge finally connected with one of the structures and into one of the rooms. Temeran could not see into this one. His tour guide slowed to a stop, and looked right at him.

((Do you trust me?)) he asked.

Temeran felt a shiver go down his spine. Nonetheless Oedma seemed to read the reaction and moved forward to a door that slid open to allow them through into the building.

((Very well, you will learn,)) he replied calmly. Temeran had no choice but to follow.